Ennerdale Water
Herdus, from the approach road to Bowness Knott car park
Ennerdale Water is the most westerly lake of the Lake District and one of the most remote of the lakes in the Lakes District.
As such Ennerdale is not as well known to tourists who tend to head towards the central lakes like Derwentwater and Windermere. Along with Wastwater and Wasdale, Ennerdale Water is another lake that is local to my home and I have visited the lake on many occasions. The valley and lake are a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
In 2002, a plan was hatched between landowners to let their land run wild and the following year the plot became a project, Wild Ennerdale. The Forestry Commission, the National Trust and United Utilities – which together own the Ennerdale valley – agreed to “allow the evolution of Ennerdale as a wild valley, relying more on natural processes to shape its ecology and landscape of the area”
The mountains of Ennerdale from Ennerdale Bridge
With road access limited to its western end, and only three buildings in five miles, Ennerdale was already wilder than most places in the Lake District. The valley, is seven miles long, from the village of Ennerdale Bridge to the mountains of Green Gable and Great Gable at its head, and about two miles wide from peak to peak. The valley floor is dominated by the two-mile-long lake of Ennerdale Water fed by the River Liza.
Access to the lake is via the A5086 road between Cockermouth and Egremont and the turn off for the lake is signposted. The village of Ennerdale Bridge marks the start of the access road itself, which becomes a narrow winding mainly single track road with passing places. There are two car parks available from this road, Bleach Green near Broadmoor forest at the beginning of the lake, and Bowness Knott at the end of the road.
A dead tree stands guard by the path around the lake shore
It is possible to walk around the entire lake by starting at either of the two car parks and following the path that generally sticks to the shore. This walk is around 6.5 miles in length and most of it is along a fairly flat path, although on the southwest side of the lake around Anglers Crag you may need to do a small amount of scrambling.
At the eastern side of the lake you will find the start of the Wild Ennerdale valley, a project that aims to restore a truly natural landscape to the area, devoid of any interference from humans. Walking through this wooded area is a great way of exploring nature and if you are lucky you may spot one or two deer
Ennerdale Water from the Forestry Commission track around the lake
There is a Forestry Commission track from Bowness Knott car park that continues along the side of the lake towards the Ennerdale and Black Sail Youth Hostels. Vehicle access to YHA Black Sail is not permitted but access to YHA Ennerdale along the three mile section of gravel forest road is for authorised users only, including YHA staff and visiting customers.. It is a relative easy walk though and the track follows the shore of the lake providing a wealth of photographic opportunities.
View of Angler’s Crag and Crag Fell over Ennerdale Water. The road to Bowness Knott has a number of viewpoints that can provide opportunities for panoramic images.
Photography
There are numerous views of the lake from the road to Bowness Knott car park with Angler’s Crag and Crag Fell and The Side as the backdrop.
Broadmoor car park provides easy access to the foot of the lake, allowing the length of the lake to be seen. There is a circular walk around the lake which takes approximately 4 hours (10km) that offers different views of the lake.
The forestry track alongside the lake from Bowness Knott car park also provides lakeside photo opportunities. The track continues past the head of the lake up to Black Sail Hut with some magnificent mountain scenery. Alternatively there is a return path that follows the River Liza through the forests where you may find red squirrels, peacock butterflies and Hummingbird Hawk Moths.
Getting There:
The lake can only be accessed from the west. Ennerdale Bridge is accessed from the A5086 between Cockermouth and Egremont. Once at Ennerdale Bridge, turn down beside the small school and follow the road for approximately ½ a mile until you see a signpost to the right for Broadmoor and Ennerdale Lake. Turn off and follow this road for a further ½ mile through the forest until you arrive at the car park.
Broadmoor / Bleach Green Car Park: Grid Ref NY 085 154
For Bowness Knott car park follow the same route but continue past the Broadmoor turning for a further 4 miles until you arrive at the car park in the woods at the base of Bowness Knott.
Bowness Knott Car Park: Grid Ref NY 109 153