Bassenthwaite Lake NNR
The reserve is a shallow, balanced nutrient lake in the north-west of the Lake District.
County: Cumbria
Main habitats: Open Water
Area: 523 ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
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Although most NNRs are managed by Natural England, 88 are wholly or partly managed by other bodies approved by Council, under Section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Bassenthwaite Lake NNR is owned by the Lake District National Park Authority.
It is the fourth largest lake in the Lake District but one of the shallowest, with an average depth of 5.3 metres.
The lake supports a population of vendace, a fish that is only found in one other location. There is also an extremely rich aquatic flora, including the nationally scarce floating water-plantain, six-stamened waterwort and thread rush.
The reserve has a range of habitats from open water to wet woodland and supports important collections of breeding and wintering birds.
Dodd Wood, on the south east shore of the lake is a nesting site for osprey.
Location and access
Bassenthwaite Lake is between the A66 and A591, 5 km north of the town of Keswick. By car, access is via the A66 (which follows the lake's western shore) or minor roads from the A591. There are a number of car parks at, or near, the lakeside.
The nearest train station is in Penrith 30 km to the east.
There are a number of bus services from Penrith to Keswick, and along the A66 and A591. See Cumbria County Council's Bus services page for details.
Part of the eastern lakeside is on the route of the Allerside Ramble, which connects with the Cumbria Way and Cumbria Coastal Way.
National Route 71 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network passes the lake's western shore and this connects with a local cycle route along the eastern shore.
Use of craft on the lake requires a permit from the Lake District National Park Authority.
Facilities
The nearest toilets and refreshments are in Keswick.
