Semerwater and its secrets

You may already know Malham Tarn, but what about the Yorkshire Dales' other naturally formed small lake? Hidden in tiny Raydale close to Wensleydale, Semerwater is much loved by walkers and water sports enthusiasts. There's a circular footpath from the lake foreshore, or you could follow the footpath along one of England's shortest named rivers - River Bain which meanders over a couple of miles to Bainbridge. By the time it arrives there, it's powerful enough to turn an Archimedes Screw and produce enough power for many of the houses in the village.

Semerwater attracts countless photographers and artists, including Turner who visited and painted here in 1816. Folk singers and poets have seized on some of the legends associated with the lake. Sir William Watson penned the Ballad of Semerwater.

The story goes that a beggar visited a thriving city and asked for food and shelter but was rejected. He was finally given both at a small nearby cottage but in the morning he put a curse on the city: “Semerwater rise, Semerwater sink and bury the town all save the house where they gave me meat and drink.” It's hard to think which city this might have been for it's quite remote, but it is said that a village lays on the bottom of the lake and occasionally you may hear the sounds of bells ringing from its ancient church. The cottage in the story is reputedly at Low Blean. There are other stories of giants fighting the devil across the lake, throwing stones at each other - including the large Carlow Stone (also known as the Devil's Stone) you'll see on the foreshore.

In 1937 when the water level was very low, excavations uncovered an iron-age settlement on what is now the bed of the lake. A late Bronze Age Spear head was also found on the shore of the Lake.