Four churches that nestle in the shadow of some of Cumbria's majestic mountains have been recognised.

To coincide with International Mountain Day earlier this week, ExploreChurches, the National Churches Trust’s church tourism website, is featuring 10 of the best churches that sit under some of the famous peaks.

St Bega's on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake, Wythburn, by Thirlmere reservoir, plus St Olaf's at Wasdale and St Catherine's in Boot, Eskdale, all feature.

The site highlighted St Bega's as a spiritual place and childhood haunt of novelist and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, who used to cycle with friends to the lake, hire a boat and sail across the water to the church.

His 16th novel Credo, published in 1996 is based on St Bega and her pilgrimages around Bassenthwaite and St Bees.

Writing about the church Melvyn Bragg said: “Even today it is not at all difficult to spend hours around and about the church in virtual isolation. Certain places do have an undeniable spirit – life in such a place seems to reach into the past, to be mysterious and yet, somehow, quite open and accessible. St Bega’s by Bassenthwaite has that for me.”

St Olaf’s at Wasdale Head in Cumbria is one of the smallest churches in England, standing at the head of Wastwater, England’s deepest lake, and near to its highest mountain, Scafell.

It is talked about in the thrall of excitement and tragedy.

The surrounding churchyard contains the graves of local families as well as those who have died on the fells. A memorial commemorating members of the Lake District Fell and Rock Climbing Club who died in WWI was recently removed from its position on Great Gable and repositioned on a stone plinth in the churchyard, a constant reminder of the special bond between the church and the mountains.

Mountains often provided the last, and treacherous journey for many villagers.

A magnificent setting among the dales at the upper end of Eskdale with the backdrop of Scafell Pike, St Catherine’s church in Boot, Eskdale dates back to the 12th century.

Before St Olaf’s Church, Wasdale, was licensed to bury the dead, bodies would be carried by pony and cart over the mountains along the coffin route to St Catherine’s church.

And lastly Wythburn church was praised for frequently providing shelter from torrential rain and a place to sleep for those caught out on the fells.

The church once served the village of Wythburn but today stands forlorn on the banks of Thirlmere reservoir.