Cumbria’s most beautiful and iconic lakes. Surrounded by dramatic fells such as Catbells, Skiddaw, and the Borrowdale Valley, the lake has long been admired for its calm waters, wooded shoreline, and constantly changing light. The name Derwentwater comes from the River Derwent, which flows through the lake before continuing west towards the Irish Sea. Its combination of open water, islands, and mountain scenery has made it one of the most photographed landscapes in northern England.
 
For centuries, Derwentwater has attracted visitors, artists, and writers inspired by its natural beauty. During the Romantic period, poets including Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey lived nearby and wrote about the surrounding scenery, helping establish the Lake District as a destination for tourism and appreciation of nature. The lake itself contains several islands, including Derwent Island, the largest and most well-known, which remains privately owned. Over time, walking routes, viewing points, and boating activities developed around the shoreline, shaping the area into an important centre for recreation and leisure.
 
Boating became part of Derwentwater’s identity during the 18th and 19th centuries as tourism in the Lake District increased. Early visitors explored the lake by rowing boat, while Victorian entrepreneurs later introduced passenger launches and steam-powered vessels to transport people between popular landing stages around the shore. These services helped visitors experience the landscape from the water and connected key walking routes around the lake. Today, Derwentwater remains one of Cumbria’s most visited natural landmarks, valued for boating, walking, photography, and the peaceful atmosphere that continues to define the character of the northern Lake District.