The Lake District: Derwentwater

Is there a prettier lake in the Lake District? Not in my book. Derwentwater has long been my go-to paddle when I am in the Lakes, and for good reason. Encircled by fells and woodlands, it has a certain unique magic, especially when viewed from the water. With its ever-changing shoreline and handful of islands to explore, it somehow manages to keep you occupied for an entire day, despite its fairly modest size.

Setting off from Keswick, I paddled down past Friar’s Crag before cutting across to Lord’s Island and the eastern shore beyond. The lake has a footpath tracing its entire perimeter, so there are always walkers meandering along, but from the water, it feels like another world, just you, the lake, and the quiet sweep of the crags and woods passing by.

Reaching the southern end, where the reed beds stretch lazily into the shallows, I crossed over to Brandelhow, then hugged the western shoreline for a while, weaving in and out of the tucked-away coves that make this side of the lake such a joy to explore. Eventually, as the light began to shift, I pointed my bow towards St Herbert’s Island, my home for the night. Just me, the water, and the kind of peaceful solitude that makes you wonder why more people don’t sleep on islands.

The following morning I was joined by Mark Rainsley, a fellow paddler I often meet up with in the Lakes, who was swiftly recruited into grip duties as I lashed a GoPro to his kayak to get some shots of myself paddling the same route from the previous day to cut into the footage. Yeah, sometimes I cheat a bit when making videos, that’s just movie magic for you.