Keswick, Derwentwater.

Derwentwater, situated at the Northern end of the Lake District National Park North West England. It sits in the valley of Borrowdale, and is inextricably linked to the market town of Keswick

Mountains rise on nearly all sides, the lower slops of which are covered in mainly Oak woods with a mix of Silver Birch (Betula pendula), Hawthorn (Cartaegus), Alder (Alnus). Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia),Hazel (Corylus avellana ), and a sprinkling of others. Some areas have been planted artificially with Spruce and Larch, and in such plantings particularly Spruce there is very little wildlife due to the fact that there is hardly any light penetration, so no undergrowth.
     The lake its self is approximately 3 miles in length by about one and a half mile wide at its widest,  and roughly just over 70 feet deep. In 1975 I swam it at its widest part, and was gearing up to attempt the length of it , when the weather changed bringing heavy rain and with it a rapid drop in water temperature.
   I've always considered it to be my favourite out of all the lakes, and it is certainly the most picturesque of the lakes.  From 1974 to 1982  I was lucky enough to live right by the shore of the lake at a place called Derwent Bay, which is on the private estate of Lingholm,(owned at the time by Lord Rochdale) near the village of Portinscale, on the west side of the lake, they are memorable years.
 

Greylag geese (Anser anser) and young.

It was an idyllic place to live, surrounded by wildlife. there are woodlands on three sides of the house, and  open views to and across the lake. From my kitchen window I could watch ducks and geese on the lake, and also shore birds, waders and wagtails. Then there was all the woodland birds, and Roe deer , Foxes, Badgers, again Fox and Roe deer regularly seen from the house, not to mention Red squirrels, as many as six different individuals coming to the feeder at my kitchen window, and a Heronry at the back  of the house.

One of the Greylag goslings

My mate Les was born at  Derwent Bay in the house I ended up living in, his Farther built a new house across the yard. We soon became friends and over the years good mates, and we very often reminisce about those years at the Bay, good years, happy times mostly.
 

All enjoying the sun.

Keeping an eye on the lake traffic.

Time for a rest.

Les hard at work, launch driving, HARD ?