Islands of Derwentwater

Four islands, and sometimes five

There are four islands in total on Derwentwater, all owned by the National Trust, as is much of the shoreline. Compared with islands on other lakes, the ones here are all regular in shape.

There is also one floating island, which appears sporadically towards the end of summer.

Derwent Isle

Close to the boat landings and west of Friar’s Crag. Shielded from view by woodland, visitors to the landings can barely see the impressive house on it — the only island that still has a house. Access is by boat, and the boat-house is clearly visible from the landings.

The island and house are leased by the National Trust to tenants, and the house is open to the public for organised visits five times a year.

It was reputedly called Vicar’s Island originally, being the property of Fountains Abbey before the dissolution of the monasteries, and was probably first settled by the German copper miners of the sixteenth century.

The grand house was built in the late 1770s by a prominent character, Joseph Pocklington, who put up the house and several follies. He is best remembered for spectacular firework displays on the lakeshore and for the fake naval battles staged around the island — with a fair on Crow Park, and a regatta of teams rowing, sailing and swimming round it.

A small pine-topped island on Derwentwater, reflected in still water

Lord’s Island

Close to Derwent Isle, in the inlet formed by Friar’s Crag. It was once home to the Earls of Derwentwater, until the Jacobite rebellion.

A house was built here around 1450, of which only the foundations remain; the mansion was destroyed during the civil wars around 1651. Access was by a drawbridge connecting it to the mainland.

Trees grew on the island and gave homes to thousands of rooks, so that for a time it was known as Crow Island. The trees have gone now, and so have the rooks.

A wooded island on Derwentwater under low morning mist

St Herbert’s Island

In the middle of the lake, and named after the seventh-century hermit St Herbert, who brought Christianity to the area in AD 685 and took sanctuary here. The remains of a cell in the island’s undergrowth are the evidence of the hermitage.

Friars Crag takes its name from the monks who sailed over to the island on pilgrimage to visit the saint.

The island also features as Owl Island in Beatrix Potter’s Squirrel Nutkin, and was used in the 2016 Swallows and Amazons film. Boat users are allowed to land on it.