Brothers Water
Getting there, parking, where to stay and the fells you can walk straight from Brothers Water.
Brothers Water at a glance
Brothers Water is one of the smallest of the lakes and one of the most quietly atmospheric — a still, reed-fringed water at the north foot of Kirkstone Pass, on the Patterdale/Hartsop side, cradled between steep green fells at the gateway to Dovedale. It's an easy 2.5–3 mile circuit, mostly level, with 16th-century Hartsop Hall on the far shore — and a poignant name whose story we tell honestly below. As lakes go it's small and unshowy, but it's a lovely, low-key spot and a perfect short walk.
Quick facts
| What it is | A small lake at the foot of Kirkstone Pass, near Patterdale / Hartsop |
| The walk | An easy ~2.5–3 mile circuit (Cow Bridge – Hartsop Hall – Low Wood), mostly level |
| Can you swim? | Yes — done and popular; cold, usual care |
| The name | Once "Broad Water"; renamed after two brothers are said to have drowned here |
| Feeds | Ullswater — it drains north via Goldrill Beck |
| Getting there | Cow Bridge car park on the A592 (Kirkstone road) near Hartsop |
Where is Brothers Water?
Brothers Water near Penrith, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore — or see all the Lake District lakes & waters on one map.
The Hartsop circuit
The walk is the main event — an easy, mostly level loop of about 2.5 to 3 miles that's perfect for a half-day or an evening stroll. From the Cow Bridge car park, a level lakeside path runs down the western shore to Hartsop Hall, then returns through the woods and meadows of Low Wood on the eastern side. It's gentle, beautiful and quiet, with the steep fells of Dovedale closing in at the head of the valley. Our Fells & walks nearby box below has the surrounding summits, and the live conditions if you're heading up.
Why is it called Brothers Water?
This is the lake's most-searched question, and the honest answer is: it's a legend, not a settled fact. The water was once called "Broad Water," and the present name is generally said to come from two brothers who drowned here. The best-known version has two brothers drowning while skating, around 1812, when thin ice gave way over the lake's springs. But there's an earlier reference to "the Brothers" from 1789, and parish records have been linked to brothers named John and George Atkinson — so the dating doesn't all line up. We'd present it as exactly what it is: a poignant local etymology with more than one version, rather than a single verified event. Either way, the name has stuck for two centuries.
Hartsop Hall & the valley
On the western shore stands Hartsop Hall, a handsome 16th-century farmhouse (now a National Trust working farm) — one of the oldest buildings in the valley, and a lovely focal point on the circuit. Brothers Water sits at the very head of the Ullswater valley: its outflow, Goldrill Beck, runs north to feed Ullswater, and the lake is the gateway to Dovedale and the Fairfield/Dove Crag fells above.
Can you swim, and what fish are in it?
Swimming is done here — it's a quiet, cold swim with easy shore access — with the usual cold-water care (no lifeguards, ease in, it's cold year-round). The lake is small and shallow-ish, and like several Lakeland waters it holds perch, pike and trout among its fish; it's better known for its peace than its angling.
The fells
Brothers Water is ringed by fine fells and is a classic launch point for them: Hartsop Dodd and Brock Crags rise to the east above Hartsop village, High Hartsop Dodd and Dove Crag guard Dovedale to the south-west, and the Kirkstone road climbs over the pass behind. Check the Fells & walks nearby box below for the closest summits with full guides.
Fells & walks near Brothers Water
- Hartsop Dodd
- Brock Crags (Wainwright)
- Hartsop Above How (Gill Crag - Hartsop Above How)
- High Hartsop Dodd
- Angletarn Pikes (Angletarn Pikes North Top)
- Arnison Crag
Straight-line distances from the centre of Brothers Water — the nearest summits with a full guide on this site.
All walks by Brothers Water → — every route and fell within about 5 km, ranked, with today’s conditions.
Getting there & parking
Brothers Water is on the A592 — the Kirkstone Pass road — between Patterdale and the top of the pass, near Hartsop village. Park at the Cow Bridge car park at the northern end (the usual start for the circuit), or in Hartsop village just off the road. It's an easy drive from Ullswater and Patterdale; from the south it's over the dramatic Kirkstone Pass from Ambleside. The car parks are small — come early on fine days.
Where to stay & practical
Base in Patterdale or Glenridding by Ullswater — inns, hotels, a YHA and campsites — a few minutes up the valley, with Ambleside over Kirkstone to the south. Brothers Water makes a perfect short, gentle walk to pair with a bigger Dovedale or Fairfield day, or simply an easy, atmospheric hour at the foot of the pass.
Events & festivals
Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Brothers Water — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.
Frequently asked questions about Brothers Water
How long is the walk around Brothers Water?
Can you swim in Brothers Water?
Why is it called Brothers Water?
Where is Brothers Water and how do you get there?
Where do you park for Brothers Water?
How deep is Brothers Water and what fish are in it?
📚 Maps & guidebooks for Brothers Water
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