Water
Famous for it’s lakes and tarns, the Lake District offers a wealth of water based options
Famous for its lakes and tarns, the Lake District is full of options, whether you prefer to be on, or in, the water.
Wild swimming has become extremely popular with many people choosing to swim in the big lakes such as Windermere but also in some of the more secluded tarns. Great care must be taken if you are not an experienced outdoor swimmer. Swim the Lakes is a great source for all the best spots and wild swimming events (and you can find some local favourites below).
For those who prefer to stay on top of the water, nearby Windermere (England’s largest lake) and Coniston offer gentle cruise options, as well as opportunities to hire a variety of boats, and SUPs.
Coniston Boating
Coniston Boating Centre and Coniston Launch offer opportunities to explore the lake Coniston – the launches run a regular service between various jetties on the lake and the boating centre hire out watercraft from small motor boats to canoes and paddle boards
Coniston Gondola
For the ultimate in gentile water travel, why not follow in the footsteps of the Furness Railway’s Victorian passengers and take a trip on National Trust’s steam gondola. Whether you spend your time chatting to the engineer and inspecting the boiler and valves, in the luxury first class saloon, or sitting in the sunshine on the fore or aft deck, you are sure to enjoy the captain’s stories of water speed records, Swallows and Amazons and of the local mountains. Use it as a means of getting across to Ruskin’s Brantwood House for lunch, or enjoy a full lake tour for an afternoon. If you are lucky, you might even recognise the purser – Charlie volunteers about once a month on Gondola, so she is the person to ask for more details. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/steam-yacht-gondola
Windermere Lake Cruises
With scheduled cruises, or the opportunity to hire your own boat, Windermere Lake Cruises has something for everyone.
