Bassenthwaite Lake
Travelling on the B5289 from Keswick, take the Watendlath turning and stop at Surprise View for a first glimpse of Bassenthwaite which lies beyond the lovely Derwentwater. The lake is about four miles long and was said to have inspired Tennyson when he was writing “Morte d’Arthur”. The lake into which Arthur flings Excalibur, in the poem, matches the description of Bassenthwaite.
This is one of the quieter lakes, on which boating is restricted. It is popular with fisherman and offers opportunities for peaceful walks around the banks. There are woods and farmland around the area and the sprawling village of Bassenthwaite on the north side of the lake. This is the most northerly of the lakes and one popular with birds. There are often rare varieties, such as osprey, to be found here.
