Thirlmere

Thirlmere is a reservoir that was created in 1889 by flooding a valley to merge two smaller lakes into one in order to supply drinking water to Manchester. Two villages were "drowned" in the process. I decided to explore the lake by kayak on a mild, calm, February day.

Thirlmere is 3.5 miles long. 

I launched some somewhere below the bush in the foreground 

and paddled to the far end of the lake, passing the small islands.

For internet picture source click here

I launch at dawn while patchy fog-banks 

still enshroud parts of the lake

The fog-banks give a mysterious look to the lake...

...and some ethereal scenes.

A swollen beck pours from the fell into Thirlmere

Reaching the head of Thirlmere

I pull ashore for a snack 

before the 3-mile paddle back

After lunch the fog has lifted enough 

to reveal the summit of Helvellyn,

England's second highest mountain

By mid-afternoon the fog has gone and 

sunshine through the cumulus  clouds

illuminates the surrounding mountains

You can read more about Thirlmere here