The beauty of Derwentwater

There are four islands in total on Derwentwater, all owned by the National Trust, as is much of the shoreline. Compared to islands on other lakes the ones on Derwentwater are all regular in shape. There is also one floating island which appears sporadically towards the end of summer.

One of the popular ways to enjoy the beauty of the lake, besides walking the lakeshore paths, is to take one of the Keswick launches. This operate on a regular timetable around the lake. Not only is it possible to take a cruise and enjoy the complete circuit of Derwentwater, lasting about 50 minutes, you can also use the lake tickets to hop on and off the launch at any of the 7 landing stages around the lake. You can enjoy a walk and a picnic and then catch another launch at the same or different jetty.

A little further on from the boat landings is Friars Crag, with its stunning views of Derwentwater and the Borrowdale valley — one of the most popular places for photographs anywhere on the lake. Ruskin described the view as one of the three or four most beautiful in Europe, and there is a memorial to him on the crag: a slab of rock with a bronze portrait medallion.

It is called Friar’s Crag because it is said to be the departure point for monks sailing to St Herbert’s Island on pilgrimage, to where the saint was said to live.

The fictional Old Brown, from Beatrix Potter’s Squirrel Nutkin, was also supposed to have sailed to that island — known as Owl Island in the book — and the Lingholm Woods on the opposite shore were the background for many of her woodland and nature sketches.

A scenic ten-mile waymarked walk right around the lake, on flat and easy paths through ancient woodland and along the shore, with picnic stops, cafes and restaurants along the way.

Look out for the sculpture of hands at Brandelhow, commemorating a hundred years of National Trust care. And in Calf Close Bay, the Centenary Stone: carved out of a boulder of Borrowdale volcanic rock, its design ten segments across ten rings, one for each decade. The range of lake levels means it varies from total submergence to standing marooned high on the shore. A memorial plaque is set beside the path.

Watersports are a very popular pastime on the lake. Derwentwater Marina offers tuition, and hires out canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, rowing boats, dinghies and windsurfers.

Keswick Launch Co hire rowing boats and self-drive motor boats from the Keswick boat landings, and there are several launching spots around the lake.

Powered craft on the lake must not exceed 10mph.