Ennerdale Water, Lake District travel guide and Cleator information

Visit Ennerdale Water

The most western of the Lake District lakes, Ennerdale Water is situated close to the towns of Cleator Moor and Whitehaven, and the village of Cleator. There is also a very small village called Ennerdale Bridge to the west of the lake. Ennerdale lake is about 2.5 miles long and less than a mile wide, and acts as a reservoir for the towns on the plain below.

The great appeal of Ennerdale Water is its quite remote location and relatively difficult access (there is no road alongside the lake and no main road leading to the lake), which ensures it is quieter than the other lakes giving a more 'authentic' lakeland experience.

It is in a very scenic location in the Ennerdale Valley, with high fells rising around the lake including Pillar, Great Gable, Green Gable, haycock, Steeple and High Crag.

There is quite a contrast between the two ends of the lake, the eastern end being surrounded by dramatic mountains and the western looking out across the flatter landscapes towards Whitehaven, and the valley is also unusual for the amount of (planted) forests.

The path that runs along the northern edge of Ennerdale Water is popular (and mostly flat), while a complete circuit of the lake will take about three hours but does include the need to climb over or pass beneath Angler's Crag, the only 'difficulty' of the walk which can involve a bit of scrambling around - the walk starts at the car park at Bowkness Knott and approaches the lake through the forest.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Lake District guide and the