Wast Water

Where is Wast Water?

Wast Water near Gosforth, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore — or see all the Lake District lakes & waters on one map.

England's deepest lake

Here's the headline fact people come for: Wast Water is the deepest lake in England, at 79 metres (258 feet). It's so deep that its bed lies about 15 metres below sea level, even though the surface sits around 60 metres above it. The next deepest is Windermere (around 64 m) — so if you've seen it claimed that Windermere or Ullswater is England's deepest, that's a common mix-up: it's Wast Water, with Windermere second. (Windermere is the largest lake; Wast Water is the deepest — two different records.)

The Screes & Britain's Favourite View

Wast Water's signature is the Wastwater Screes — the immense, fan-shaped scree slopes that plunge from the summits of Whin Rigg and Illgill Head straight into the lake along its south-eastern shore. They fall roughly 600 m from top to waterline and continue far below the surface (the lakebed under them is around 60 m below the lake's level) — a raw, shifting wall of stone that gives the lake its brooding character.

Look the other way, up the lake to its head, and you get the view that won ITV viewers' "Britain's Favourite View" on 9 September 2007: Great Gable framed perfectly between the shoulders of Yewbarrow and Lingmell, with the lake leading the eye in. It's one of the most photographed scenes in the country — and far better in the flesh.

Wasdale Head — highest, deepest, smallest & the biggest liar

The hamlet of Wasdale Head, at the lake's head, cheerfully claims to have it all:

• England's highest mountain — Scafell Pike (978 m).
• England's deepest lake — Wast Water itself.
• England's smallest church — tiny St Olaf's, among yew trees, with climbers buried in its yard.
• England's biggest liar — a nod to Will Ritson, the 19th-century Wasdale Head landlord famous for tall tales, still celebrated in an annual "World's Biggest Liar" competition in the valley.

It's also, in a real sense, the birthplace of British rock climbing: Victorian pioneers based themselves at the Wasdale Head Inn and cut their teeth on the crags of Great Gable (the ascent of Napes Needle in 1886 is often called the sport's beginning).

Walks & fells

This is the heart of England's high-mountain country:

• Scafell Pike — England's highest, most directly climbed from Wasdale Head; serious, rocky, navigationally tricky in cloud.
• Sca Fell, Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Yewbarrow and Lingmell ring the head of the valley — a roll-call of the best fells in the Lakes.
• The Screes walk over Illgill Head and Whin Rigg gives the dizzying view down onto the lake.
• For something gentle, the lakeshore stroll along the north-western shore (under the Screes opposite) is a beautiful low-level walk — see our easy & family walks.

Check the live "Best Fells today" conditions before any of these — Wasdale's fells are the most serious in England. The Fells & walks nearby box below lists the closest summits with a full guide.

Fells & walks near Wast Water

• Illgill Head 609 m · 1.1 km
• Middle Fell 582 m · 1.8 km
• Whin Rigg (Wasdale) 537 m · 2.4 km
• Buckbarrow 423 m · 2.6 km
• Boat How 337 m · 2.8 km
• Yewbarrow 629 m · 3.0 km

Straight-line distances from the centre of Wast Water — the nearest summits with a full guide on this site.

All walks by Wast Water → — every route and fell within about 5 km, ranked, with today’s conditions.

Swimming & on the water

Swimming is allowed in Wast Water, and wild swimmers do come — but treat it with real respect: it's extremely deep, very cold even in summer, and remote, with no lifeguards and help a long way off. Cold-water shock is a genuine danger here. There are no cruises or boat hire — this isn't that kind of lake — and powered boating is not a thing on Wast Water. If you swim, go cautiously, near the shore, and never alone.

Getting there & parking

Wast Water is remote, and that's part of its magic. There's no railway and effectively no public transport to the valley; you reach it by single-track roads from Gosforth or Santon Bridge on the western edge of the National Park — a long, slow, spectacular drive in. There are National Trust car parks and laybys along the lake and at Wasdale Head; they fill on fine weekends, so come early. Bring everything you need — facilities are minimal.

Where to stay & practical

At the head of the valley, the historic Wasdale Head Inn (the cradle of British climbing) and the National Trust campsite are the classic places to stay, along with a little B&B and self-catering in the valley; the village of Gosforth down the road has more. It's a base for serious walkers and climbers rather than a touring centre — no shops to speak of at the head, so stock up first.

It's magnificent, lonely country. Over the fells to the north lies Ennerdale Water and its wild valley; the rest of the western Lakes (Eskdale, the coast) are a drive around. We keep prices and timetables off the page — check the National Trust and the Wasdale Head Inn directly.

Events & festivals

Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Wast Water — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.