 The meres were fed from a fresh water spring 2,000 feet (600 m) inland, linked to the meres by an underground stone channel.The meres were originally bounded by a sod-cast boundary bank and ditch; today this is heavily eroded, and up to 3-foot 3 inches (1 m) high.The main route by land into the castle would have been from the village of Embleton, through the West Gate.