Crummock Water

Situated between Loweswater to the north and Buttermere to the south, Crummock Water has Grassmoor to its west side and the Mellbreak Fells to its east. It is 140ft deep, 2.5 miles long and ¾ mile wide and is flanked by the fellsides of Skiddaw slate.

Owned by the National Trust, Crummock is fed by several streams, including the beck from Scale Force, Lakeland’s tallest single drop waterfall with a height of 170ft. Here is the beginning of the Rover Cocker which flows towards Cockermouth and joins with the River Derwent. The waterfall is set back in a gorge half way up Scale Fell and there are paths that lead up to it. 

Crummock Water’s sister lake is Buttermere, arguably a more prominent visiting spot. The small hamlet of Buttermere is situated between the two lakes. 

There are a few car parks littered near the lake, including a site in Rannerdale known as the ‘secret valley’. A fabled battle took place here; it is said that local settlers and Norseman resisted invasion from the Normans when they lured them into the valley and slaughtered them. From April each year the valley is covered with Bluebells and legend states that this is a symbol of the blood spilt during the battle. 

Crummock Water gained national attention in 1998 when the body of Sheena Owlett was found in it.