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Ennerdale Water Walk

6.8 miles (11 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Follow the lovely lakeside path around Ennerdale water on this circular walk in the Lake District National Park. Ennerdale is ideal for a tranquil walk because of its remote location.  It is also the only lake not to have a road running alongside it so is the perfect escape.
The well defined path runs close to the shoreline for most of the route with some woodland sections along the way. The views of Ennerdale valley are fabulous with some of the highest and best-known fells in Cumbria forming a spectacular backdrop -  Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth, High Crag, Steeple and Pillar are all visible as you make your way around the lake.
The walk begins in the car park at the western end of the lake near Ennerdale Bridge where you can get refreshments in the Shepherd's Arms pub. There's also a car park at Bowness Knot on the northern end of the lake.
If you would like to continue your walk you could head into the adjacent Ennerdale Forest and enjoy a woodland hike along the River Liza.
A few miles to the north you will find Cogra Moss. This delightful little reservoir is a very peaceful spot with nice woodland trails to follow through the surrounding plantations.

Postcode

CA23 3AU - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Ennerdale Water OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Ennerdale Water Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

Head west of the lake to the Shepherd's Arms for some post walk refreshments. An old village-centre farm, the pub is a comfortable and friendly destination in the Lakeland tradition, offering visitors good food and good ales in the company of convivial locals. It's a popular stop off point for walkers doing the Wainwright's Coast to Coast as the route passes right through the area. Indoors there's a cosy interior with two real fires to warm yourself by during the winter months. Outside there's seating overlooking the waters of the pretty beck. The pub is dog friendly and also does good quality accommodation if you need to stay over. You can find it on Kirkland Road at Ennerdale Bridge with a postcode of CA23 3AR for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The lake and surrounding woodland are a great place for a dog walk. The Shepherd's Arms pub at Ennerdale Bridge is also dog friendly.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Ennerdale Water - geograph.org.uk - 31624

Ennerdale Water with snow covered Pillar Mountain in the background must be one of the wildest places in England.

Ennerdale Water - geograph.org.uk - 1730110

Looking south-east along Ennerdale Water from the footpath as it approaches Anglers' Crag.

Ennerdale Water - geograph.org.uk - 546004

Taken from near Gillerthwaite

Ennerdale Water - geograph.org.uk - 1438923

Nice view of the lakeside trail

Ennerdale Water jetty - geograph.org.uk - 991157

This picture of the jetty was taken from the site of the old Anglers Inn after it had been demolished. The inn was demolished in 1961 ready for the raising of the water level by four feet. The battle for planning permission for raising the level raged for twenty years until 1981 when Michael Heseltine finally refused consent. Thus the inn was unfortunately demolished unnecessarily, leaving just the jetty.

Bowness Knott, Ennerdale Water - geograph.org.uk - 546024

Ennerdale Water Taken from Mireside

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Ennerdale Water.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Ennerdale Water.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)