|
Derwentwater
At three miles long and one mile wide, Derwentwater is the third biggest
of the lakes, and its proximity to Keswick makes it one of the most-loved and most-viewed.
Take a leisurely stroll
to Friar's Crag, described by John Ruskin as one of the three most beautiful scenes in Europe.
Take a trip
on one of the regular motor launches which operate around the lake. The numerous pick-up and drop-off jetties around the lake
make this an ideal way of getting to a suitable starting point for any of the wonderful walks around the environs of the lake.
Despite its size, Derwentwater is a shallow lake, only 75 feet at its deepest point with an average depth of just
15 feet, making it the first of the lakes to freeze over in winter.
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Thousands of people visit Castlerigg each year to see this circle of stones
on the level top of a low hill, with its views across to Skiddaw, Blencathra and Lonscale Fell.
There are 38 stones
in a circle of approximately 30 metres diameter. A rectangle comprised of a further 10 stones stands within the ring. The
circle is believed to date from around 3000BC, and the tallest stone is 2.3 metres high. It is thought to have been used for
ceremonial or religious purposes.
In 1913 the circle was bought by Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, the co-founder of
the National Trust, along with others. Today the land is still owned by the National Trust and the circle is maintained by
English Heritage.
The circle is in fact not quite a true circle, as the Northeast face is flattened, for reasons
unknown.
Wastwater
Wastwater (sometimes called Wast Water) is the deepest lake in England, at
258 feet. Isolated and tranquil, it is perhaps one of the least-visited of the lakes, but is well worth a visit.
The view towards the eastern end of the lake is dominated by the three peaks of Lingmell, Scafell Pike (the highest mountain
in England) and Great Gable, and this view forms the logo of the Lake District National Park, as well as having been voted
the best view in England in a TV Show in 2007.
The lake is long and narrow, being about 3 miles long but only a
third of a mile wide. The steep south-eastern side of the lake is characterised by treacherous loose cliffs known as the screes,
and the footpah along the shore has to be negotiated very carefully where the screes meet the water's edge.
The
narrow road alongside the lake ends at Wasdale Head, from where many walks and climbs have their starting point.
Tarn Hows
Tarn Hows is a breathtakingly lovely spot, which is one of the most visited
in the Lake District. During the high season it can become very busy, and the car park fills up early.
Formed
in the 19th century from what was originally three natural tarns, additional landscaping created what was to become a very
popular tourist location in the Victorian era.
There is a well-maintained path around the tarn, of about 1.5 miles
distance, and there is a visitor centre with toilets adjacent to the National Trust Pay & Display car park.
Surrounded
by pine and larch, with bracken-clad hillsides sweeping down to the tranquil tarn, there are splendid views all around.
Beatrix Potter bought the Monk Coniston Estate, including the tarn, in 1929, subsequently selling half of the land
to the National Trust and then bequeathing the rest to them in her will.
|
