Bassenthwaite Lake
Officially this is the only body of water in the Lake District with the word lake in its title. Every other lake uses either mere or water. The lake's origins relate directly to the last glacial period and the effects of a glacially eroded valley that possibly linked Bassenthwaite Lake with Derwentwater as one much larger body of water. Today, they are connected only by the River Derwent, which meanders through the long-ago silted up alluvial plain that separates the two lakes.
The name of this lake has changed several times since the Middle Ages. In 1279 it was known as Bastantheweyt, in a period when the Plantaganet Edward I was king of England. In 1539 it was known as Bassyntwater and in 1675 it went by the name of Bassenthaitlake. The similarities and subtle shifts in these names change when the late 18th century name Broadwater is used. How this happened was due to the developing railways. The village of Bassenthwaite was going to have a new railway station connecting it to Cockermouth, Keswick and beyond. During construction of the line, which is roughly where the A66 is now situated, it was decided that the new station would be better served on the northwestern side of the lake, nowhere near the village of Bassenthwaite. To avoid confusion the station was called "Bassenthwaite Lake" to differentiate it from the village, which was situated miles away on the northeastern side. In the end Broadwater eventually shifted to Bassenthwaite simply because of public usage. Today, Bassenthwaite Lake Station has been thoroughly restored serving as a cafe with a full-sized replica steam train where the former line used to stand. Lost to history, this former line now serves thousands of vehicles via the present-day A66 that journey past this otherwise peaceful corner of Lakeland.
Brotherswater
- Buttermere
- Coniston Water
- Crummock Water
- Derwentwater
- Devoke Water
- Elter Water – The smallest of the lakes.
- Ennerdale Water
- Esthwaite Water
- Grasmere
- Haweswater (Reservoir)
- Hayeswater (Reservoir)
- Loweswater
- Rydal Water
- Thirlmere (Reservoir)
- Ullswater
- Wast Water – The deepest of the lakes.
- Windermere – The biggest of the lakes.