Elter Water
Getting there, parking, where to stay and the fells you can walk straight from Elter Water.
Elter Water at a glance
Elter Water is the smallest of the lakes — a reedy, three-basined little water in Great Langdale, famous for the postcard view across its surface to the jagged Langdale Pikes. Its name is Old Norse for "lake of the swans," and whooper swans still winter here. The popular walk isn't actually a loop of the lake at all (its shore is marshy and partly private) but the lovely pram-friendly riverside path from Elterwater village to Skelwith Bridge past a waterfall — and we'll be precise about that below, because it's the thing people get wrong.
Quick facts
| What it is | The smallest lake, in Great Langdale; National Trust land |
| The name | Old Norse "lake of the swans" — whooper swans winter here |
| The walk | The ~1.5-mile village–Skelwith Bridge riverside path (pram/wheelchair-friendly) |
| Be precise | This is a Skelwith circuit, not a shoreline loop — you can't walk right round the lake |
| Don't miss | The Langdale Pikes reflection; Skelwith Force waterfall; the Britannia Inn |
| Getting there | The NT car park in Elterwater village; off the B5343 Langdale road |
Where is Elter Water?
Elter Water near Ambleside, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore — or see all the Lake District lakes & waters on one map.
Can you "walk around" Elter Water? (the honest answer)
This is the top search, so let's be straight about it: you don't walk right round the lake's shore — much of it is marshy reedbed and private, with no continuous shoreline path. What people actually do (and what's lovely) is the Elterwater–Skelwith Bridge circuit: a roughly 1.5-mile, stile-free, pram- and wheelchair-friendly path along the River Brathay from Elterwater village, passing the lake's edge and the Langdale Pikes view, down to Skelwith Bridge and the waterfall, then back. So when the searches ask "can you walk around Elterwater?", the honest answer is: you do the village–Skelwith circuit, not a true loop of the water. It's one of the best easy, family-and-buggy-friendly walks in the Lakes — see our Elterwater & Skelwith Force route.
Skelwith Force & the Langdale Pikes
Two highlights make the walk: the Langdale Pikes reflection — on a still day the spiky skyline of Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle mirrored in the lake is one of Lakeland's iconic views — and Skelwith Force, a short but powerful waterfall on the River Brathay near Skelwith Bridge (not high, but a thunderous volume of water after rain). The path passes both, on good level ground.
"Lake of the swans"
Elter Water's name comes from the Old Norse for "swan lake," and it lives up to it: whooper swans migrate here to winter on the lake, alongside the resident waterfowl among the reeds. It's a quiet, wildlife-rich little water — the reedbeds that stop you walking the shore are exactly what make it such good bird habitat.
The fells & the valley
Elter Water sits at the mouth of Great Langdale, gateway to some of the most dramatic fells in the District. Loughrigg Fell rises just to the east (its terraces link through to Grasmere and Rydal), and the Langdale Pikes themselves — Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle, Pavey Ark — fill the head of the valley a few miles up the B5343. The village is also handy for the old slate-quarry sights (Cathedral Cavern). Check the live conditions; the Fells & walks nearby box below lists the closest summits.
Fells & walks near Elter Water
Straight-line distances from the centre of Elter Water — the nearest summits with a full guide on this site.
All walks by Elter Water → — every route and fell within about 5 km, ranked, with today’s conditions.
Getting there & parking
Elterwater village is on the B5343 Great Langdale road, a few miles west of Ambleside (turn off the A593 near Skelwith Bridge). Park in the National Trust car park in Elterwater village — it's small and fills early on fine days, so arrive in good time or come by the seasonal 516 Langdale Rambler bus from Ambleside. The Britannia Inn in the village is the obvious refreshment stop; note its own parking is for patrons, so use the NT car park for the walk.
Where to stay & practical
Stay in Elterwater or nearby Chapel Stile (inns, B&Bs, a YHA and campsites in the Langdale valley) or base in Ambleside a short drive east. Elter Water is the perfect gentle, accessible walk to pair with a bigger Langdale Pikes day — or simply an easy riverside stroll to a waterfall, with the finest mountain view in the valley thrown in. Just remember: it's the village–Skelwith circuit, not a lap of the lake.
Events & festivals
Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Elter Water — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.
Frequently asked questions about Elter Water
Can you walk around Elter Water?
How long does the Elterwater walk take, and is it pram-friendly?
Where is Elter Water in the Lake District?
How much is parking at Elterwater, and does the Britannia Inn have parking?
Why is it called Elter Water (lake of the swans)?
What's the Skelwith Bridge circuit and Skelwith Force?
📚 Maps & guidebooks for Elter Water
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