Lakes of the Lake District: Difference between revisions

'''Esthwaite Water''' is a privately-owned, picturesque lake, nestled between [[Windermere]] and [[Coniston Water]] in relatively lowland areas, set against a backdrop of beautiful, rolling hills, with coniferous and deciduous woodlands to the east, south and west. The 11th largest lake from our list has a surface area of 100 hectares (247 acres), 7 kilometres (4.35 miles) of shoreline, and has a maximum depth of 15.5 metres (50 feet). The simplest meaning of ''Esthwaite Water'' would be the ''lake by the eastern clearing'', with the first and second elements coming from Old Norse, and the third from Old English.<ref>{{gambles|17}}</ref>

Esthwaite Water lies in a fairly open valley that was carved by a separate tongue of ice from the Langdale fells. The ice continued to excavate in a southerly direction before joining with the Windermere flow, south of Claife Heights.<ref name="smith66"/> This openness gives a feeling of space from some of the various vantage points that offer fine views across the landscape in almost every direction. In 1987 is was designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status, which is protected under conservation. It was London-born Helen Beatrix Potter’s favourite lake, which was handy given the proximity of her 17th-century writing retreat of [[Hilltop]], a modest, picture-perfect farmhouse set within the beautiful village of [[Near Sawrey]]. The main settlement is that of [[Hawkshead]], situated at the northern end of the lake.