Hayeswater

Hayeswater is a small natural lake in the Lake District of Cumbria, England. It lies about a mile south-east of the hamlet of Hartsop in the Patterdale Valley. The lake sits at nearly 1,400 feet above sea level between The Knott to the east and Gray Crag to the west. A dam was built in 1908 to supply water to Penrith. Hayeswater Gill feeds the lake from the south, rising near the Roman High Street and flowing to Cow Bridge where it meets the outlet from Brothers Water. The dam was removed in 2014 and the lake restored as a mountain tarn. A new footbridge now spans Hayeswater Beck 250 yards downstream from the tarn’s outlet. The tarn remains popular with adventurous anglers and fly fishermen. Native wild brown trout thrive in its waters, feeding on abundant tadpoles, caddis and olives. Ospreys are occasionally spotted flying overhead. Visitors reach Hayeswater along paths from Hartsop or Patterdale. The surrounding fells offer quiet walking with views of the tarn and surrounding crags. The restored waters reflect the slopes of The Knott and Gray Crag. Anglers wade carefully along the shore while others pause to watch birds over the water. The footbridge provides a vantage point for the outlet stream.