Is Bownessie out there?

Photo: J. Edward Taylor

11:17am Tuesday 22nd September 2009

By Lizzie Anderson

AN UNUSAL water disturbance and a possible sighting have given further credence to the legend of Windermere’s mysterious monster.

Lakes TV’s joint director, John McKeown captured the strange ripples measuring around 20ft, while filming a documentary about “Bownessie.”

“I had gone up to the view point just before the Beech Hill Hotel to get some establishing shots of the lake,” he said. “As I was filming I saw this long white disturbance in the water so I zoomed in on it. It was quite striking but I figured it must have been caused by the cables of the Windermere Ferry.”

However, when he discovered the ferry was a mile and a half north of the area, his curiosity returned.

“When I got home I uploaded the footage on to my lap top and not only was the disturbance very clear but something actually breaks the surface,” said Mr McKeown, who describes himself as being naturally sceptical. “Essentially, it was a strange pattern in the water, it wasn’t a wave or anything like that. I shot the footage at 8.10am on a Saturday morning and there were no boats on the lake.”

There have been numerous reported sightings of a mysterious creature in the lake over the years, the most recent being in July when Lake District hotelier Thomas Noblett was hit by a three-foot wave while swimming.

In 2006, The Westmorland Gazette reported how Huddersfield University journalism lecturer Steve Burnip, of Hebden Bridge, saw a 20ft serpent-like creature emerge from the waters as he stood at Watbarrow Point across from Waterhead.

Keen to gather more evidence, last weekend, celebrity and sports psychic Dean Maynard and local photographer Linden Adams, who photographed and christened Bownessie in 2007, led a team of investigator out on to England’s longest lake.

Using state of the art equipment, a specially chartered yacht and a sonar boat, the team scoured the depths of Windermere hoping for a glimpse of Bownessie.

Freelance Journalist, Kim Inglis, was one of the passengers on board.

“I was looking at a flock of seagulls that were circulating above the lake about 100 metres,” she said. “All of a sudden something came out of the water and before I could say anything it disappeared.”

Her sighting was confirmed by a passenger on the sonar boat, who also witnessed a head emerge from the lake.

“I would describe it as a head but I wouldn’t go beyond that as you start imagining things,” said Ms Inglis. “I definitely saw something. I believe it was probably just a big fish but I still think the idea of Bownessie is fascinating and it has put the region on the map, which is a good thing.”

To watch Mr Mckeown’s footage, which has since been broadcast on Sky News, visit www.lakestv.net.

http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/4641923.Is_Bownessie_out_there_/