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Ennerdale Water Circular

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Western Fells

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.1 miles / 11.5 km    Ascent - 600 feet / 182 metres

Time - 4 hours 10 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Ennerdale Water Circular
Click image to see photo description.

This excellent walk in the West Lakes, Cumbria, completes a circuit of Ennerdale Water which is the most westerly of the Lake District's lakes. The route offers some wonderful views of the high fells including Red Pike, Great Gable and Pillar reflected in the still waters of the lake. The walk does include a section of rocky path along the southern shore of Ennerdale Water.

The start is the car park at Bleach Green (grid ref. NY086153) which lies a short distance east of the village of Ennerdale Bridge. After parking, exit the car park at the rear and follow the track down to the lake shore. Turn left across the weir and continue for 700 metres along a clear track to reach the shore. Continue along the track for a further 1.2 kilometres and follow the track as it bends sharp right (grid ref. NY100163) to re-join the shore. The route continues along the shore to reach Bowness (grid ref. NY107155) where you leave the track and follow a path along the edge of the lake with Bowness Knott carpark above on your left.

The path soon joins the main track up Ennerdale (grid ref. NY112151). Follow this broad track up the valley enjoying the scenery ahead. Reaching the end of the lake, you follow the River Liza (on your right) for a short distance to reach a junction of tracks (grid ref. NY131143). Turn left across the river and continue to the edge of a wooded area. Just before the tress turn right and follow the permissive path for 150 metres where you bear left to continue along a path which leads back to lake shore.

The onward path continues for three kilometres to reach a rocky section beneath Angler's Crag where care is needed especially after rain. Continue along the clear path to reach the weir encountered earlier in the walk. Lave the lake side path and follow the track back to the car park at Bleach Green.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2058 Ennerdale Skyline incl. Steeple & other fellsmod/hard13.8 miles
Walk 1671 Grike & Crag Fell easy/mod6.6 miles
Walk 1082 Ennerdale Horseshoesevere18.0 miles
Walk 1745 Grike and Caw Fell from Kinniside Stone Circlemod/hard13.5 miles
Walk 1302 Low Fell and Fellbarrow from Loweswatereasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 3676 Hen Comb from Loweswatermoderate5.4 miles
Walk 1290 Mellbreak from Loweswatermoderate7.0 miles
Walk 2539 Grasmoor and Rannerdale Knottsmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 1231 Grasmoor via Whiteless Pikemoderate7.0 miles
Walk 2020 Rannerdale Knotts and Crummock Water from Cinderdale Commoneasy/mod2.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

The Cumbria Way

The Cumbria WayA guidebook to the 73 mile Cumbria Way, an easy long-distance walk though the heart of the Lake District National Park, from Ulverston in the south to Carlisle in the north, with good transport links to either end. The route is largely low-level but this guide offers alternative mountain days to climb some of the famous fells en route.
More information

Lake District: Low Level and Lake Walks

Lake District: Low Level and Lake WalksThis guidebook describes 30 of the best low-level walks in the Lake District. From delightful wooded glades and sparkling tarns, to waterfalls and glacier-carved valleys towered over by craggy mountains. The walks described aim to seek out the best walking that the lower areas of the Lake District have to offer.
More information

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