Peaceful Loweswater in the English Lake District - The Western Lakes

The western area of England's Lake District contains five main lakes, three of which (Crummock Water, Buttermere and Loweswater) are close together while Wastwater and Ennerdale Water are rather separate from them by mountains.

Of all the lakes in the National Park Loweswater is probably one of the least well known, Allong with with the better known Buttermere and Crummock Water it feeds the River Cocker which a few miles downstream merges with the Derwent. Mellbreak is the mountain that towers over the eastern end of the Loweswater. Carling Knott and Burnbank Fell rise above its southern shore. However, at the lake's western end the land becomes more gently undulating and pastoral. Loweswater is very small, even less in area than Rydal Water, being only about one mile long.

The National Trust owns both the lake and much of the land around it, just as it does in the rest of the Buttermere valley. They do permit rowing boats, and permits can be obtained for fishing. Most people, however, are more interested in the walking opportunities and there is a nice walk with a few possible variants that circuits the lake.

This is not a place that will resonate with people wanting slot machines and noisy bars, not even sailing trips on motor launches. It is a quiet place for calm reflection or simply to empty one's mind of all the hassles of everyday life.