Top 20 Lakes around Copeland

The lakes around Copeland are known for their diverse natural landscape, featuring deep glacial lakes, remote tarns, and extensive woodlands. This region, part of the southwestern Lake District, offers a blend of dramatic fells and tranquil waters, providing varied settings for exploration and outdoor activities.

For dramatic scenery, Wastwater stands out as England's deepest lake, surrounded by imposing mountains like Scafell Pike and featuring striking screes that drop steeply to the water's edge. Buttermere also offers breathtaking views, nestled in a classic U-shaped glacial valley with crags and peaks encircling it.

Yes, Ennerdale Water is the most westerly and remote of the Lake District's lakes, being the only road-free lake in the national park, offering an unspoiled and serene landscape. Loweswater also provides a tranquil and less crowded experience, nestled in a wooded valley with peaceful scenery.

The lakes around Copeland offer extensive hiking opportunities for various skill levels. You can find woodland trails, lakeside paths, and routes leading to challenging fells. For example, Wastwater is a prime location for hiking to Scafell Pike, while Ennerdale Water offers a circular walk and serves as a starting point for Wainwright mountains. You can find detailed running routes around the lakes on komoot, such as the Running Trails around Copeland guide.

Yes, several lakes offer family-friendly experiences. Wast Water is noted as family-friendly, with places for picnics and dips in the lake. The popular 4.5-mile (7km) lakeshore walk around Buttermere is suitable for almost everyone. Additionally, Blea Tarn is listed as a family-friendly viewpoint, and White Rock and Hodbarrow Lagoon also offer family-friendly attractions.

Absolutely. The area around Copeland's lakes provides excellent terrain for cycling and mountain biking. You can explore routes like the Ennerdale Water Lakeside Path. For more options, check out the Gravel biking around Copeland guide or the MTB Trails around Copeland guide for specific routes and difficulty levels.

Beyond the lakes themselves, you'll encounter several unique natural features. Wastwater is famous for its dramatic screes. Crummock Water is fed by Scale Force, the Lake District's highest waterfall. In late spring, the Rannerdale Knotts area near Crummock Water is covered in a magical carpet of bluebells. The region also features numerous fells, woodlands, and remote tarns like Innominate Tarn on Haystacks.

The best time to visit depends on your preferred activities. Spring offers the spectacle of bluebells near Crummock Water, while summer provides warmer weather for hiking and water activities. The autumn foliage can be stunning. Even in winter, some areas like Wasdale offer hiking options, though conditions can be challenging on higher fells.

While the primary draw is natural beauty, the area has some historical connections. Buttermere has literary links, having been visited by Wordsworth and Coleridge. White Rock and Hodbarrow Lagoon is listed as a historical site. Additionally, Innominate Tarn on Haystacks is famously the resting place of Alfred Wainwright, whose ashes were scattered there.

Many locations offer stunning views. The western and southern banks of Wast Water provide a view often cited as England's favorite, perfectly framing Great Gable. The summit of Crag Fell Summit offers incredible views over Ennerdale Water. Robin Hood's Chair on Ennerdale Water's shore is another excellent spot to admire the tranquil surroundings.

Visitors frequently praise the sense of solitude and untouched nature, especially at places like Ennerdale Water. The dramatic scenery, particularly at Wast Water, is a major draw. Many appreciate the extensive hiking opportunities and the chance to escape crowds, finding peace and stunning vistas throughout the region.