The Lakes in the Lake District all have their own special character
The Lake District , in North West England,is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
The 19th Century poets, most notably William Wordsworth, Coleridge and de Quincey were inspired by them. Artists , including Constable and Ruskin, have painted them.
Visitors from all over the world flock to the Lake District for the scenery .
There are 463 lakes and tarns in the Lake District.Only one of them, Bassenthwaite Lake, has the word "lake" in its name. The others have "mere", and old world for "lake" in their name, or the word "water", another old term for a lake.
All the Lake District lakes are different. Each lake has special qualities. I love them all, but here are my Top 10 Lake District Lakes.
Contents at a Glance
- Rydal Water- #1 of Top Ten Lakes in the Lake District
- Grasmere- #2 of Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District
- Windermere- #3 of Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District
Rydal Water- #1 of Top Ten Lakes in the Lake District
Rydal Water, a lake loved by Wordsworth, who lived at Rydal Mount
Unruffled doth the blue lake lie,
Its mountains looking on"
Wiiliam Wordsworth wrote these lines about the perfect small lake of Rydal Water.A 2 hour circular walk round Rydal Water, beginning at White Moss House, taking in Rydal Mount, Rydal Hall, Rydal Caves and Rydal lakeshore is one of the most popular short walks in the Lake District.
Grasmere- #2 of Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District
Grasmere was home to William Wordsworth during his most productive years.
The village of Grasmere lies beside the lake, in the heart of the Lake District.
Take a rowing boat out on Grasmere to enjoy the calm magic of this top 10 lake.
Windermere- #3 of Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District
Windermere is the largest lake in England.
It is the most southerly of the lakes, and the most accessible to visitors. When the railways came through to Windermere in the 19th century, the lake was opened to mass tourism for the first time. These days it is the first lake reached by most visitors, making it the busiest lake.
I spent many holidays as a child in a cabin on its shores. I used to love watching the Windermere Steamers ply the lake. These magnificent old boats still run today. A boat trip on Windmere is a wonderful day out.
Coniston Water # 4 of Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District.
Consiton Water was home to Ruskin, and the setting for Swallows and Amazons
John Ruskin, one of the great intellectuals and artists of the 19th Century, lived at Brantwood on the shores of the Lake - well worth a visit.
The lake is also the setting for "Swallows and Amazons", the classic children's books written by Arthur Ransome.
Along the west side of Coniston run the Coniston Fells, the most famous of which is Coniston Old Man. A really challenging walk, with fantastic views.
Derwent Water # 5 of Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District
Derwent Water, sometimes called "the Queen of the Lakes"
Keswick lies at the north of the lake, and The Theatre by the Lake by the shore of Derwent Water is a splendid place to visit.
Passenger boats go round Derwentwater from Keswick all day, rather like a circular bus service, stopping along the way to pick up walkers . You can get off the boat, walk a couple of stops along the lake, then hop back on!
A good pair of boots- essential for getting the best out of the Lake District
The very best way to see the Lakes is to get out on foot- and you need good boots!
( just a tip- New Balance have a factory on the edge of the Lake District, and there is a factory shop with great bargains in Keswick, Derwent Water)
New Balance Women's WO1201 Outdoor Shoe,Grey,10.5 AA
Amazon Price: $144.95 (as of 01/03/2010)
A good pair of boots is the #1 essential for walking in the Lake District.New Balance make boots in a variety of widths, and are really good quality.
Ullswater #6 of the Top 10 Lake in the Lake District.
Ullswater inspired Wordsworth's poem "I wandered lonely as a cloud..."
Take the boat from Glenridding over to Howtown and walk back along the shore round the south of the lake. It takes about 3 hours, its mostly pretty flat, and the views are wonderful.
From Glenridding drive down past Gowbarrow , home of Wordsworth's Daffodils, and visit the most famous waterfalls in the Lake District, Aira Force . These falls, along with much of the glorious Lake District landscape, are under the care of the National Trust
This is the steamer going from Glenridding to Howtown.
Wastwater #7 of the Top 10 Lakes in the Lake District
Wastwater is the deepest and most dramatic of all the Lakes.
This is the home of British rock climbing. Started by Victorian gentlemen in Tweed jackets and hobnail boots, this daring sport now has a huge following . The clothing these days is lightweight and high tech, but the challenges remain the same.
Thirlmere #8 of the Top 10 Lake District Lakes
The only man made lake on my list.
The first water arrived in Manchester on 13 October 1894. It travels all the 100 miles by gravity, taking nearly 2 days to arrive.
It is carried in the Thirlmere Aqueduct , a magnificent engineering achievement, which still supplies 1 million Mancunians a day with superb Lake District water.
Buttermere #9 of the top 10 Lake District Lakes
Beautiful Buttermere-"The lake of the Dairy Pastures"
Higher level walks up Red Pike, Fleetwith Pike, or Wainwright's favorite mountain, Haystacks, can all be done form Buttermere Village.
The Fish Inn at Buttermere was home to Mary Robinson,1778-1837, know as the Maid of Buttermere. She was said to be a stunning beauty, and became a tourist attraction after the Romantic poets sang her praises.Her story is told in the book by Melvyn Bragg.
Bassenthwaite Lake #10 of the Top 10 Lake District Lakes
Bassenthwaite Lake- the home of the Ospreys.
In recent years it has become the centre of a pilgrimage for bird watchers. In the early 20th Century Ospreys had become extinct in Britain However, in recent years, a nesting pair of birds has returned to Bassenthwaite Lake.
Every year now an Osprey Watch is mounted by the RSPB, the Lake District National Park and the Forestry Commision to protect the birds and their chicks. Live webcams monitor their progress, and a visitor centre has been set up so that they can be observed at a distance through telescopes by bird lovers.Its amazing!
Buy at AllPosters.com
The Bassenthwaite Lake Ospreys 2009
The Best Guide to the Lake District
This recently published guide gives you good, up to date information
The Rough Guide to the Lake District 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
Amazon Price: $12.74 (as of 01/03/2010)
This is a very comprehensive up to date guide to the Lake District
News from White Moss House Rydal Water
My Blog from White Moss House, Rydal Water, one of the Top 10 Lakes.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byVote on your favorite lake from the Lake District
Top 10 lakes in the Lake District.
Its hard to make a choice. All the lakes are so beautiful.
I hope you enjoyed this tour of 10 Lake District Lakes
It was a hard choice to decide which were my top 10 lakes- do you agree?
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- Spook Spook Nov 13, 2009 @ 11:10 am
- Beautiful, I was sure I had been to this lens before. Obviously not, strange, but better late than never. Blessed by an Angel.
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- whitemoss whitemoss Nov 16, 2009 @ 2:42 am
- Thank you kindly sir for your visit, and your blessing. Very much appreciated!
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- kiwisoutback kiwisoutback Nov 13, 2009 @ 8:10 am
- I've never heard of this area, but it looks incredible! Well done, Squid Angel blessed.
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- whitemoss whitemoss Nov 16, 2009 @ 2:41 am
- Thank you very much for your visit and your blessing! Friday 13 November not unlucky!
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- whitemoss whitemoss Nov 4, 2009 @ 3:03 am
- Thank you Paul and Mary Beth for your kind words and blessings.
I've very happy that my favourite lens is like by you all.[in reply to pkmcr]
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There are so many great books about the Lake District
Enjoy the Lake District in words and pictures, even if you can't get there.
Impressions of the Lake District (AA Leisure Guides)
Beautiful photographs to remind you of the Lake District
Amazon Price: $11.86 (as of 01/03/2010)
Best Walks in the Lake District (Best Walks Guides)
Everyone has their favorite walks. This book has a great selection of Lake District walks
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 01/03/2010)
The Lake District: The Panoramas
These photos in wide angle show amazing Lake District vistas
Amazon Price: $40.04 (as of 01/03/2010)
Lake District Calendar 2010
A different view every month. This calender on your wall will give you a reminder of the Lake District every day
Amazon Price: (as of 01/03/2010)
50 Walks in the Lake District: 50 Walks of 3-8 Miles
A handy collection, with some very short walks to get you started.There is an enormous choice of walks in the Lake District
Amazon Price: $17.90 (as of 01/03/2010)
A selection of stories written in and about the Lake District
All these books are set in the Lake District- get in the mood for a visit!
The Maid of Buttermere
Melvyn Bragg tells the amazing but true story of Mary Robinson the Beauty of Buttermere
Amazon Price: (as of 01/03/2010)
Swallows and Amazons (Godine Storyteller)
Arhtur Ransomes much loved childrens stories are set on the shores of Coniston Water
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 01/03/2010)
Rogue Herries (Herries Chronicles)
Hugh Walpole lived on Derwent Water, and based his characters in the Herries Chronicles, in the local scenery around Borrowdale and Keswick.
Amazon Price: (as of 01/03/2010)
Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales
Beatrix Potter lived at Sawrey, near the shores of Lake Windermere. Her exquisite illustrations and stories depict the creatures of the Lake District.
Amazon Price: $25.20 (as of 01/03/2010)
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