Topics > Cumbria > Lake District > Derwent Water (Lake District)
Derwent Water (Lake District)
Derwentwater, or Derwent Water, is one of the principal bodies of water in the Lake District National Park in north west England. It lies wholly within the Borough of Allerdale, in the county of Cumbria.
The lake occupies part of Borrowdale and lies immediately south of the town of Keswick. It is both fed and drained by the River Derwent. It measures approximately long by wide and is some deep. There are several islands within the lake, one of which is inhabited. Derwent Island House, an 18th-century residence, is a tenanted National Trust property open to the public on five days each year.
Derwentwater is a place of considerable scenic value. It is surrounded by hills (known locally as fells), and many of the slopes facing Derwentwater are extensively wooded. A regular passenger launch operates on the lake, taking passengers between various landing stages. There are seven lakeside marinas, the most popular stops being Keswick, Portinscale and the Lodore Falls, from which boats may be hired. Recreational walking is a major tourist activity in the area and there is an extensive network of footpaths in the hills and woods surrounding the lake.
The Keswick—Borrowdale road runs along the eastern shore of the lake and carries a regular bus service. There is a lesser, or unclassified, road along the western shore connecting the villages of Grange and Portinscale.
Derwentwater gave its name to the Earldom of Derwentwater.
The lake is believed to be the last remaining native habitat of the vendace (Coregonus vandesius) fish from the four originally known sites: Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater in the Lake District, and the Castle Loch & Mill Loch in Lochmaben.
Etymology
'Derwent' is " '(River) with oak trees', traditionally explained from Brit." (i.e.: Brythonic Celtic) or Cymric Old Welsh, hence Cymria " 'derwā' 'oak' plus suffixes, hence of the same origin as other English rivers named Derwent, Darwen, Darent and Dart...The river gave its name to Derwent Water (which was also known as the 'Lake of Derwent', 'Keswick Lake', or 'Keswick Water' in the 18th-19th centuries)...".
Plus "OE 'wæter', with the meaning probably influenced by its ON relative 'vatn'."
Derwentwater's islands
There are numerous islands in Derwentwater, the largest being Derwent Island, Lord's Island, St Herbert's Island, Rampsholme Island, Park Neb, Otter Island, and Otterbield Island. St. Herbert's Island is named after a C. 7th priest hermit, St. Herbert of Derwentwater.
In popular culture
An edited panoramic photograph of Derwentwater from the town of Keswick forms the view of the titular town and Toluca Lake at the start of the 2001 video game Silent Hill 2.
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens filmed on location at Derwentwater for the scene "Approach to Maz Kantana's Castle, Takodana".
The EP Three Songs (2011) by Robin Pecknold includes a song named "Derwentwater Stones".
A photograph taken at Derwentwater is used as the album art for Black Sands by Bonobo.
Open world racing video game Forza Horizon 4 includes Derwentwater as part of its world map.
Visit the page: Derwentwater for references and further details. You can contribute to this article on Wikipedia.
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Image taken from page 38 of 'The Lakes in Sunshine: being photographic and other pictures of the Lake District of Westmoreland and North Lancashire. With descriptive letterpress by J. P'
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](http://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/00/00/000066_630c7826.jpg)
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View South across Derwent water from the side of Friars Crag.
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8692062793_cfe375da04_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater and Keswick, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8123/8692063001_be9f3310d8_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
[Derwentwater and Keswick, Friars' Crag, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8541/8693181362_52d5ac6290_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Lodore Hotel, Waterlily Bay, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8692064509_19fb322652_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Skiddaw, from Latrigg, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8692064989_2a92b1de85_z.jpg)
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[On Derwentwater, cattle study, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/8693180490_c9fef0c913_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Keswick, from Friars' Crag, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8545/8693181624_be4ebf1585_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Lodore Falls, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8401/8693183112_eab9a57137_z.jpg)
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[On Derwentwater, boat landing, Lake District, England] (LOC)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8403/8693181852_c95a0b5efb_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Scarfclose Bay, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8534/8692064099_e291d0caff_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, from Castle Hill, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8395/8692064291_6dedc6c087_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Ashness Bridge and Skiddaw, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8255/8692065395_6e93c3f2eb_z.jpg)
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[On Derwentwater, Broomhill Point, Lake District, England] (LOC)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8401/8693182684_31557ee887_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
[On Derwentwater, cattle study, Lake District, England] (LOC)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![River Derwent (Cumbria)](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/82/03/2820385_65b1f6a3.jpg)
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River Derwent (Cumbria)
- Overview About the River Derwent The River Derwent is a major river in Cumbria. It is formed by the confluence of Styhead Gill and Grains Gill at the southern end …
![Keswick](http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/85/64/1856400_f18e5972.jpg)
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Keswick
- Overview About Keswick Map Street View Keswick is an English market town and civil parish, historically in Cumberland, and since 1974 in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria. The …
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50162554758_5a0c0e85ca_z.jpg)
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Slide copies, September 2003, Derwentwater, Lake District
Pinned by Pat Thomson
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Slide copies, September 2003, Derwentwater, Lake District
Pinned by Pat Thomson
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581525166_6325af5b74_z.jpg)
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Artist Drawn, The Head Of Derwentwater, BORROWDALE, Cumberland - A. R. Quinton
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581524821_b2563c16c7_z.jpg)
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Cumbria Postcard - Derwentwater and Skiddaw - Art Colour RS20529
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50580806718_50f04631f2_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
Cumbria postcard - Derwentwater from Castle Head by artist E H Thompson (A196)
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581524756_fe0ebb3b62_z.jpg)
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Cumbria postcard - Friar's Crag, Derwentwater by artist E H Thompson (A201)
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581661737_7cfee90f49_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
DERWENTWATER and CAUSEY PIKE)..( VALENTINE`S VINTAGE BLANK UNWRITTEN POSTCARD
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581661652_7767c031a0_z.jpg)
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DERWENTWATER FROM CASTLEHEAD, KESWICK. -f¹- VINTAGE POSTED CARD 1955
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581536186_3734031d2f_z.jpg)
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Derwentwater from Friars Crag Art Colour E H Thompson Postcard A292 posted
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FRIARS CRAG DERWENTWATER KESWICK CLARKS SERIES POSTED 1910
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![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50580804463_9b5262bf80_z.jpg)
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Friars Crag, Derwentwater, Keswick; Lake District; 1905 Levenshulme postmark
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581652737_a36be820af_z.jpg)
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Vintage Ashness Bridge Derwentwater Keswick colour postcard The English Lakes
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581651952_99a8a31f57_z.jpg)
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Watercolour Picture Postcard - Derwentwater & Skiddaw, Keswick.
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50265272388_847983aafb_z.jpg)
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The BL King’s Topographical Collection: "A VIEW of DERWENT-WATER, Towards BORRODALE. A Lake near Keswick in Cumberland. "
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![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50265930206_7dda0ac0b3_z.jpg)
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The BL King’s Topographical Collection: "KESWICK LAKE, and the residence of Mackenzie Esqr., Author of the Man of Feeling. CUMBERLAND."
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![Ruskin Memorial, Friar's Crag](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/43/24/3432421_95062491.jpg)
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Ruskin Memorial, Friar's Crag
- Overview Map Street View This memorial for the Victorian visionary, John Ruskin (1819 - 1900), is located on Friar's Crag, by the east shore of Derwentwater, about ½ mile south-east …
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A.R.Quinton postcard, Cumbria, Derwent Water, Friar's Crag card1198
Pinned by Edmund Anon
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Image taken from page 38 of 'The Lakes in Sunshine: being photographic and other pictures of the Lake District of Westmoreland and North Lancashire. With descriptive letterpress by J. P'
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](http://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/00/00/000066_630c7826.jpg)
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View South across Derwent water from the side of Friars Crag.
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8692062793_cfe375da04_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater and Keswick, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8123/8692063001_be9f3310d8_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater and Keswick, Friars' Crag, Lake District, England] (LOC)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8541/8693181362_52d5ac6290_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Lodore Hotel, Waterlily Bay, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8692064509_19fb322652_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Skiddaw, from Latrigg, Lake District, England] (LOC)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8692064989_2a92b1de85_z.jpg)
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[On Derwentwater, cattle study, Lake District, England] (LOC)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/8693180490_c9fef0c913_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Keswick, from Friars' Crag, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8545/8693181624_be4ebf1585_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Lodore Falls, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8401/8693183112_eab9a57137_z.jpg)
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[On Derwentwater, boat landing, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8403/8693181852_c95a0b5efb_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Scarfclose Bay, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8534/8692064099_e291d0caff_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, from Castle Hill, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8395/8692064291_6dedc6c087_z.jpg)
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[Derwentwater, Ashness Bridge and Skiddaw, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8255/8692065395_6e93c3f2eb_z.jpg)
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[On Derwentwater, Broomhill Point, Lake District, England] (LOC)
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![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8401/8693182684_31557ee887_z.jpg)
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[On Derwentwater, cattle study, Lake District, England] (LOC)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![River Derwent (Cumbria)](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/82/03/2820385_65b1f6a3.jpg)
  Co-Curate Page
River Derwent (Cumbria)
- Overview About the River Derwent The River Derwent is a major river in Cumbria. It is formed by the confluence of Styhead Gill and Grains Gill at the southern end …
![Keswick](http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/85/64/1856400_f18e5972.jpg)
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Keswick
- Overview About Keswick Map Street View Keswick is an English market town and civil parish, historically in Cumberland, and since 1974 in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria. The …
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50162554758_5a0c0e85ca_z.jpg)
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Slide copies, September 2003, Derwentwater, Lake District
Pinned by Pat Thomson
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50163342577_d2f765203f_z.jpg)
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Slide copies, September 2003, Derwentwater, Lake District
Pinned by Pat Thomson
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581525166_6325af5b74_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
Artist Drawn, The Head Of Derwentwater, BORROWDALE, Cumberland - A. R. Quinton
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581524821_b2563c16c7_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
Cumbria Postcard - Derwentwater and Skiddaw - Art Colour RS20529
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50580806718_50f04631f2_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
Cumbria postcard - Derwentwater from Castle Head by artist E H Thompson (A196)
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581524756_fe0ebb3b62_z.jpg)
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Cumbria postcard - Friar's Crag, Derwentwater by artist E H Thompson (A201)
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581661737_7cfee90f49_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
DERWENTWATER and CAUSEY PIKE)..( VALENTINE`S VINTAGE BLANK UNWRITTEN POSTCARD
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581661652_7767c031a0_z.jpg)
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DERWENTWATER FROM CASTLEHEAD, KESWICK. -f¹- VINTAGE POSTED CARD 1955
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![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581536186_3734031d2f_z.jpg)
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Derwentwater from Friars Crag Art Colour E H Thompson Postcard A292 posted
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![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50580804493_9dd818c5b6_z.jpg)
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FRIARS CRAG DERWENTWATER KESWICK CLARKS SERIES POSTED 1910
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50580804463_9b5262bf80_z.jpg)
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Friars Crag, Derwentwater, Keswick; Lake District; 1905 Levenshulme postmark
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581652737_a36be820af_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
Vintage Ashness Bridge Derwentwater Keswick colour postcard The English Lakes
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581651952_99a8a31f57_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
Watercolour Picture Postcard - Derwentwater & Skiddaw, Keswick.
Pinned by Peter Smith
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50265272388_847983aafb_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
The BL King’s Topographical Collection: "A VIEW of DERWENT-WATER, Towards BORRODALE. A Lake near Keswick in Cumberland. "
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50265930206_7dda0ac0b3_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
The BL King’s Topographical Collection: "KESWICK LAKE, and the residence of Mackenzie Esqr., Author of the Man of Feeling. CUMBERLAND."
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![Ruskin Memorial, Friar's Crag](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/43/24/3432421_95062491.jpg)
  Co-Curate Page
Ruskin Memorial, Friar's Crag
- Overview Map Street View This memorial for the Victorian visionary, John Ruskin (1819 - 1900), is located on Friar's Crag, by the east shore of Derwentwater, about ½ mile south-east …
![](https://farm66.staticflickr.com/65535/50581539956_b494645531_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
A.R.Quinton postcard, Cumbria, Derwent Water, Friar's Crag card1198
Pinned by Edmund Anon