Bassenthwaite
Buttermere
Coniston Water
Crummock
Water
Derwentwater
Elterwater
Ennerdale
Water
Grasmere
Haweswater
Loweswater
Rydal Water
Thirlmere
Ullswater
Wast Water
Windermere

Here I give short descriptions of the lakes, with suggested walks and links to the nearest towns and other places of interest. This may give you some ideas on how to plan a day out.

The principal lakes are Windermere, Ullswater and Derwentwater, and they are certainly the most popular with visitors, but I hope you will explore the other less accessible lakes in the west of the National Park.

I have also included the larger of the many smaller lakes to be found in the area but not the many hundreds of tarns (small fresh water lakes) dotted around the fells and mountains. Most of these are accessible by public footpath, but there are so many that they could occupy a substantial web site by themselves.