Lodore Falls facts for kids
Lodore Falls is a beautiful waterfall in Cumbria, England. It is found near Derwentwater lake and flows from Watendlath. The water comes from a stream that starts at Watendlath Tarn. It then rushes down over 100 feet (30 metres) into the Borrowdale Valley. The falls look amazing when it rains a lot. But in summer, the water can become just a small trickle.
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The History of Lodore Falls
Some people believe that Lodore Falls is mentioned in a very old Welsh poem. This poem, called Y Gododdin, was written a long time ago, between the 600s and 1000s. It might have called the falls Rhaeadr Derwennydd, which means Derwennydd Falls.
Early Visitors and Descriptions
One of the first people to write about visiting the "Lodoar Falls" was William Sawrey Gilpin. He came in 1772 and described the falls. He said the stream falls between two tall, straight rocks. He noted that large pieces of rock form the waterfall's bed. Some of these rocks were big enough for trees to grow on them. Gilpin wrote that the water finds its way down at least 100 feet. He also said that after heavy rains, the water looks very grand. He called the stream the "Lodoar River."
The Famous Poem and Hotel
By 1792, a public house, like a small hotel, was built near the falls. A famous poem called Cataract of Lodore was written about the falls in 1820. The poet, Robert Southey, used words that sound like the waterfall. He also helped to make the spelling "Lodore" popular.
The public house grew bigger and became the Lodore Hotel in 1870. Later, in 1947, a family bought it and called it the Swiss Lodore Hotel. Over the years, different hotel companies owned it. These included Stakis Hotels and Hilton Hotels. In 2004, the Graves family bought it and named it the Lodore Falls Hotel.
The waterfall is on private land. Guests staying at the hotel can easily visit the falls. Other people can also see the falls by using a path next to the road. The oak trees around the falls are a special protected area.
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