BASSENTHWAITE LAKE, LAKE DISTRICT - CUMBRIA

Bassenthwaite Lake is located in the Lake District in England. It is the only lake in the Lake District with 'lake' in its name, all the others being waters (e.g. Derwent Water, Ullswater) or meres (e.g. Thirlmere, Buttermere). It is fed by, and drains into, the River Derwent. The lake lies at the foot of Skiddaw and Dodd Wood, near the town of Keswick.

The Derwent has it's origin in Watendlath and Sprinkling tarns. The river then runs through Derwent Water across the alluvial plane for 3 miles and into Bassenthwaite lake.It then forms the effluent of that lake.

Bassenthwaite Lake is about 6 kilometres long by 600 to 1000 metres wide.At approximately 2 square miles it is virtually the same size as Derwent Water although the drainage area ( 91.5 sq miles) is 44 times greater and larger than any other lake in the Lake District.In addition to the Derwent the following rivers also feed directly or indirectly into Bassenthwaite Greta, Naddle, St John's Beck, Glenderaterra, Glenderamackin, Newlands Beck, Beck Wythop, Dubwath Beck, Dash Beck, Chapel Beck.

Bassenthwaite Lake is reported to contain trout, pike,perch,vendace and eels. Cormorants have been known to fish the lake and herons can also be seen. At the turn of the 19th century there was a report of 60 nests in a heronry in Wythop Woods.

BASSENTHWAITE LAKE HOTELS

Armathwaite Hall Hotel

Bassenthwaite Lake, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4RE.
Few hotels are so beautifully situated as Armathwaite Hall - one of the original stately homes of England.Magnificently set in the secluded splendour of 400 acres of deer park and woodland, bordered by the beauty of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Lakeside Guest House

Bassenthwaite Lake, Dubwath, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9YD.
Lakeside Country House is an elegant Edwardian property offering upmarket accommodation. It is ideally situated on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake with superb views of the Skiddaw mountain range.

MAJOR LAKES

Bassenthwaite Lake
Buttermere
Coniston Water
Crummock Water
Derwent Water
Ennerdale Water
Grasmere
Haweswater Reservoir
Hayeswater
Loweswater
Rydal Water
Thirlmere
Ullswater
Wast Water
Windermere

TRANSPORT LINKS

Bassenthwaite Lake is crossed where the Derwent leaves it by Ouse Bridge, on the road between the Castle Inn and Cockermouth/Keswick.