Once quarried for iron, now reclaimed by still water and birdsong, Longlands Lake is a quiet nature reserve near the River Ehen. Wheelchair-accessible trails circle the lake’s gentle shallows, where duckweed floats and wildflowers cluster at the margins. A shallow fringe of trees lines the southern edge, reflected in calm water that shelters coots, mallards and moorhens alike.

A surfaced circular path surrounds Longlands Lake, designed for all abilities and dotted with benches and fishing platforms. The view here looks north from the southern shore, where a fisherman waits quietly on a wooden pier. Above the far bank, a crescent of new homes rises on the grounds of Ehen Hall Estate, framed by trees and reflecting gently in the still water below.

This sweeping view shows Longlands Lake in full — a deep, still basin formed from four iron ore mines that operated here between 1879 and 1924. After closure, the workings subsided and flooded, creating a quiet lake now stocked for angling and managed for wildlife. Owned by Cumberland Council and leased to Wath Brow Anglers, the lake supports coots, swans, mallards, tufted ducks and more.

Just north of Longlands Lake, the River Keekle joins the River Ehen in a quiet wooded corridor, flowing together past the lake’s western edge. A narrow strip of land separates river from lake, where the circular walking path weaves between flowing water and still pond. This confluence, though easy to miss, is rich in life and marks a gentle moment of joining beneath the shelter of trees.

South of Longlands Lake, the River Ehen flows broad and slow beneath a narrow metal footbridge, much loved by local children in summer. The riverbanks here open to grassy edges and pebble shallows, where deep pools form natural swimming spots. On hot days, the bridge becomes a jumping point, echoing with laughter as the current carries cool relief downstream.

Approaching from the car park, Longlands Bridge provides access to the lake’s northern shore, crossing the River Ehen just before its meeting with the Keekle. A second bridge nearby spans the Keekle itself, offering a scenic footpath along the river’s western edge. Together, these crossings connect walkers to the lake, the riverside paths, and the confluence of two Cumbrian waterways.