Elterwater
Elterwater is a small lake at the heart of the Lake District, occupying a most beautiful
location at the entrance to the Great Langdale valley. The view from the lake of the nearby
Langdale Pikes is simply marvellous; an idyllic Lakeland scene
of lake, meadow and rugged mountains. The smallest of the 16 Lake District 'lakes' at only half
a mile long, Elterwater is gradually silting up and becoming yet smaller. The reedy shores of Elterwater are a haven for wildfowl; Elter is the Norse word for
'swan', and consequently Elterwater literally means 'Swan Lake'.
Elterwater village historically made its living from farming, quarrying and lace-making. Today the village lives off the tourist trade (in fact, around 3/4 of the houses in the village are holiday homes), and the village pub is a popular place to end a walk through the meadows that surround the lake.
A short walk along the River Brathay from the bottom of Elterwater leads to Skelwith Force, an impressive display of power as the river cascades through a narrow gap in the rocks.