Esthwaite Water

Esthwaite Water is a small lake in the Lake District National Park. It lies between Windermere and Coniston Water, close to Hawkshead village and Grizedale Forest. The lake covers about 1.1 square kilometres and holds trout and pike. It has been named a site of special scientific interest because of its plants and water quality. The name comes from Old Norse and Middle English words for ‘clearing’ and ‘ash trees’. William Wordsworth wrote about the lake in several poems, including his first long poem, ‘The vale of Esthwaite’. Lines in ‘Lyrical Ballads’ and ‘The Prelude’ mention Esthwaite’s green peninsulas and the sound of splitting ice. Visitors find calm water bordered by woodland and farmland. The lake supports many kinds of pondweed and the rare slender naiad. Paths run beside the shore, offering views of the water and the surrounding fells. Hawkshead’s stone cottages stand a short walk away, adding to the quiet charm of the place.