Esthwaite Water

Esthwaite Water is a small, shallow lake lying in the gentle countryside between Hawkshead and the Sawreys, between Windermere and Coniston Water. It is less dramatic than the mountain lakes, with low wooded hills around it, and that is its charm: a quiet, pastoral lake well away from the crowds. The lake is a nature reserve as well as a fishery, and its reedy margins are good for birds.

This is Beatrix Potter country. Her farmhouse at Hill Top is in Near Sawrey, just east of the lake, and the landscape of fields, woods and lanes appears in her books. William Wordsworth knew the lake as a schoolboy at Hawkshead and wrote about it in The Prelude.

Esthwaite is known for its fishing, particularly for trout and pike, and boats can be hired for angling. There is no path round the whole shore, but footpaths from Hawkshead and the lane along the western side give good views, and a short walk leads from the village to the northern end of the lake. It is lovely at any time of year, especially on still spring and autumn mornings, and it makes a gentle walk for anyone staying in Hawkshead. The lanes around the lake are quiet enough for an easy family bike ride from Hawkshead or the Windermere ferry.

Much of the shore is private, and access to the water is limited. Parking is in Hawkshead and in small spaces along the lanes. It is best combined with Hawkshead and Hill Top.