The Ings

The Ings is a wooded wetland area in Strandshag Bay at Derwentwater, near Keswick. It lies adjacent to Stable Hills farmhouse and opposite Lord's Island, once home to the Earls of Derwentwater and Radcliffe families in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Derwentwater Walk, a ten mile circular route around the lake, goes through The Ings on a raised boardwalk due the nature of the land. The route is waymarked and passes through ancient woodlands, owned by the.

Etymology
The word ing is of Old English origin, borrowed from Old Norse eng. It typically refers to marshland or water meadows.

Access
The area floods primarily in the winter months but also depends on the water levels of the lake. It is a natural habitat for wildlife. There is a boardwalk running through the Ings, which has had restoration works done in recent years due to repetitive flood damage. It has been raised above the natural flood level allowing the boardwalk to be used all year round. Restoration work was part of the National Trust's Derwent Riverlands programme and was was funded by the European agricultural fund for rural development.

In a clockwise direction, the path from Strandshag Bay joins the boardwalk and meanders easterly through the woods before turning south and connecting with the gravel road that leads to Stable Hills. Traffic from B5289 can be heard along parts of the boardwalk. Brockle Beck flows into the Ings. During the warmer months can be seen along the boardwalk.

Land ownership
The Ings is owned by the, and was acquired in two stages. The first being 94.17 acres was acquired on 13 September, 1929. It comprised of 1.5 miles of farm and woodland between Crow Park and Ashness Gate, including part of The Ings, Stable Hills and Broomhill Point. The second being 4.99 acres was acquired on 26 August, 1952.