Ennerdale Water has no road access directly to the lake and therefore remains remotely cut off from the majority of visitors to the Lake District. It is possible to walk around the lakes eight mile perimeter with only one section of difficulty this being a short climb over Anglers Crag. This walk is said to take about three to four hours to complete.The Lake is around two and a half miles long, one half mile wide at its widest point and its greatest depth has been noted as around one hundred and fifty feet. United Utilities own the lake and has constructed a weir in order to raise the lakes level using it as a reservoir feeding the local town of Whitehaven. The lake itself is fed by several small streams and the River Liza. As well as the water take off by United Utilities the lake also feeds into the river Ehen. The River Ehen is in parts home to freshwater mussels once much prized for their Black Pearls. There is a United Utilities Water Treatment Plant situated to one side of the lake. Water quality of Ennerdale is some of the best in the Lake District and amongst other types of fish it contains Atlantic Char, the extremely rare Opossum Shrimp, Salmon, Eel, Minnow, Stickleback and Lamprey. Enviromental fishing permits are required, no live bait is allowed and Rod fishing only is allowed.
For the bird lover Ennerdale and its surrounding areas are a paradise due to the forest around the lake edge, the relative isolation of the valley and the lack of human and machinery environmental interference. Peregrine Falcon, Buzzards and Kestrel are a routine sight together with Raven, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Wheatear, Herons, Gulls and occasional Swans, Goldeneye, Merganser, Grebes and Kingfishers.
One interesting fact is that the Ex President of the United States proposed to his wife Hillary beside Ennerdale Water on his visit there in 1973.
For access to the lake the best route is from Ennerdale Village to Bowness Knott Car Park. There are several footpaths from the car park both to areas around the lake and to the fells. Canoes and Kayaks are allowed on the lake but both are subject to an annual canoeing permit.
Ennerdale village and farms in the area do offer accomodation and there is a local Pub and a small Parish Church. The village is on the Coast To Coast Walking route. The village is sign posted from the small township of Cleator Moor.