An Hotel can be found on the road running along Haweswater reservoir but little else out here. try the villages. The pubs have bedrooms to offer.

For more details use one of the links here. Simply enter the name of this lake, village or town into the web site search window that appears. Hotels and Guest Houses Youth Hostels for Families etc

On M6, come off at Junction 40 for Penrith. follow Brough A66 sign. At the next roundabout follow sign for A6 Shap / Lowther Wild Life which takes you through Eamont Bridge. Through Eamont Bridge on right you will follow road sign for Tirrel / Pooley Bridge, B5320. Next watch for Askham / Haweswater 9 miles signpost. if you miss this one, no problems there is another, one mile further down this road. Bampton is the village you are aiming for and once here, the Haweswater sign will be clearly seen.

On M6, come off at Junction 39 and onto A6 for Shap. Follow Rosgill / Bampton sign. Haweswater signpost now appears. If you miss any road here, they all lead to Haweswater in any event - give or take one mile!

The car parking is limited. Although there are many small car parks handling 8 cars each along the way, the main car park is at the end of the Haweswater reservoir road. Note OUR unofficial "P" next to site 2.
The main car park is an extremely popular car park with mountain walkers and hikers. If you plan to dive Blea or Small tarn, it means coming early in the morning is an essential and very necessary element if you plan to dive any of the Haweswater sites during the tourist season.

Clickable map! >
United Utilities Permission Required
Disabled divers will find access is challenging.
Ramblers and fell walkers will have a challenging day reaching High Street!

But before you get into Blea tarn you may want to check on the spooky side first !

Trout, perch and minnows appear to be the only fish in this lake. There are no deep, fast flowing rivers for Salmon and the lake comes to an abrupt end with tarns and mountain waterfalls feeding this reservoir. Anglers will be disappointed here, because no live baits are allowed. Any other water users wishing to sail or windsurf will be met with large signs clearly stating this is a "no go" area. A permit to fish is required. We divers have to pay hard cash for the privilege.

As for where to find the great fish in Haweswater, there are only two feasible access points and I doubt these two sites are where the big boys play! So it's anyone's guess. I have only seen a few minnow and a small perch by the submerged village. night diving is probably the best bet for observing fish here.

Diving the submerged village of Mardale. Following the submerged roads, finning under the bridge and over houses which although they have had all their roofing and much of their walls demolished, are still quite amazing. This is one of only two places that I am aware of in England that can boast such an attraction. Lady Bower reservoir in Leicester is the other. Further afield, Italy in the Tuscan region where a reservoir up in the mountains is drained every tenth year for maintenance work. The Italian reservoir dive is a forty metre dive down to homes that are still fully intact.

This lake is the property of United Utilities Plc.
UU respectfully point out that LIMITED diving is available at Haweswater. Diving is allowed on condition that you apply for their diving permit. As of April 2004, the "charge per group is £49" and that requests should be made to the address at the base of this page - Instructions are held in the clickable "United Utilities Permission Required" document found beside our Haweswater map above.

The Following are not allowed on the Hawswater Reservoir

No boats, canoes, windsurfing, swimming and rather interestingly on the big sign - no worms, maggots or other live baits allowed! (for Anglers) - divers will find swim feeders, which suggest's anglers sometime's turn a blind eye.

Haweswater is an Altitude Dive: 900 feet (240 metres)

Torches: will definitely be needed if you wish to go exploring under the relatively small bridge. They are also useful if the algae bloom (see viz below) is particularly strong should you decide to dive here during summer and of course if night diving.

Thermoclines: None observed.

If new to freshwater diving: this is a great place to start. Clear water and plenty to see. Access is good at site 2 by the road end car park. If disabled, try the gate that is offset from the road just before reaching the road end. It is a little on the steep side but easier than the public access gate prior to the offset gate mentioned.

Penrith Divers: Penrith based. Air compressor at Penrith.
Solway Sub-Aqua Club: Wigton based. Air compressor at Wigton.
West Lakes Sub-Aqua: Cockermouth based club. Air compressor sited at Cockermouth.

West Cumbria: branch is based at Egremont.
Solway divers: branch is based at Whitehaven.
Kendal + Lakes: branch is based at Kendal Leisure Centre.

For more details see "Dive Clubs & Air" page.

Visibility: 3 + metres.

Temperature range is 11 to 13 degrees Celsius.

Haweswater is prone every summer to Green/Blue algae which can harm pet animals due to a toxin it produces. North West Water display signs and warnings on each gate entry point when this algae bloom occurs.

Visibility: improves to 10 + metres.

Temperature range is insufficient data

Anything past 25 metres may send your demand valve into free flow. Cold icy waters running of high altitude (2500 feet) mountains chill the lake somewhat.

Mobile phones do not work anywhere on this Reservoir or up in the mountains by Small or Blea tarn

Public phones: a public phone will be found at Haweswater Hotel and at Bampton village on the main road.

For the latest on the weather: "Scuba Weather Report"

Nearest toilet: In Haweswater Hotel

No powered boats (RIBs etc) allowed on lake.

United Utilities Plc "United utilities web site"

Service Delivery
The Old Saw Mill
Thirlmere
Keswick, Cumbria,
CA12 4TQ
Tel: 017687 72334 Fax: 017687 73712

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