Lovely Thirlmere

The reservoir of Thirlmere, lying just to the north of Dunmail Raise, is often overlooked by visitors to the Lake District. But walk down to the marshy shore from the car park at Steel End, and one discovers peace and quiet away from the A591, plus a terrific view to Blencathra in the distance. 

Thirlmere was created in 1894 to provide Manchester with drinking water via the 96 mile long Thirlmere Aqueduct. The valley was flooded submerging the two villages of Amboth and Wythburn, in spite of opposition from such figures as Octavia Hill (founder member of the National Trust) and designer/poet William Morris . You can still visit the tiny church of Wythburn not far from here.