Crummock Water
What makes it special?
Surrounded by fells, waterfalls and woods frequented by red squirrels, Crummock Water is an oasis for nature lovers.
Over aeons of time, material carried by surrounding streams separated the lake from its neighbour, Buttermere, rendering Crummock Water a stunning lake in its own right. It lies between the peaks of Mellbreak and Grasmoor, with Red Pike and High Stile to the south.
April and May are the best times to visit, when a blanket of bluebells covers the valley of the nearby Rannerdale Knotts.
What to do
Walking and rambling
If you don't feel like trekking up the fells, there are some great rambles to enjoy on trails around the lake itself.
The 14km circular route beginning and ending at Lanthwaite car park takes you through Lanthwaite Wood and around the lake via Buttermere, where you can grab a well-deserved halfway pint.
Alternatively, there's a shorter loop around Loweswater and the northern edge of Crummock Water (alltrails.com). You can start and end at car parks on the route.
Wild swimming
These days, growing numbers of swimmers are taking up wild swimming, which many find the perfect way to de-stress and simply enjoy the most tranquil, scenic swim.
If you are a keen wild swimmer, the Lake District is an ideal touring destination, and Crummock Water has to be one of the best spots for a dip. The panoramic mountain views give the area an other-worldly sense and the crystal-clear waters of Crummock South Beach draw you in.
It's almost enough
