Things to do in Ennerdale Bridge

Ennerdale Bridge is a small Cumbrian village set on the winding country road that leads from Cleator Moor to Ennerdale Water. The village is set at the head of Ennerdale Valley and is one of the Lake Districts most remote and unspoilt areas. The lake and village are wild and remote and often quiet due to the lack of public roads around the area, making Ennerdale ideal for a relaxed trip getting closer to nature and escaping the crowds.  Some towns nearby the village include Cleator Moor, Whitehaven and Cockermouth.

  • Hiking

Due to Ennerdale’s remote and unspoilt surroundings, it is a favoured place of hikers and is a starting point for a variety of Wainwright mountains including the secluded Ennerdale Horseshoe.  The hike has a few variations but is generally a giant horseshoe ridge walk surrounding Ennerdale and visiting over 15 summits including Crag Fell, Great Borne, Green Gable, Haycock, High Crag, Pillar, Red Pike and Scoat Fell. There are also over 10 miles of woodland trails in the valley and a footpath surrounding the reservoir for stunning lowland hikes. 

  • Cycling

The Ennerdale Valley is filled with miles of forest roads and trails ideal for a day out on the bikes. Pass by stunning mountain views, clear waters and ancient settlements set amongst a wild valley in a traffic free environment. Exploring Ennerdale by bike or foot is the only way to see the whole of the valley in a day due to the areas lack of roads. Although traffic is sparse, still keep an eye out for agricultural and forestry vehicles. To access the valley by bike, you can use the Bowness Knott car park on the shoreline of Ennerdale Water. 

  • Rock Climbing 

Ennerdale is home to a range of craggy mountains offering exhilarating climbing conditions. The most exciting climb of them all is Pillar Rock, which forms the central feature of the rugged north face of the mountain Pillar. The summit of the crag is only accessible via a rock climb and was the focal point for the earliest pioneers of rock climbing in the Lake District. Due to the technicality of the rock, it is never crowded and requires strong climbing skills. 

  • Canoeing and Kayaking 

Although Ennerdale Water is off limits for wild swimmers, other water activities including canoeing and kayaking are allowed. The calm waters offer beautiful views of the valley, it’s surrounding mountains and forests. The lake is the most westerly in the national park and is around 2.4 miles long. There are a variety of places on the lake to head for in your kayak including the rock face under Anglers Crag, the ancient woodland of Side Wood and the site of the old Anglers Hotel. There are no activity centres on the lake so bring along your own kayak or canoe! Paddleboards, boats and swimming are forbidden. It is advised to wash your kayaks and canoes thoroughly before entering the water to avoid contamination and spreading of organisms and creatures from other lakes. The upper 3km of the River Ehen are also off limits due to the river being the home of rare freshwater mussels, which could be damaged by canoeists. 

  • Horse Riding 

Horse riders are welcome to enjoy the Ennerdale Valley too and have the same rights as cyclists on forest roads and bridleways. Bowness Knott offers the easiest access to the valley and is a great start point for treks. The nearby family run, Bradley’s Riding Centre offer horse riding for all ages and abilities, often trekking horses to the Ennerdale Valley. Trained instructors accompany all horse rides with the centre providing hats and group trekking options. 

  • Longlands Lake 

Longlands Lake is situated on the site of the former Longlands iron ore mine nestled between the nearby towns of Egremont and Cleator Moor around 10 minutes drive away from Ennerdale Bridge. The country park has its own car park and offers lovely, riverside and woodland walks. The footpath surrounding the lake is made up of finely crushed local quarry stone and is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The park and lake supports an abundance of wildlife, with an especially large bird population including swan, coot, moorhen, goosander, tufted duck and mallard.

  • Egremont Castle 

Around 13 minutes drive away from Ennerdale Bridge, stands the historic ruins of Egremont Castle. The ruins date back to around 1130-1140 although there is an earlier Norman mound near the site. The castle stands on a mound above the River Ehen and was built by Anglo-Norman William le Meschin to protect the town. Lakeland poet William Wordsworth makes reference to the castle in his poem ‘The Horn of Egremont Castle’ in which he describes the legend of a castle horn in which only the rightful heir could blow.