Lakes maps and guides
Below are three lakes activities guides to allowed activities in our three of the Lake District’s navigable lakes.
Windermere
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards: yes
- Rowing boats: yes
- Sailing boats: yes register if an engine/motor
- Powered craft:, yes boats must be registered
- 10nmph speed limit and 6nmph (nautical miles per hour, dependent on location)
- Jetties, parking, facilities (see map)
- Windermere byelaws
Contact Lake District National Park: 01539 724555 or hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk
Coniston Water
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: yes
- Rowing/Sailing boats: yes
- Powered craft: yes with10mph speed limit
- Jetties, parking, facilities (see map)
- Coniston Water byelaws
Contact Coniston Information Centre: 01539441533 or conistonbc@lakedistrict.gov.uk
Activities allowed in other Lake District lakes
Bassenthwaite
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards: yes with boating permit
- Rowing boats: yes with boating permit
- Sailing boats: yes with boating permit
- Powered craft: yes electric boats only with a boating permit
- Fishing: yes with a fishing permit
- Bassenthwaite map: jetties, parking, facilities
- Small lakes byelaws
Contact Lake District National Park: hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk or 01539 724555
Brotherswater
- Swimming: Yes
- Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: No
- Sailing boats: No
- Powered craft: No
- Small lakes byelaws
Contact National Trust North West: 015394 35599
Buttermere
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: yes with a permit
- Rowing boats: yes with a permit
- Sailing boats: no
- Powered craft: no
- Small lakes byelaws
Contact National Trust North West: 015394 35599.
Season Permits: 01768774649.
Day permits: car parks Buttermere CA139UZ, Lanthwaite Wood CA13ORT
Crummock Water
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: yes with a permit
- Rowing boats: yes with a permit
- Sailing boats: no
- Powered craft: no
- Small lakes byelaws
Contact National Trust North West: 015394 35599.
Season Permits ring: 017687 74649.
Day permits: available from car parks at Buttermere CA13 9UZ or Lanthwaite Wood CA13 ORT.
Ennerdale Water
- Canoes, kayaks, rowing boats: yes (commercial groups/activity providers/groups need permit)
- Sailing boats: no
- Powered craft: no
- Paddleboards: no
- Swimming: no
- Permits available from United Utilities
Contact United Utilities: accessnorthcatchment@uuplc.co.uk
Esthwaite Water
Esthwaite Water is run as a private fishery, offering bank, row and motor boat fishing.
Contact: 015394 36541
Grasmere
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards: yes
- Rowing boats: no
- Sailing boats: no
- Powered craft: no
- There is no access to the islands on Grasmere
- Small lakes byelaws
Contact Lowther Estates: 01931 712577
Haweswater Reservoir
- Swimming: no
- Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: no
- Sailing boats: no
- Powered craft: no
Contact: United Utilities:
Loweswater
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks: under 4m with permit
- paddleboards: under 4m with permit
- Rowing boats: under 4m with permit
- Sailing boats and powered craft: No
- Day permits from car parks at Buttermere CA13 9UZ and Lanthwaite Wood CA13 ORT.
- Small lakes byelaws
Contact National Trust North West: 015394 35599
Rydal
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards: No
- Rowing boats: No
- Sailing boats and powered craft: No
- Individual recreational swimming only.
- Agree commercial activity with Carter Jonas.
- Small lakes byelaws
Contact Rydal Estates: 01524 880 320
Thirlmere Reservoir
- Swimming: no
- Canoes, kayaks: yes
- Paddleboards: No
- Sailing boats
- Powered craft: No
Contact United Utilities: accessnorthcatchment@uuplc.co.uk
Wastwater
- Swimming: yes
- Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: yes
- Rowing boats: yes
- Sailing boats: No
- Powered craft: No
- Small lakes byelaws
Contact National Trust North West: 015394 35599
