Thirlmere: Reservoir, walking trails and history

Thirlmere is shaped by its reservoir, walking trails and the history of water engineering. There are several specific ways to plan your trip: a circular trail around the reservoir, walks to destinations such as Helvellyn or the waterfalls at Dob Ghyll, cycling along the dam, and historic buildings. This can help you decide whether walking, cycling or cultural history should be the focus of your stay.

The reservoir and the valley’s history

Thirlmere Reservoir was created in the late Victorian era by combining two smaller lakes into a single reservoir. The dam, built in 1894, flooded the Thirlmere Valley, including the settlements of Armboth and Wythburn. The reservoir’s history is therefore also part of the story of how the inhabited valley changed. Those interested in water engineering will find a clear connection here between the creation of the reservoir and the history of the landscape.

Walking and cycling

There is a circular walking trail around Thirlmere Reservoir. The Swirls Trail starts at the main Swirls car park. The “Helvellyn from Thirlmere” route starts and ends in Thirlmere and follows the Helvellyn Gill Path to the summit of Helvellyn. To reach the waterfalls at Dob Ghyll, start at Dob Gill Car Park; from there, a footpath leads through woodland to the waterfalls. These destinations are quite different: they range from a circular trail around the reservoir to a mountain summit and waterfalls.

There is also a specific cycling route: the National Trust’s Wordsworth Cycling Trail crosses the Thirlmere Dam and follows the west shore of the lake. This lets you distinguish walking from cycling by their designated routes: the walking trails lead to a circular route, a summit and waterfalls, while the cycle trail follows the dam and the west shore.

Getting there and finding your way around

Bus route 555 from Kendal to Keswick runs year-round along the A591 and stops at Swirls. Check the latest timetable before travelling. The Swirls Trail starts at the main Swirls car park, which has accessible toilets for trail users. Swimming in Thirlmere is not permitted.

Church and historic buildings

Wythburn Church is a parish church dating from 1640, built on the site of an earlier chapel. It is a Grade II listed building. The windows can be distinguished by their dates and makers: the west window contains stained glass from 1888; the chancel has stained-glass windows by Henry Holiday from 1892 and Hugh Arnold from 1906.

Straining Well and Valve House was built between 1885 and 1894 for Thirlmere Reservoir. Its design resembles a mock castle—combining a function related to the reservoir with a castle-like appearance. Shoulthwaite Gill hillfort adds a different type of monument: its defensive features are particularly well preserved. Together, the church, waterworks and hillfort offer different ways to explore architecture and history.

Discover more destinations

Bowness-on-Solway, Flookburgh, Portinscale, Threlkeld, Windermere, Egremont, Kirkby Stephen, Great Asby

For the main travel overview: Cumbria.