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Bassenthwaite

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A tranquil day at Bassenthwaite Lake

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Bassenthwaite - Lake District


Town: Bassenthwaite
Region: Northern Lakes
County: Cumbria
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Full Description:
Bassenthwaite Village is located in the north western region of the Lake District National Park, just a short drive north from the bustling market town of Keswick. There is a popular village pub serving meals, locally brewed Jennings beers and a small shop where you can pick up 'the essentials'.

Just two miles from the village is Bassenthwaite Lake, owned by the National Park Authority, and is 3/4 mile wide and 4 miles long(one of the longest), but surprisingly one of the shallowest (70 ft) is. Sailing boats from Bassenthwaite Sailing Club can often be seen on the water and add to its charm. It is the most northerly of the lakes, with no major settlements on its shores.

There is a footpath which runs the west shore, but except at Mirehouse, there is no access to the east side. At Mirehouse there is a small open-air theatre, built in 1974 for the reading of 'Morte d'Arthur' to the Tennyson society. It is thought that Tennyson, composed much of the poem here.

Bassenthwaite Lake is a beautiful location. It is home to numerous species of wildlife including, England's only breeding Ospreys. Motor boats are not permitted on the lake, and sailing is restricted to Dubwath at the northern end. The southern end of the lake forms a wetland breeding habitat for over 70 species of wild birds.

Bassenthwaite Lake remains largely untouched by human intervention as it is not as accessible as the more central lakes. Skiddaw dominates the skyline to the east, and on the scree slope of Barf Fell near Thornthwaite is the Bishop of Barf, a craggy outcrop.

The Lakeland market town of Keswick is approximately 6 miles away, and has a vast range of quality shops, good restaurants, local galleries, a cinema and much more. Pay a visit the Cumberland Pencil Factory, where it is claimed the very first pencils in the World were manufactured, or alternatively the ‘Cars of the Stars’ museum featuring the Uk’s top ten favourite TV and sliver screen vehicles' (from the Batmobile to the Trotters van).



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