Finding Happiness in Ennerdale
From beautiful scenery, exciting wildlife trails and vivid sunsets, to star gazing with a mug of hot chocolate, Ennerdale has quickly become one of my favourite places to visit in the Lake District.
With the water being just over 7 miles to walk around, it's the perfect size for a moderate trek - and there’s a rugged footpath the entire way, so even if you don’t like to plan things out too much and just fancied turning up and walking the loop, you’d still have a great time.
For me though, the place offers so much more, and I want to share some of what I think are its best bits to help give you some inspiration for a visit there.
Here goes!
The wildlife
There’s nothing more enchanting than seeing wild animals roaming freely in a vast and dramatic landscape, and if you’re lucky, Ennerdale can give you just that.
I went there in search of deer (I’m determined to get a candid photo of a wild red deer, and have read that they're frequently spotted in this area). Even though I wasn’t in luck when I visited this time, I still wasn’t disappointed! We saw plenty of other fascinating creatures.
We stumbled on a surprise waterfall, caught a glimpse of a hawk, heard the tweets of owls as we walked through woods, and at dusk we had bats keeping us company overhead on the wander back to the car. Alongside this the place is home to red squirrels, pine martins, all kinds of amazing birds, and the water itself is home to lots of species of fish and birdlife.
There are tons of great nature walks throughout Ennerdale, and you can make your way along rugged paths, looking into rows of trees that line steep slopes by your side, hoping to spot some movement of the amazing wildlife there. I’d definitely say that once you leave the main track beside the water and make your way into the woods, it feels every bit as good as the likes of Dodd Wood and Whinlatter – and is a much quieter alternative to those more popular areas.
Plus, with all these beautiful woodland areas, it means that the landscape is constantly changing as each season passes. As you can see from my pictures, we went in autumn when the pine trees and the bracken were a beautiful mix of orange and deep greens, making an incredibly romantic and autumnal scene.
The peace
It’s refreshing to write about one of the quieter regions of the Lake District.
One of the main reasons it’s so quiet is because for many people, including myself, it’s a slightly longer journey to get there. When you compare it to hotspots like Derwent Water, which is minutes away from one of the main roads through Cumbria, it’s in a much more remote area. It’s also a good few miles from the popular towns like Keswick. (It is on the coast to coast route, though – so if you’re a keen cyclist like me, or a long distance walker, it’s one of the beautiful places you’ll pass through.)
Also, water sports (except for canoeing and rowing) aren’t allowed there, which means there’s no popular activities like wild swimming or paddle boarding. This immediately cuts down on a lot of the crowds.
That might disappoint many, but for me it only makes Ennerdale more charming, as it’s much less populated than the more famous lakes, so you’ll have a much more serene and personable visit there.
Stunning sunsets
Because you’re really close to the west coast, you get incredibly vivid sunsets running straight into the valley.
We timed it just right and were at the eastern end of the water when the sun was starting to set. This meant we could look back along the length of the water with beautiful views down the valley, which included strong bars of orange light lining the mountain ridges to the side of the water.
Star gazing
Because of the remoteness of the area, and the enclosure created by the giant mountains on all sides, there are incredibly dark skies at night.
When we were there the moon briefly revealed itself as the clouds parted and looked stunning as it shone over the glassy water of the lake.
If you’re visiting Ennerdale in the winter I would definitely recommend timing your walk so that it ends at dusk, with you safely back to your car or base by nightfall, ready to watch the beautiful dark skies reveal themselves.
We did just that, and sat with hot chocolates wishing for stars and a clear sky!
28 Days Later
Ennerdale was one of the filming locations for Danny Boyle’s zombie masterpiece!
Every time I go there it makes me want to watch it, if only to work out which cottage they used for the filming. Take that as a challenge for when you go!
Also, when we were there, two low-flying fighter jets tore through the valley, swooping across the top of the water (just like in the film). This is apparently a regular sight, as Ennerdale seems to be popular a flight path for RAF pilots!
The picnics
Food and drink is an important part of any walk for me, and Ennerdale seems to know this!
Along the northern shore of the water, nicely hidden among small patches of trees and on little peninsulas of the shoreline, you’ll find picnic benches dotted around, allowing you to sit and eat your food comfortably with beautiful views across the water.
It makes for the perfect, secluded break to recharge after your walk.
And finally!
Just to round things up, I wanted to share a top tip for photographers… take a tripod! If you like photography, it’s definitely worth packing a travel tripod – from great water features among the woods, to smooth panoramas of the lake, and even astrophotography, there’s plenty of beautiful shots to capture!
Thank you for taking the time to read my first blog! I hope it has given you some inspiration for a nice day out in a quieter region of the Lakes.
I’ll be adding more blogs from my favourite walks and bike rides soon, so keep checking back, or follow me on Instagram, for other recommendations for great days out.