The English Lake District WHS

Lakes and waterfalls in the Lake District

The Lake District National Park is home to a diverse array of glacial ribbon lakes and dramatic cascades. This selection spans from the 10-mile length of Windermere to the hidden wild swimming pools of Galleny Force. Notable sites include Aira Force, a 65-foot drop featuring a Victorian stone footbridge, and Stock Ghyll Force, which historically powered Ambleside's textile mills. The list also features serene waters like Buttermere and Rydal Water, providing a comprehensive look at the region's aquatic geography and its influence on Romantic literature.

Lakes and Waterfalls — Map

Ballantyne108 / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Aira Force

A 65-foot waterfall located near Ullswater, featuring a Victorian stone footbridge and landscaped arboretum managed by the National Trust.

John Holmes / CC BY-SA 2.0

B

Lake District National Park

The Lake District, also known as the Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region and national park in Cumbria, North West England.

Sylwia Smith / CC-BY-SA

C

Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall

A 70-foot waterfall in Ambleside that historically powered twelve local bobbin mills. Accessible via a short woodland walk from the town center.

Sylwia Smith / CC-BY-SA

D

Grasmere

Grasmere is one of the smaller lakes of the English Lake District, in the county of Cumbria.

Abbasi1111 / CC BY 3.0

E

Windermere

Windermere is a ribbon lake in Cumbria, England, and part of the Lake District.

George Gastin / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Derwent Water

Derwentwater, or Derwent Water, is a lake in the Lake District in North West England, immediately south of Keswick.

Thruxton / CC BY 3.0

G

Coniston Water

Coniston Water in the English county of Cumbria is the third-largest lake in the Lake District by volume, and the fifth-largest by area.

Jenkinsp / Public domain

H

Ullswater

Ullswater is a glacial lake in Cumbria, England and part of the Lake District National Park.

Sylwia Smith / CC-BY-SA

I

Rydal Water

One of the smallest lakes in the region, situated between Grasmere and Ambleside. It is known for its connection to poet William Wordsworth and the nearby Rydal Caves.

David Edgar / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Brothers Water

Brothers Water is a small lake in the Hartsop valley, in the eastern region of the Lake District in England.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

K

Tom Ghyll Waterfalls

A series of cascades located in a wooded ravine near Tarn Hows, formed by the stream flowing from the tarn toward Coniston Water.

Antiquary / CC BY-SA 4.0

L

Galleny Force

A series of cascading pools in the Langstrath Valley near Stonethwaite, frequently used as a natural wild swimming location.

M

Skelwith Force

A powerful, low-lying waterfall on the River Brathay near Skelwith Bridge, where the river narrows significantly through a rock cleft.

N

Lodore Falls

A dramatic cascade near Derwentwater, famous for inspiring Robert Southey's 1820 poem 'How the Water Comes Down at Lodore'.

O

Buttermere

A glacial lake surrounded by the fells of High Stile and Fleetwith Pike, featuring a level 4.5-mile circular walking path.

P

Crummock Water

The largest of the three lakes in the Buttermere valley, bordered by the steep slopes of Grasmoor and Melbreak.

Other Lists

The English Lake District WHS Essentials Lake District Mountain Views Lake District Historic Sites Historic Churches & Priories Lake District Outdoor Adventures Natural Wetlands & Bogs