Elter Water




 * Not to be confused with the nearby village of Elterwater.

Elter Water is a small lake on the main thoroughfare to the valley of Great Langdale where the dominant and striking Langdale Pikes are situated. It is connected via the characterful A593 and lies approximately 3.5 miles west of Ambleside and half a mile southeast from the village of Elterwater. Both the lake and the village are popular with walkers and cyclists alike, which can be busy all year round but particularly so during the more clement months.

The smallest of the lakes in the Lake District, Elter Water is 75 times smaller than Windermere yet it is by no means lacking in other areas, offering stunning views from the eastern shore looking towards Lingmoor Fell and the aforementioned Pikes. It is made of three distinct sections and only has a maximum depth of around 6 metres (20 ft). The River Brathay flows through the southern part of the lake at The Nab, while the Great Langdale Beck flows from the north. They converge at the eastern section of the lake before continuing southeast towards Skelwith Force waterfalls at Skelwith Bridge and on towards Ambleside and Windermere. The majestic Whooper Swans winter on the lake here.

National Trust
Although the lake is privately owned, the does own over 500 acres of the High Close Estate stretching from the northeast shores of Elter Water to the southwest shores of Grasmere. This land was acquired on 24 February, 1953. They also own additional lands adjacent to the village and at Skelwith Bridge, which is reassuring because you know it is usually well looked after.

Parking
Good weather always draws a crowd so be prepared when parking your car in the quaint village of Elterwater. The National Trust owns the main car park although there are nowhere near enough spaces for the number of visitors. As a result of this, the roads coming into the village from the north and east can become somewhat congested, in effect becoming one big car park themselves and thus spoiling this Lakeland gem. This long-standing issue also causes damage to the roadside where muddy ruts are commonplace. However, if you plan to do a long walk with the multiple routes nearby, it is advisable to get there as early as possible to secure a parking spot, especially at weekends and Bank Holidays. If you are a National Trust member you do not need to pay, instead just scan your membership card using the pay and display machine and place your ticket where it can be seen and you are good to go. For Non-members, you will have to pay to park here but the price you pay is small in comparison to the value of the beautiful countryside that surrounds you.



The Cumbria Way
The path near the north and eastern areas of the lake form part of the Cumbria Way, a long-distance trail approximately 70 miles (112 km) long. The majority of the trail crosses through the entirety of the Lake District National Park starting/finishing at Ulverston in the south and Carlisle in the north. The route can walked in either direction. It passes via Coniston Water, the valley of Great Langdale, Borrowdale, Derwentwater, Keswick, Skiddaw and Caldbeck. The path here is level, of good quality and well maintained, used by locals and visitors alike. Views of the lake can be seen from some parts of the path as it passes through a small wood. The views open up where the lake joins the River Brathay.