Discover the lakes and tarns around Keswick

Mile-wide Derwentwater, island-studded and with Keswick on its shores, is probably the busiest. Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater lie close together in the lovely and peaceful Vale of Lorton.

Nearby, Bassenthwaite Lake — the only true lake — and Thirlmere, the reservoir for Manchester, are both dominated by the steep slopes of their shoreline mountains.

Hundreds of them are dotted over the uplands — permanent standing water, varying from almost small lakes to very large puddles, and usually with nobody else there.

Innominate on Haystacks, where Wainwright’s ashes are scattered; Tewet below High Rigg with Blencathra behind it; Watendlath, Bowscale, Harrop and the rest are on the tarns page.

The water can look appealing but even in summer it can be particularly cold. Follow these swimming do’s and don’t’s to have fun and stay safe.