Wast Water

Wast Water

Route: Wast Water

Area: Southern Lake District

Date of walk: 12th February 2020

Walkers: Andrew 

Distance: 4.8 miles

Ascent: 300 feet

Weather: Mostly cloudy, with a few bright patches

Wast Water, also known as Wastwater, is the deepest of all the lakes in the district, and the view along it to the head of Wasdale is one of the finest in the country. The area at the foot of the lake, Nether Wasdale, is ideal for a low level walk and it’s quiet too – I only saw 3 other walkers on today’s circuit 

I parked in a small car park by Cinderdale Bridge at a triangle of roads just beyond Nether Wasdale. After turning right out of the car park I crossed the bridge over the River Irt and joined the track leading to Easthwaite. After passing through the farm I headed towards the foot of Wast Water. The path to Lund Bridge is clearly shown on the OS map as a public footpath, but there is a sign on the gate ‘PRIVATE – no public right of way’. This wasn’t an issue, as the so-called private path may be circumvented by visiting the boathouse at the foot of the lake – a worthwhile diversion. Having done so, I walked along the bank of the River Irt, crossed over Lund Bridge, and then walked back along the other bank of the river, around the edge of Low Wood 

I soon arrived at the foot of Wast Water, where there is a wonderful view along the lake to some of the most impressive peaks in the Lake District. I continued along the lakeshore path and just beyond Wasdale Hall I climbed up to the road, which I followed for a short distance before turning off at High Birkhow. The track beside the wood, and through the open countryside at Ashness How, is a muddy one at the best of times and today was no exception. Beyond Ashness How I turned off to follow the path to Scale Bridge and from there walked along the very pleasant path back to the start 

For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box

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

Previous walk: « | Next walk: »