Discover Bassenthwaite

When choosing a hotel in Bassenthwaite, nature, culture and activities on the water offer different themes for your trip. Bassenthwaite Lake is designated a National Nature Reserve; for planning, you can also consider the long-distance St Bega’s Way, local trails and the sailing club’s seasonal activities. This lets you tailor your stay to the interests you want to include in your plans.

Bassenthwaite Lake and nature

In the Lake District, Bassenthwaite Lake is officially the only body of water called a lake; the other bodies of water are known as meres or waters. It is also designated a National Nature Reserve. Its protected status and distinctive naming convention are two different points of reference: one relates to the natural environment, the other to how bodies of water are named in the Lake District.

Churches, trails and accessibility

The Church of St Bega is a Grade II* listed building dedicated to the Celtic saint Bega. It stands in fields on the eastern shore of Bassenthwaite Lake. The long-distance St Bega’s Way ends at the church; access to the Church of St Bega itself is only via an unsurfaced footpath.

St John’s Church was built in 1878 to replace the Chapel-of-Ease and is now used as Church Rooms. Its construction history and its current use are two distinct aspects of the church.

Near Bassenthwaite, Dubwath Silver Meadows has firm boardwalks made from recycled plastic bottles. They are accessible to wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and those with limited mobility. A 2.5 km circular route is also designated as an all-ability trail.

These are two different points of reference for planning your walks: St Bega’s Way is a long-distance trail that ends at the church; the circular route at Dubwath Silver Meadows is designated as a 2.5 km trail. This allows you to plan a long-distance trail and a circular route with a specified length separately.

Places to visit nearby

Near Bassenthwaite, Mirehouse offers a walled bee garden, the Poetry Walk, woodland and farmland, adventure playgrounds, and places to relax on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake. The Poetry Walk is an ongoing tribute to Mirehouse’s distinctive literary connections.

Bassenthwaite Lake Station also brings together different aspects. Between 1865 and 1966, the station served holidaymakers and freight traffic; Bassenthwaite Lake Station and its outbuildings were restored over a two-year period. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea are served in the restaurant car.

Activities on the water

From April to October, the Bassenthwaite Sailing Club offers interested visitors a free taster sailing session lasting about an hour on weekends. If you plan to take a taster session, check that the stated period matches your travel dates. A permit is required for boating on Bassenthwaite Lake in an unpowered leisure craft, as well as for fishing there.

Discover more destinations: Wigton, Stanwix, Crook, Winscales, Eskdale, Grasmere, Watermillock, Great Asby.

See the regional travel overview: Cumbria.