Route: Bassenthwaite Lake
Area: Northern Lake District
Date of walk: 16th June 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.2 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Cloudy with some bright spells
Bassenthwaite Lake has two claims to fame – it’s the only lake in the Lake District with the word lake in its title, and it’s home to a breeding pair of ospreys. There is a path along the western shore of the lake, but the busy A66 is nearby and so a shoreline walk is best approached from the east. The only access from this side is via Mirehouse which makes for a wonderful entrance
More in hope than expectation we packed the binoculars and telephoto lens in the hope of seeing an osprey fishing, and parked at the Old Sawmill tearoom opposite Mirehouse. We walked through the beautiful grounds of Mirehouse in the direction of the lake (an entrance fee is payable but there is an alternative route via a nearby public footpath which skirts round the grounds). I’m glad that we opted to walk through the grounds, as it was a lovely path and well worth the fee
After leaving Mirehouse we joined a path which took us past St Bega’s Church, set in idyllic surroundings near the shore of the lake. We followed a succession of paths across the fields before joining the lakeshore path at Bowness Bay and walked round the headland keeping a sharp lookout for osprey – but were out of luck
The return route was mostly along a quiet lane, with the latter part being along a footpath through Dodd Wood adjacent to the A591
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Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Regular followers will know that I like to start off with a red squirrel photo before the start of a lakeland walk…
I’ve included more than usual today, as I don’t recall having seen so many around our local patch - and good to see some youngsters
They normally compete at the food source, and the dominant one will chase the other away
But these two weren’t being competitive - possibly mother and child?
The first time I’ve seen this happening
Late afternoon on the same day, the view of Bassenthwaite Lake from the car park at the start of the walk
We cross the road and enter the grounds of Mirehouse - an unavoidable late start meant that we had to walk straight through and we didn’t really do the grounds justice
We pass by Mirehouse which is also open to the public - we shall have to return when we have more time for a proper visit
Looking back to Mirehouse, with Dodd above
Bassenthwaite
We leave the grounds of Mirehouse and follow the public footpath ahead
St Bega’s Church
Although the church is close to the lake there’s no access to the shore, and we follow a succession of paths through the fields with the lake to our left
A short section along a lane before we turn left at this bridge to head towards the shore of Bassenthwaite
We follow a boardwalk through the reedbeds
We arrive at the shore, with Bowness Bay on our left and the Lord’s Seat group across the lake
Bowness Bay
We follow the path round the headland
Looking south towards lakeland…
…and looking north
We arrive at Scarness Bay and head inland along this boardwalk
The Edge, leading to Ullock Pike
Looking back
Ragged Robin
A last look back across Bassenthwaite before we walk inland to Scarness
We follow the quiet lane from Scarness for about 1 mile
Shortly after arriving at the A591 we join a path on the other side of the road which takes us through Dodd Wood
Back to the start at the Old Sawmill Tea Room
View of Bassenthwaite Lake from the Whinlatter Pass on the way home
