Book : Street Atlas
Cumbria.
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Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest at 4 miles long and
3/4 mile wide, but also one of the shallowest at 70 ft deep.
It is the most northerly of the lakes, and has no major settlements
on its shores. There is a shore path which runs the length of
the west shore, but there is no access to the east side except
at Mirehouse. Bassenthwaite is home to the vendace, a rare and
endangered fish species found only here and in Derwentwater.
About 2 miles west of Bassenthwaite.
Mirehouse is a remarkable
historic house and gardens facing Bassenthwaite Lake. The gardens
contain 4 wooded adventure playgrounds, varied sheltered gardens
and lakeside walks through woods and parks. Here there is a small
open-air theatre, built in 1974 for the reading of 'Morte d'Arthur'
to the Tennyson society at the place where it is thought that
Tennyson, who often stayed at Mirehouse, composed much of the
poem. About 3 miles south of Bassenthwaite.
Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre, Egremont Road, Cockermouth
Tel: 01900 822673. An indoor presentation of sheep sheerers at
work with hands-on experience and opportunity to meet 19 different
breeds of live sheep. About 7 miles west of Bassenthwaite.
Skiddaw, with a summit
at 921 m (3,054 feet) above sea level, is the fourth highest
mountain in England. It lies just north of Keswick and south
of Bassenthwaite. It is the simplest of the Lake District mountains
of this height to walk up as there is a "tourist track"
from a car park to the north-east of Keswick, near the summit
of Latrigg, and many walking guides recommend it to the occasional
walker wishing to climb a mountain.
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Travel information
: Bassenthwaite.
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