How to get here
As per main page instructions. Only one road
running along this reservoir.
Parking
For parking, you may wish to park not where the
road ends in what is a large car park, but as you come down the final steep
stretch of this road, towards the end, where cars will be seen parked up. You
will notice several gates on your right, all leading to the lake shore. There
is one distinctive gate on the right side which is offset from the road with a
coarse makeshift rubble road about 30 metres long. Park alongside this gate.
lift off the rope loop securing it and as you look over to the far shore, here
is the beginnings of your village, at least part of it, in 3 metres. That's all
it is at this point.
The gate prior to the one mentioned is also a
public access point with a steep and difficult path leading to the lake. The
advantage of using this entry / exit point is that you have much less fining to
perform - just 10 minutes before you reach the submerged Mardale bridge. The
down side is a sod of a climb to get back up! - The choice is down to your
level of fitness.
Brief
This is where all the amazement is. A village
evacuated in the 1930s to allow this area to be flooded and become what you see
today. A vibrant haven for wildlife.
One quirky thing about depth with this reservoir -
Depth can drop by as much as nearly twenty metres! This is due to the demand
for water, evaporation and dry summer weather. During particularly dry summers
the submerged village can be left high and dry and then falls prey to tourist
invasions resulting in an overflowing car park.
The village of Mardale still makes it's guest
appearance every now and then, although the summer conditions must be dry for
many months for the water level to drop some 50 feet before she dry's out for
all to see. Tourists then flock here to wander around the remains .
The Dive
Head out and turn right (North) about halfway
across. Heading up the lake into deeper water - well - 8 metres, if you are
lucky will take about 30 minutes.
What to look for: Try to recognise the difference
between the car road and the river bed that flowed through the village and your
navigation around the village will be a very interesting one.
The river bed needs to be recognised because one
of the key features of this dive is to find and swim under the old Mardale
bridge. The bridge has the road going over it (of course), so when you find the
bridge you will have a chance at realising what a 1919 road looks like. It's
not quite what you might expect - no Tarmac or cobbles, just true grit, rubble,
and rumble for the unfortunate drivers who must have faced some serious jolting
on a road like this. Bear in mind that pneumatic tyres were not invented until
circa 1922!
The depth you will achieve when searching in and
out of this village depends entirely on the level of the lake which fluctuates
dramatically by plus or minus 50 feet depending on the season.
The dive is strictly take only pictures and leave
only bubbles. At times it is sad to see the general public who despite the
quantity of signs and warnings still leave their garbage lying around.
Thankfully divers are well trained in this area and thereby leaving the United
utilities very happy.
Hazards to Divers
This is an altitude dive so plan for this: Alt is
900 feet (or 240 metres)
Alt navigation:-