Ennerdale Water Circular

This is a 7.3-mile circular walk, measured as the complete loop from Bleach Green Car Park. It follows the southern shore first, reaches the head of Ennerdale Water, then returns along the northern shore to close the circuit. The lake is the destination, but the long views up the valley and the rocky section by Angler’s Crag are the reason to walk all the way around.

The south shore is the demanding half: expect uneven rocks, wet ground, bracken, and a short steep hands-on section around Angler’s Crag and Robin Hood’s Chair. The northern shore is gentler, with more gravel track and woodland, but it is less consistently scenic. This is a moderate walk in distance and a rougher-than-expected lakeside route underfoot, not a smooth promenade. Allow about four hours at a steady, unhurried pace, longer if you stop often.

Bleach Green is the most natural start for this mapped loop. Dogs are allowed, but livestock and ground-nesting wildlife mean they should stay close and on a short lead where signs require it. There are no facilities around the lake, so bring what you need for the full circuit. If the rough southern shore sounds like too much, the easier western shoreline walks give a shorter taste of Ennerdale without committing to the complete loop.