Access to the Lakes

Guide to activities allowed in the four navigable Lake District lakes:

Windermere

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes

⛵️ Sailing boats: Yes, boats must be registered

🛥 Powered craft: Yes, boats must be registered and there is a 10 mph speed limit

• Windermere lake user guide, map showing jetties, parking and facilities
• Windermere byelaws

Who to contact:

Lake District National Park
hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk
01539 724555

Ullswater

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶  Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes

⛵️ Sailing boats: Yes

🛥 Powered craft: Yes, and there is a 10 mph speed limit

• Ullswater lake user guide, map showing jetties, parking and facilities
• Ullswater byelaws

Who to contact:

Lake District National Park
hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk
01539 724555

Coniston

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes

⛵️ Sailing boats: Yes

🛥 Powered craft: Yes, and there is a 10 mph speed limit

• Coniston Water lake user guide, map showing jetties, parking and facilities
• Coniston byelaws

Who to contact:

Lake District National Park
hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk
01539 724555

Derwent Water

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes

⛵️ Sailing boats: Yes

🛥 Powered craft: Yes, and there is a 10 mph speed limit

There is no access to any of the islands in Derwent Water.

• Derwent Water lake user guide, map showing jetties, parking and facilities
• Derwent Water byelaws

Who to contact:

National Trust, North West
015394 35599

Guide to activities allowed in all other Lake District lakes:

Bassenthwaite

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes, Bassenthwaite boating permit needed

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes, Bassenthwaite boating permit needed

⛵️ Sailing boats: Yes, Bassenthwaite boating permit needed

🛥 Powered craft: Yes for electric boats with a Bassenthwaite permit

🎣 Fishing: Yes, Bassenthwaite fishing permit needed

• Bassenthwaite Lake user guide, map showing jetties, parking and facilities
• Small lakes byelaws

Who to contact:

Lake District National Park
hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk
01539 724555

Buttermere

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes, with a permit

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes, with a permit

⛵️Sailing boats: No

🛥 Powered craft: No

Season Permits ring 017687 74649.  
Day permits are available from the car parks at Buttermere CA13 9UZ and Lanthwaite Wood CA13 ORT.

• Small lakes byelaws

Who to contact:

National Trust, North West
015394 35599

Crummock Water

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes, with a permit

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes, with a permit

⛵️Sailing boats: No

🛥 Powered craft: No

Season Permits ring 017687 74649.  
Day permits are available from the car parks at Buttermere CA13 9UZ and Lanthwaite Wood CA13 ORT.

• Small lakes byelaws

Who to contact:

National Trust, North West
015394 35599

Ennerdale Water

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: No

🛶 Canoes, kayaks: Yes. Commercial groups, activity providers and large groups need a permit.

Paddleboards: No.

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes. Commercial groups, activity providers and large groups need a permit.

⛵️Sailing boats: No

🛥 Powered craft: No

Permits are available from United Utilities

Who to contact:

United Utilities
01768 772334
accessnorthcatchment@uuplc.co.uk

Esthwaite Water

Esthwaite Water is run as a private fishery, offering bank, row and motor boat fishing.

015394 36541

Grasmere

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes

⛵️Sailing boats: No

🛥 Powered craft: No

• There is no access to the islands on Grasmere
• Small lakes byelaws

Who to contact:

Lowther Estates
01931 712577

Haweswater Reservoir

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: No

🚣🏻‍♀️ Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: No

⛵️Sailing boats: No

🛥 Powered craft: No

Who to contact:

United Utilities
01768 772334
accessnorthcatchment@uuplc.co.uk

Loweswater

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes, under 4 m with a permit

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes, under 4 m

⛵️Sailing boats: No

🛥 Powered craft: No

Day permits are available from the car parks at Buttermere CA13 9UZ and Lanthwaite Wood CA13 ORT.

• Small lakes byelaws

Who to contact:

National Trust, North West
015394 35599

Rydal

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: No public access

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: No public access

⛵️Sailing boats: No

🛥 Powered craft: No

• Individual recreational swimming only. All commercial activity to be agreed with Carter Jonas.
• Small lakes byelaws

Who to contact:

Rydal Estates, c/o Carter Jonas land agents
01539 722592

Thirlmere Reservoir

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: No

🛶 Canoes, kayaks: Yes

Paddleboards: No

⛵️ Sailing boats: Yes

🛥 Powered craft: No

Who to contact:

United Utilities
01768 772334
accessnorthcatchment@uuplc.co.uk

Wastwater

🏊🏼‍♀️ Swimming: Yes

🛶 Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: Yes

🚣🏻‍♀️ Rowing boats: Yes

⛵️Sailing boats: No

🛥 Powered craft: No

• Small lakes byelaws

Who to contact:

National Trust, North West
015394 35599