Wast Water
Wastwater
England's deepest lake, with scree slopes plunging straight into the water on its southeast shore; once voted Britain's most beautiful view.
Wastwater is about 79 metres deep, the deepest lake in England, set in the remote Wasdale valley in the western Lake District. The Screes, a slope of loose rock on the southeast shore, drops from a 600-metre ridge straight into the lake. At the head of the lake, the view of Great Gable, Scafell Pike and Yewbarrow forms a classic scene, and this landscape was once voted Britain's most beautiful view in a television poll. Wasdale Head, at the lake's head, is the starting point of the shortest route up Scafell Pike. Driving from central Lake District requires a long detour, but it can be visited en route in summer.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Scafell Pike
- Buttermere
- Hardknott Pass & Roman Fort
- Muncaster Castle
- Honister Pass & Slate Mine
- Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Catbells
- The Old Man of Coniston