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Windermere (lake)
Encyclopedia
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It is a ribbon lake
formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of ice at the start of the current interglacial
. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere Railway
's branch line in 1847. It is in the county of Cumbria
and entirely within the Lake District National Park
. Windermere has also been the venue for the Great North Swim since 2008.
name Vinandr and Old English
mere, meaning lake. It was known as "Winander Mere" or "Winandermere" until at least the nineteenth century.
Its name suggests it is a mere
, a lake that is broad in relation to its depth, but despite the name this is not the case for Windermere, which in particular has a noticeable thermocline
, distinguishing it from typical meres. Until the 19th century, the term "lake" was, indeed, not much used by or known to the native inhabitants of the area, who referred to it as Windermere/Winandermere Water, or (in their dialect) Windermer Watter. The name Windermere or Windermer was used of the parish that had clearly taken its name from the water. The extensive parish included most of Undermilnbeck (that is, excepting Winster and the part of Crook chapelry that lay west of the Gilpin, which were part of Kirkby Kendal parish), Applethwaite, Troutbeck and Amblesdie-below-Stock, that is, the part of Ambleside that lay south of Stock Beck. The parish church was at Bowness in Undermilnbeck.
. (Ribbon lakes are long, narrow and finger-like.) It was formed 13,000 years ago during the last major ice age by two glaciers, one from the Troutbeck
valley and the other from the Fairfield horseshoe
. When the glaciers melted the lake filled with the meltwater
, which was held in by moraine
(rock material) deposited by the glacier.
The lake is drained from its southernmost point by the River Leven. It is replenished by the rivers Brathay
, Rothay
, Trout Beck
, Cunsey Beck
and several other lesser streams. The lake is largely surrounded by foothills of the Lake District which provide pleasant low-level walks; to the north and north-east are the higher fell
s of central Lakeland.
There is debate as to whether the stretch of water between Newby Bridge
and Lakeside
at the southern end of the lake should be considered part of Windermere, or a navigable stretch of the River Leven. This affects the stated length of the lake, which is 18.08 kilometres (11.2 mi) long if measured from the bridge at Newby Bridge, or 16.9 kilometres (10.5 mi) if measured from Lakeside. The lake varies in width up to a maximum of 1.49 kilometre (0.925845377608212 mi), and covers an area of 14.73 square kilometres (5.7 sq mi). With a maximum depth of 66.7 metres (218.8 ft) and an elevation above sea level
of 39 metres (128 ft), the lowest point of the lake bed is well below sea level.
There is only one town or village, on the lakeshore, Bowness-on-Windermere
, as the village of Windermere does not directly touch the lake and Ambleside is a mile to the north of Waterhead. The village of Windermere is about 20 minutes walk from Millerground, the nearest point on the lakeshore. It did not exist before the arrival of the railway in 1847. The station was built in an area of open fell and farmland in the township of Applethwaite. The nearest farm was Birthwaite, which gave its name to the station and the village that began to grow up near it. In about 1859, the residents began to call their new village by the name of Windermere, much to the chagrin of the people of Bowness, which had been the centre of the parish of Windermere for many centuries. Since 1907 the two places have been under one council and, although there are still two separate centres, the area between is largely occupied by houses and other buildings, albeit there is still a lot of woodland and even open fields. Windermere railway station
is a hub for train and bus connections to the surrounding areas. There is a regular train service to Oxenholme on the West Coast Main Line, where there are fast,direct trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester Airport, Birmingham and London. There are also through trains from Windermere to Manchester Airport.
(16.18 hectares (40 acre)) lying opposite Bowness
and around a kilometre in length. Its older name was Lang Holme, and 800 years ago it was the centre of the manor of Windermere and later, in effect, of a moiety of the barony of Kendal.
The other islands or "holmes" are considerably smaller. The word "holme" or "holm" means island and comes from Old Norse. The island of Lady Holme is named after the chantry that formerly stood there and in former centuries was sometimes called St Mary Holme or just Mary Holme. The remaining islands are Bee Holme (the insular status of which depends on the water level), Blake Holme, Crow Holme, Birk or Birch Holme (called Fir Holme on Ordnance Survey maps), Grass Holme, Lilies of the Valley (East, and West), Ling Holme (a rocky hump woth a few trees and a growth of ling), Hawes Holme, Hen Holme (also rocky and sometimes known as Chair and Table Island from some old flags or slabs of stone that were formerly found there), Maiden Holme (the smallest island, containing a single tree), Ramp Holme (variously called Roger Holme and Berkshire Island at different times in its history), Rough Holme, Snake Holme, Thompson Holme (2nd largest), Silver Holme.
, char
, pike, and perch.
The north to south alignment of the lake, combined with its position between Morecambe Bay and the central fells, means that it forms what is essentially a migration highway. During winter months geese flying this route are a common sight.
The Freshwater Biological Association
was established on the shore of Windermere in 1929 and much of the early work on lake ecology
, freshwater biology
and limnology
was conducted here.
; however, the historic county boundary between Lancashire
and Westmorland runs down the western shore of the lake and also along about three miles (5 km) of the southern section of the eastern shore. Drivers crossing the lake on the Windermere Ferry
thus travel from the historic county
of Westmorland to that of Lancashire if they cross the lake in a westerly direction.
Since local government re-organisation in 1974, Windermere and its shores have been entirely within the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria
and the district of South Lakeland
. Most planning matters concerned with the lake are, however, the responsibility of the Lake District National Park
Authority.
at the southern end of the lake, to Waterhead Bay near Ambleside
in the north. Intermediate stops are made at Bowness
and, by smaller launches only, at Brockhole. Some boats only operate part of the route, or operate out and back cruises, whilst others run the whole distance.
These services date back to the former Furness Railway
, who built the Lakeside branch, and were at one time operated by British Rail
, the former state-owned rail operator. Since privatisation, three of the old railway boats are operated by Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd, along with a fleet of smaller and more modern launches. Three of the original four boats survive: the MV Tern of 1891, the MV Teal of 1936, and the MV Swan of 1938. The fourth, MV Swift of 1900, was broken up at Lakeside in 1998. Her rudder and only one propeller
are displayed at Bowness. Although often described as steamers, all are now diesel motor vessels. Tern and Swift were built with steam engines, but converted to diesel in the 1950s.
The Windermere Ferry
, a vehicle carrying cable ferry
, runs across the lake from Ferry Nab on the eastern side of the lake to Far Sawrey on the western side of the lake. This service forms part of the B5285. There are also two summer only passenger ferries that cross the lake. One crosses from Lakeside station to Fell Foot Park
at the southern end of the lake, whilst the other links Bowness
with Far Sawrey.
broke the world water speed record on Windermere in his boat, Miss England II
at an average speed of 158.94 kilometres per hour (98.76 mph). On the third run over the course, off Belle Grange, the boat capsized. Segrave's mechanic, Victor Helliwell drowned, but Segrave was rescued by support boats. He died a short time later of his injuries. Segrave was one of the few people in history who have held the world land speed record
and water speed record
simultaneously.
Racer Norman Buckley (powerboater) set several world water speed records on Windermere in the 1950s.
Many organisations, mainly those with an interest in sailing, support the limit, primarily on environmental grounds. Other benefits include restoring the tranquil nature of the lake and making it safer and more accessible for all users.
Opponents are concerned by the fact that there are no other inland waters in England where water sports and power boating are permitted, whilst sailing is permitted on many other inland waters. Another concern has been the effect on many local businesses due to reduced visitor numbers. Many businesses have closed and tourist numbers, especially numbers of users on the lake, have severely dropped since the introduction of the speed limit.
There is controversy regarding the environmental benefits of the speed limitation. When powered craft "plane", around 20 mph they produce less of a wake. This has led to people who oppose the speed limit to argue that by limiting powerboats to 10 knots, more damage is being done per powerboat.
is located in Bowness on Rayrigg Road, and includes a collection of vintage steam boats dating back to 1896, as well as information about the "Swallows and Amazons" and the history of racing boats. The museum has been closed since 2006 as it awaits funding for refurbishment.
Windermere's long popularity for steam launches has even given its name to the Windermere kettle
, a steam-powered tea urn.
is based loosely on life before World War II around a fictional lake derived from a combination of Windermere and Coniston Water
. The BBC made a series of Swallows and Amazons in 1962, parts of this were filmed at the Huyton Hill Preparatory School
boathouse (now Pullwood House) on the Noth-West shore.
Windermere is mentioned in the Necromandus
song, A Black Solitude.
In the horror novel, The Pike (1982) by Cliff Twemlow
, a 12 feet (3.7 m) long pike in Windermere goes on a killing spree, and the consequence is a boom in the lake's tourist trade. Two attempts have been made to film the novel.
The area is also featured as an arena in the popular Sony
PlayStation
videogame Tekken
.
In November 2009, several scenes were shot on Windermere for the soap opera Coronation Street
. The filming centered around Pull Wyke Bay and Pull Wood House on the North-West shoreline. The scenes, featuring the newlyweds Gail and Joe on their honeymoon, were aired in January/February 2010.
Belle Isle features in The Wardstone Chronicles
: The Spooks Mistake. Rather than the large house though, Belle Isle plays host to a folly which is used by the Water Witches in the area. It is a place widely avoided by the locals, due to the high levels of witch activity.
Some people believe that there may be a lake monster
, similar to the one alleged to live in Loch Ness
, and anomalous photos have been taken of the supposed creature;, it has been affectionately nicknamed "Bownessie."
The novel Giant Killer Eels by Stuart Neild is set in the Lake District and features Bownessie-like monsters in Windermere and Lake Unsworth.
, a one mile (1.6 km) open water swim involving 2,200 swimmers. The second annual swim took place on 12 and 13 September 2009, with 6000 swimmers, making this the largest open water swim in the UK. The 2010 swim was postponed due to the presence of blue-green algae in the lake. The 2011 swim is scheduled for 17 to 19 June 2011.
Ribbon lake
A ribbon lake or loch is a long and narrow, finger-shaped lake, usually found in a glacial trough. Its formation begins when a glacier moves over an area containing alternate bands of hard and soft bedrock...
formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of ice at the start of the current interglacial
Interglacial
An Interglacial period is a geological interval of warmer global average temperature lasting thousands of years that separates consecutive glacial periods within an ice age...
. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere Railway
Kendal and Windermere Railway
The Kendal and Windermere Railway is a railway in Cumbria in north-west England. It was built as a railway from the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway at Oxenholme via Kendal to near Windermere, opening fully in April 1847. The engineer was Joseph Locke and the partnership of contractors consisted of...
's branch line in 1847. It is in the county of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
and entirely within the Lake District National Park
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. Windermere has also been the venue for the Great North Swim since 2008.
Etymology
The word "Windermere" is thought to translate as "Vinandr's lake", from the Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
name Vinandr and Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
mere, meaning lake. It was known as "Winander Mere" or "Winandermere" until at least the nineteenth century.
Its name suggests it is a mere
Mere (lake)
Mere in English refers to a lake that is broad in relation to its depth, e.g. Martin Mere. A significant effect of its shallow depth is that for all or most of the time, it has no thermocline.- Etymology :...
, a lake that is broad in relation to its depth, but despite the name this is not the case for Windermere, which in particular has a noticeable thermocline
Thermocline
A thermocline is a thin but distinct layer in a large body of fluid , in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below...
, distinguishing it from typical meres. Until the 19th century, the term "lake" was, indeed, not much used by or known to the native inhabitants of the area, who referred to it as Windermere/Winandermere Water, or (in their dialect) Windermer Watter. The name Windermere or Windermer was used of the parish that had clearly taken its name from the water. The extensive parish included most of Undermilnbeck (that is, excepting Winster and the part of Crook chapelry that lay west of the Gilpin, which were part of Kirkby Kendal parish), Applethwaite, Troutbeck and Amblesdie-below-Stock, that is, the part of Ambleside that lay south of Stock Beck. The parish church was at Bowness in Undermilnbeck.
Geography
Windermere is a ribbon lakeRibbon lake
A ribbon lake or loch is a long and narrow, finger-shaped lake, usually found in a glacial trough. Its formation begins when a glacier moves over an area containing alternate bands of hard and soft bedrock...
. (Ribbon lakes are long, narrow and finger-like.) It was formed 13,000 years ago during the last major ice age by two glaciers, one from the Troutbeck
Troutbeck, South Lakeland
Troutbeck is a village in South Lakeland district in Cumbria. It is north of Windermere town, to the west of the A592 road. It is a conservation area and includes the National Trust property of Townend.-Village Amenities:...
valley and the other from the Fairfield horseshoe
Fairfield horseshoe
Fairfield Horseshoe is a classic circular hillwalking ridge walk route starting from Rydal or Ambleside in the English Lake District that takes in all the fells that surround the valley of the Rydal Beck....
. When the glaciers melted the lake filled with the meltwater
Meltwater
Meltwater is the water released by the melting of snow or ice, including glacial ice and ice shelfs over oceans. Meltwater is often found in the ablation zone of glaciers, where the rate of snow cover is reducing...
, which was held in by moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
(rock material) deposited by the glacier.
The lake is drained from its southernmost point by the River Leven. It is replenished by the rivers Brathay
River Brathay
The Brathay is a river of north-west England. Its name comes from Old Norse and means broad river. It rises at a point 1289 feet above sea level near the Three Shire Stone at the highest point of Wrynose Pass in the Lake District...
, Rothay
River Rothay
The Rothay is a spate river of the Lake District in north-west England. Its name comes from Old Norse and translates literally as the red one. This has come to mean trout river. It rises close to Rough Crag above Dunmail Raise at a point about 1542 feet above sea level...
, Trout Beck
Trout Beck
The Trout Beck is a fast flowing river of the Lake District in North West England. It is one of the main sources of replenishment for Windermere. Its name comes from Old Norse and appears in documents from 1292 as Trutebyk...
, Cunsey Beck
Cunsey Beck
Cunsey Beck is one of several rivers and streams that replenish the lake of Windermere in the English Lake District. Being just over two miles in length and generally slow flowing, the stream descends some 87 feet from the southern end of Esthwaite Water, which it drains, to the western banks of...
and several other lesser streams. The lake is largely surrounded by foothills of the Lake District which provide pleasant low-level walks; to the north and north-east are the higher fell
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
s of central Lakeland.
There is debate as to whether the stretch of water between Newby Bridge
Newby Bridge
Newby Bridge is a small hamlet in the Lake District, Cumbria, although historically it was in Lancashire.Newby Bridge is located several miles west of Grange-over-Sands and is on the River Leven, close to the southern end of Windermere...
and Lakeside
Lakeside, Cumbria
Lakeside is a small settlement at the south end of Windermere, England. Now in the English county of Cumbria, before county reorganisation of 1974 it was in Lancashire, as part of the region known as Furness...
at the southern end of the lake should be considered part of Windermere, or a navigable stretch of the River Leven. This affects the stated length of the lake, which is 18.08 kilometres (11.2 mi) long if measured from the bridge at Newby Bridge, or 16.9 kilometres (10.5 mi) if measured from Lakeside. The lake varies in width up to a maximum of 1.49 kilometre (0.925845377608212 mi), and covers an area of 14.73 square kilometres (5.7 sq mi). With a maximum depth of 66.7 metres (218.8 ft) and an elevation above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
of 39 metres (128 ft), the lowest point of the lake bed is well below sea level.
There is only one town or village, on the lakeshore, Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere is a town in South Lakeland, Cumbria, England. Due its position on the banks of Windermere the town has become a tourist honeypot. Although their mutual growth has caused them to become one large settlement, the town is distinct from the town of Windermere as the two still...
, as the village of Windermere does not directly touch the lake and Ambleside is a mile to the north of Waterhead. The village of Windermere is about 20 minutes walk from Millerground, the nearest point on the lakeshore. It did not exist before the arrival of the railway in 1847. The station was built in an area of open fell and farmland in the township of Applethwaite. The nearest farm was Birthwaite, which gave its name to the station and the village that began to grow up near it. In about 1859, the residents began to call their new village by the name of Windermere, much to the chagrin of the people of Bowness, which had been the centre of the parish of Windermere for many centuries. Since 1907 the two places have been under one council and, although there are still two separate centres, the area between is largely occupied by houses and other buildings, albeit there is still a lot of woodland and even open fields. Windermere railway station
Windermere railway station
Windermere railway station is the railway station that serves Windermere in Cumbria, England. It is just south of the A591, about 15 min walk or a short bus ride from the lake. The station is located behind a branch of the Booths supermarket chain, which occupies the site of the original station...
is a hub for train and bus connections to the surrounding areas. There is a regular train service to Oxenholme on the West Coast Main Line, where there are fast,direct trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester Airport, Birmingham and London. There are also through trains from Windermere to Manchester Airport.
Islands
The lake contains 18 islands. By far the largest is the privately owned Belle IsleBelle Isle (Windermere)
Belle Isle is the largest of 18 islands on Windermere, a lake in the English Lake District, and the only one ever to have been inhabited. It is 1 km in length. Belle Isle House was built in 1774 to designs by John Plaw...
(16.18 hectares (40 acre)) lying opposite Bowness
Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere is a town in South Lakeland, Cumbria, England. Due its position on the banks of Windermere the town has become a tourist honeypot. Although their mutual growth has caused them to become one large settlement, the town is distinct from the town of Windermere as the two still...
and around a kilometre in length. Its older name was Lang Holme, and 800 years ago it was the centre of the manor of Windermere and later, in effect, of a moiety of the barony of Kendal.
The other islands or "holmes" are considerably smaller. The word "holme" or "holm" means island and comes from Old Norse. The island of Lady Holme is named after the chantry that formerly stood there and in former centuries was sometimes called St Mary Holme or just Mary Holme. The remaining islands are Bee Holme (the insular status of which depends on the water level), Blake Holme, Crow Holme, Birk or Birch Holme (called Fir Holme on Ordnance Survey maps), Grass Holme, Lilies of the Valley (East, and West), Ling Holme (a rocky hump woth a few trees and a growth of ling), Hawes Holme, Hen Holme (also rocky and sometimes known as Chair and Table Island from some old flags or slabs of stone that were formerly found there), Maiden Holme (the smallest island, containing a single tree), Ramp Holme (variously called Roger Holme and Berkshire Island at different times in its history), Rough Holme, Snake Holme, Thompson Holme (2nd largest), Silver Holme.
Natural history
The lake has a very high percentage of its drainage area under cultivation (29.4%), and a relatively low percentage of lake bed above 9 metres (29.5 ft) in depth which is rocky (28%). This makes Windermere a rich habitat. The main fish in the lake are troutTrout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, char
Salvelinus
Salvelinus is a genus of salmonid fish often called char or charr; some species are called "trout". Salvelinus is a member of the Salmoninae subfamily of the Salmonidae family. Charr may be identified by light cream pink or red spots over a darker body. Scales tend to be small, with 115-200 along...
, pike, and perch.
The north to south alignment of the lake, combined with its position between Morecambe Bay and the central fells, means that it forms what is essentially a migration highway. During winter months geese flying this route are a common sight.
The Freshwater Biological Association
Freshwater Biological Association
The Freshwater Biological Association is a British membership association, independent scientific organisation and a registered charity...
was established on the shore of Windermere in 1929 and much of the early work on lake ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, freshwater biology
Freshwater biology
Freshwater ecosystems are a subset of Earth's aquatic ecosystems. They include lakes and ponds, rivers, streams and springs, and wetlands. They can be contrasted with marine ecosystems, which have a larger salt content...
and limnology
Limnology
Limnology , also called freshwater science, is the study of inland waters. It is often regarded as a division of ecology or environmental science. It covers the biological, chemical, physical, geological, and other attributes of all inland waters...
was conducted here.
Local government
Before 1974 Windermere, the lake, lay wholly within the county of WestmorlandWestmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
; however, the historic county boundary between Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Westmorland runs down the western shore of the lake and also along about three miles (5 km) of the southern section of the eastern shore. Drivers crossing the lake on the Windermere Ferry
Windermere Ferry
The Windermere Ferry is a vehicular cable ferry which crosses Windermere, a lake in the English county of Cumbria. The route forms part of the B5285 road and crosses the lake at about its mid-point, from Ferry Nab in Bowness-on-Windermere to Far Sawrey, a distance of some...
thus travel from the historic county
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of Westmorland to that of Lancashire if they cross the lake in a westerly direction.
Since local government re-organisation in 1974, Windermere and its shores have been entirely within the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
and the district of South Lakeland
South Lakeland
South Lakeland is a local government district in Cumbria, England. Its council is based in Kendal. It includes much of the Lake District.The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
. Most planning matters concerned with the lake are, however, the responsibility of the Lake District National Park
Lake District National Park
The Lake District National Park is located in the north-west of England and is the largest of the English National Parks and the second largest in the United Kingdom. It is in the central and most-visited part of the Lake District....
Authority.
Steamers, launches and ferries
Passenger services serve the length of the lake, from Lakeside railway station, on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite heritage steam railwayLakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway is a heritage railway in Cumbria, England.-Location:The L&HR runs from Haverthwaite at the southern end of the line via Newby Bridge to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere...
at the southern end of the lake, to Waterhead Bay near Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
in the north. Intermediate stops are made at Bowness
Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere is a town in South Lakeland, Cumbria, England. Due its position on the banks of Windermere the town has become a tourist honeypot. Although their mutual growth has caused them to become one large settlement, the town is distinct from the town of Windermere as the two still...
and, by smaller launches only, at Brockhole. Some boats only operate part of the route, or operate out and back cruises, whilst others run the whole distance.
These services date back to the former Furness Railway
Furness Railway
The Furness Railway was a railway company operating in the Furness area of Lancashire in North West England.-History:The company was established on May 23, 1844 when the Furness Railway Act was passed by Parliament...
, who built the Lakeside branch, and were at one time operated by British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
, the former state-owned rail operator. Since privatisation, three of the old railway boats are operated by Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd, along with a fleet of smaller and more modern launches. Three of the original four boats survive: the MV Tern of 1891, the MV Teal of 1936, and the MV Swan of 1938. The fourth, MV Swift of 1900, was broken up at Lakeside in 1998. Her rudder and only one propeller
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
are displayed at Bowness. Although often described as steamers, all are now diesel motor vessels. Tern and Swift were built with steam engines, but converted to diesel in the 1950s.
The Windermere Ferry
Windermere Ferry
The Windermere Ferry is a vehicular cable ferry which crosses Windermere, a lake in the English county of Cumbria. The route forms part of the B5285 road and crosses the lake at about its mid-point, from Ferry Nab in Bowness-on-Windermere to Far Sawrey, a distance of some...
, a vehicle carrying cable ferry
Cable ferry
A cable ferry is guided and in many cases propelled across a river or other larger body of water by cables connected to both shores. They are also called chain ferries, floating bridges, or punts....
, runs across the lake from Ferry Nab on the eastern side of the lake to Far Sawrey on the western side of the lake. This service forms part of the B5285. There are also two summer only passenger ferries that cross the lake. One crosses from Lakeside station to Fell Foot Park
Fell Foot Park
Fell Foot Park is a Victorian country park situated beside Windermere, a lake in Cumbria, England, and in the ownership of the National Trust.-External links:**...
at the southern end of the lake, whilst the other links Bowness
Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere is a town in South Lakeland, Cumbria, England. Due its position on the banks of Windermere the town has become a tourist honeypot. Although their mutual growth has caused them to become one large settlement, the town is distinct from the town of Windermere as the two still...
with Far Sawrey.
Boat clubs
There are three large boating clubs based around the lake: the Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club, the Royal Windermere Yacht Club, and the Windermere Cruising Association. The Royal Windermere Yacht Club maintains a set of turning marks on the lake, which are also used by the Windermere Cruising Association. The Windermere Cruising Association organises the popular Winter Series. This event benefits from not being hindered by the large waves, caused by gales, that often lead to sea racing being cancelled.Speed records
On Friday 13 June 1930, Sir Henry SegraveHenry Segrave
-External links:* * * * *...
broke the world water speed record on Windermere in his boat, Miss England II
Miss England II
Miss England II was the name of the second of a series of speedboats used by Henry Segrave and Kaye Don to contest world water speed records in the 1920s and 1930s.- Design and construction :...
at an average speed of 158.94 kilometres per hour (98.76 mph). On the third run over the course, off Belle Grange, the boat capsized. Segrave's mechanic, Victor Helliwell drowned, but Segrave was rescued by support boats. He died a short time later of his injuries. Segrave was one of the few people in history who have held the world land speed record
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
and water speed record
Water speed record
The World Unlimited water speed record is the officially recognised fastest speed achieved by a water-borne vehicle. The current record of 511 km/h was achieved in 1978....
simultaneously.
Racer Norman Buckley (powerboater) set several world water speed records on Windermere in the 1950s.
Speed limits
For many years, power-boating and water-skiing have been popular activities on the lake. In March 2000, however, the Lake District National Park Authority controversially introduced a bylaw setting a 10 kn (12.2 mph; 19.6 km/h) speed limit for all powered craft on the lake, in addition to three existing 6 miles per hour (4.9 kn) speed limits for all craft on the upper, lower, and middle sections of the lake. While the bylaw technically came into force in 2000, there was a five year transition period and the new speed limits were only enforced from 29 March 2005. Despite the speed limits people continue to use power-boats on the lake, both legally and illegally.Many organisations, mainly those with an interest in sailing, support the limit, primarily on environmental grounds. Other benefits include restoring the tranquil nature of the lake and making it safer and more accessible for all users.
Opponents are concerned by the fact that there are no other inland waters in England where water sports and power boating are permitted, whilst sailing is permitted on many other inland waters. Another concern has been the effect on many local businesses due to reduced visitor numbers. Many businesses have closed and tourist numbers, especially numbers of users on the lake, have severely dropped since the introduction of the speed limit.
There is controversy regarding the environmental benefits of the speed limitation. When powered craft "plane", around 20 mph they produce less of a wake. This has led to people who oppose the speed limit to argue that by limiting powerboats to 10 knots, more damage is being done per powerboat.
Windermere Steamboat Museum
Windermere Steamboat MuseumWindermere Steamboat Museum
The Windermere Steamboat Museum was formed by the boat collector G. H. Pattinson, and was located on the former Sand and Gravel Wharf between Bowness-on-Windermere and the town of Windermere, on the eastern shore of Windermere in Cumbria, England. In 2007, the museum was taken over by the Lakeland...
is located in Bowness on Rayrigg Road, and includes a collection of vintage steam boats dating back to 1896, as well as information about the "Swallows and Amazons" and the history of racing boats. The museum has been closed since 2006 as it awaits funding for refurbishment.
Windermere's long popularity for steam launches has even given its name to the Windermere kettle
Windermere kettle
A Windermere kettle is a form of steam-operated tea urn or samovar installed on some steam launches. They are a metal vessel containing a few pints of water. Inside the vessel is a steam heating coil. When hot or boiling water is required, the valve is opened and steam from the boat's propulsion...
, a steam-powered tea urn.
Popular culture
The children's book series Swallows and AmazonsSwallows and Amazons
Swallows and Amazons is the first book in the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome; it was first published in 1930, with the action taking place in the summer of 1929 in the Lake District...
is based loosely on life before World War II around a fictional lake derived from a combination of Windermere and Coniston Water
Coniston Water
Coniston Water in Cumbria, England is the third largest lake in the English Lake District. It is five miles long, half a mile wide, has a maximum depth of 184 feet , and covers an area of . The lake has an elevation of 143 feet above sea level...
. The BBC made a series of Swallows and Amazons in 1962, parts of this were filmed at the Huyton Hill Preparatory School
Huyton Hill Preparatory School
Huyton Hill Preparatory School was a school for boys from 8 to 13 year olds to prepare them for entrance to a Public School.The school is one of several that were evacuated from cities in England at the outbreak of World War II due to the risks from bombing...
boathouse (now Pullwood House) on the Noth-West shore.
Windermere is mentioned in the Necromandus
Necromandus
Necromandus were a rock band from Cumberland, United Kingdom. They were formed in 1970 and were discovered by Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath in 1972. After recording one album in 1973, they split up. The album was not released until 1999. In 2007 they were mentioned in an article in Classic Rock...
song, A Black Solitude.
In the horror novel, The Pike (1982) by Cliff Twemlow
Cliff Twemlow
Cliff Twemlow was an English actor, nightclub bouncer, horror paperback writer and library music composer.- Career :...
, a 12 feet (3.7 m) long pike in Windermere goes on a killing spree, and the consequence is a boom in the lake's tourist trade. Two attempts have been made to film the novel.
The area is also featured as an arena in the popular Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
videogame Tekken
Tekken (video game)
Tekken is a fighting game and is the first of the series. It was released at arcades in late 1994 and on the PlayStation in 1995. A simplified "arcade" version of the game was later released in Tekken 5s Arcade History mode. It was developed and published by Namco...
.
In November 2009, several scenes were shot on Windermere for the soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. The filming centered around Pull Wyke Bay and Pull Wood House on the North-West shoreline. The scenes, featuring the newlyweds Gail and Joe on their honeymoon, were aired in January/February 2010.
Belle Isle features in The Wardstone Chronicles
The Wardstone Chronicles
The Wardstone Chronicles is a dark fantasy series of books written by British author Joseph Delaney and published by Random House Publishing...
: The Spooks Mistake. Rather than the large house though, Belle Isle plays host to a folly which is used by the Water Witches in the area. It is a place widely avoided by the locals, due to the high levels of witch activity.
Some people believe that there may be a lake monster
Lake monster
A lake monster or loch monster is a purported form of fresh-water-dwelling megafauna appearing in mythology, rumor, or local folklore, but whose existence lacks scientific support. A well known example is the Loch Ness Monster. Lake monsters' depictions are often similar to some sea monsters...
, similar to the one alleged to live in Loch Ness
Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next....
, and anomalous photos have been taken of the supposed creature;, it has been affectionately nicknamed "Bownessie."
The novel Giant Killer Eels by Stuart Neild is set in the Lake District and features Bownessie-like monsters in Windermere and Lake Unsworth.
Great North Swim
On Saturday 13 September 2008, Windermere hosted the inaugural Great North SwimGreat Swim
Billed as "the UK's biggest mass participation open water swimming series", the Great Swim was started in 2008 with a one mile Great North Swim in Windermere...
, a one mile (1.6 km) open water swim involving 2,200 swimmers. The second annual swim took place on 12 and 13 September 2009, with 6000 swimmers, making this the largest open water swim in the UK. The 2010 swim was postponed due to the presence of blue-green algae in the lake. The 2011 swim is scheduled for 17 to 19 June 2011.