Front of a white paddleboard on a lake at sunset.

Lakes activities guide

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Lakes activities guide

Read our simple water activities guide and maps explaining the activities you can do on the main bodies of water. Please ensure you’re aware of relevant speed limits and byelaws and to remember to check, clean and dry your equipment to help stop dangerous invasive species from spreading between different areas.

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

pdf

Lake map and guide to Windermere

adult male and young son in life jackets in shallow lake shore water, dad pulling paddleboard from water as son watches

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

pdf

Lake map and guide to Coniston Water

Derwentwater

Swimming: yes
Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards: yes
Rowing/Sailing boats: yes
Powered craft: yes with10mph speed limit
There is no access to islands in Derwentwater
Jetties, parking, facilities (see map)
Derwentwater byelaws

Contact National Trust, North West: 0 15394 35 5 99

pdf

Lake map and guide to Derwentwater

Ullswater

Swimming: yes
Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards: yes
Rowing/Sailing boats: yes
Powered craft: yes 10 mph speed limit
Ullswater byelaws

Contact: Lake District National Park: 01539 724555 or hq@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: Bassenthwaite is a quiet lake. Powered craft are generally not permitted, as per the current Small Lake Byelaws. However currently electric motors are limited to 12 month permit holders only, this may change with the Byelaws. Please be mindful of the lakes status as a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest, as any actions which negatively impact these designations could have further consequences.
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 72 4555

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

rowing boat on the shore of water amongst grass with a orange and yellow sky

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