Swimming in Lake Windermere: BEST Spots In 2023!
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Lake Windermere is one of the most beautiful and well-known lakes in the Lake District National Park. It’s no surprise that it’s one of the best lakes in the UK for open-water swimming!
As the country’s largest natural lake, Lake Windemere has always been one of the most popular UK holiday spots for tourists.
In fact, swimming in Windermere is one of my favourite things to do when we have our annual trip to the lakes.
Surrounded by incredible views of some of the highest mountains in the national park, it’s a great spot to go for a swim, launch a paddleboard, enjoy a lake cruise or eat ice cream on the shore!
But if you’re new to the Lake District, or new to wild swimming, it can be daunting knowing where to jump in and what parts of the lake are safe. That’s where I come in, and is the reason why I wrote this post!
I explain everything you need to know about swimming in Lake Windermere, how to stay safe, what to pack and where to go. So, let’s get started!
Still have a question about swimming in Lake Windermere? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!
⚠️🐶 Taking a dog to Lake Windermere? Blue-green algae can often be found in Lake Windermere. This has been proven to be potentially fatal to dogs, so be sure to read up about the current conditions before visiting! For more information, head to the Lake District National Park’s website.
TOP LAKE DISTRICT BUY: Going for a walk near Lake Windermere? Your smartphone’s maps aren’t the best when it comes to directions in remote areas and for Lake Windermere directions, so I recommend buying the OS Explorer 7 Map before visiting. You can check prices and delivery here.
Swimming in Lake Windermere: The Best Spots
Before we begin, it’s important to know that Lake Windermere is one of the busiest lakes in the national park. That means you can expect lots of water sports, large boats, cruisers, steamers, rowing boats and more.
Because of how busy it is, it’s important that you find somewhere safe to swim. Jumping off the main Lake Windermere cruise jetty isn’t going to end well – in fact, it’s completely banned.
Most of the main Lake Windermere swimming spots are on the west side of the lake. This is due to the large boats usually departing and docking on the east side.
In summary, I recommend five different swimming spots on Lake Windermere. They include:
- Millerground
- Fell Foot
- Harrowslack
- Low Wray
- Borrans Park
Keep reading for more information about each of the Lake Windermere swimming locations, including car parks, facilities, directions and more.
⭐ Top-rated experiences in the Lake District!
- Lake District epic 10-Lake Full-Day Tour
- Visit the favourite countryside of Beatrix Potter
- Set sail on a Coniston Water Cruise and admire some of the best scenery in the Lake District
- Experience afternoon tea on a lake cruise
- Try an adrenaline-pumping Ghyll Scrambling Water Adventure
1) Millerground
🚗 Car park: Rayrigg Meadow car park
🗺️ OS Explorer map: 7 ➡ Buy your Lake District maps here!
🚎 Public transport: 599 bus from Ambleside
🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: Yes
🚣🏼♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes
🍴Facilities: Toilets, food and drink options in Windermere
👍🏼 Good to know: There are also hikes and trails near Millerground if you’d like to explore more of the area. All of the woodland and countryside views are beautiful, and the village of Windermere isn’t too far for a coffee!
Millerground is on the east of Lake Windermere and is one of the most popular swimming spots in the area.
Full of families, groups, couples and solo swimmers, the lake here is shallow enough to paddle, or to sit on one of the jetties and watch the water glistening in the sun.
Millerground also hosts annual events, so don’t be surprised to see something going on! It’s also one of my favourite areas in the Lake District to watch the sunset. A must-visit when wanting to swim at Lake Windermere!
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2) Fell Foot
🚗 Car park: Fell Foot car park, one mile north of Newby Bridge on the A592. Newby Bridge, Windermere, Cumbria, LA12 8NN is the full address of Fell Foot.
🗺️ OS Explorer map: 7 ➡ Buy your Lake District maps here!
🚎 Public transport: The number 6 bus from Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere. Depart at the Fell Foot entrance.
🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: Yes
🚣🏼♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes
🍴Facilities: Toilets, picnic benches, and The Boathouse cafe offers a range of hot lunches, coffee and sandwiches.
👍🏼 Good to know: Fell Foot is most popular with big groups and families, due to its shallow waters and easy access to the water. Paddling, swimming and boating are all popular activities here.
Fell Foot is one of the best Lake Windermere swimming spots due to it being on a calmer part of the lake, as well as having a cafe, picnic tables and a park nearby (especially good for excited kids!).
It can get quite busy during peak times due to its good accessibility and beautiful views. Be sure to arrive early if you want a good spot to spend the day there!
Did you know?
Lake Windermere is the largest body of natural water in England (it holds over 300 billion litres!). The ending of the word; ‘mere‘, actually means a ‘lake that is shallow in relation to its size’.
Some may question whether lakes are meres and meres are lakes, but it’s semantics. It’s a lake. It’s a mere. It’s whatever you want it to be whilst still being the largest body of water in the country!
3) Harrowslack
🚗 Car park: Harrowslack car park
🚎 Public transport: The 505/506 bus to Bowness Bay.
🗺️ OS Explorer map: 7 ➡ Buy your Lake District maps here!
🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: Yes
🚣🏼♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes
🍴Facilities: none, but there are toilets at Wray Castle and Ferry Way.
👍🏼 Good to know: Harrowslack is also a great starting point for many surrounding hikes, including the panoramic views from Claife Heights or the interesting walk to Wray Castle.
A quiet part of Lake Windermere, Harrowslack is another excellent spot for wild swimming. With a large car park (free for National Trust members), and a big green space for picnics, this is a popular spot for those wanting to escape the bustle of the east side of the water.
I recommend making a day of it and heading to some of the nearby trails, too!
4) Low Wray
🚗 Car park: Wray Castle car park
🗺️ OS Explorer map: 7 ➡ Buy your Lake District maps here!
🚎 Public transport: 505 bus, Kendal to Coniston route, then a 1 mile walk.
🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: Yes
🚣🏼♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes
🍴Facilities: Toilets and cafe
👍🏼 Good to know: Low Wray also has a large campsite nearby, so this Lake Windermere swimming spot gets busy!
Low Wray (Wray Castle) is a great spot for shingle access to the beach. Not the most comfortable, but a popular option for wild swimming in Lake Windermere. Pair up your wild swim with a hike to Wray Castle, and a lunch in the nearby cafe.
⚠️🐶 Taking a dog to Lake Windermere? Blue-green algae can often be found in Lake Windermere. This has been proven to be potentially fatal to dogs, so be sure to read up about the current conditions before visiting! For more information, head to the Lake District National Park’s website.
5) Borrans Park
🚗 Car park: Borrans Park car park
🗺️ OS Explorer map: 7 ➡ Buy your Lake District maps here!
🚎 Public transport: the 599 bus to Waterhead
🏊🏼 Suitable for beginners?: Yes
🚣🏼♂️ Launch of private kayaks/paddleboards?: Yes
🍴Facilities: in the nearby pubs
👍🏼 Good to know: Borrans Park is close to the remains of a Roman road, which leads to the ruins of the Galava Roman fort (for any history fans!).
Borrans Park is a lovely swimming spot in Lake Windermere. With incredible lake views, a large open green park, picnic tables, a big car park and an accessible lakeshore, it’s one of the most popular wild swimming spots north of the river.
As the area near the lake is grass, it’s comfortable enough to take a picnic blanket and rest on the ground (without lugging camping chairs around!)
Where NOT to swim near Lake Windermere
As I previously mentioned, Lake Windermere is a busy place to swim. But it is big enough to find some secluded areas where it’s safe and fun to take a dip.
As a general rule of thumb, do not get into Lake Windermere anywhere where there are any boats, cruises, steamers or piers nearby. This can be potentially dangerous, as large boats will not be able to see you (even if you’re wearing a bright yellow swimming cap!)
It’s also best to stick to the west of Lake Windermere, as the east is where all of the larger boats dock and run from. The west side tends to be quieter, but of course, use common sense and check the area before jumping in!
Other open-water swim spots in the Lake District
If you’re looking for other fun swimming spots in the Lake District, check out my full wild swimming in the Lake District guide here!
Coniston Water, Crummock Water, Rydal Water and Wastwater are some of our favourites!
What to pack for wild swimming in the Lake District
If you are wild swimming for the first time, or feel a little out of your depth (pun intended), here are some packing must-haves!
- Swimwear – For women, I highly recommend a full swimsuit rather than a bikini. The water is cold, and you’ll have to move around quite a bit to stay warm! Wearing a bikini is a little too impractical for the wild swimming world in the Lake District!
- A wetsuit – If you’re visiting the lakes in the winter months, a wetsuit is highly recommended. The tarns are cold throughout the year, and you’ll see locals and avid swimmers wearing wetsuits even in the summer months.
- A microfibre towel – I rave about these all over my blog, because they really are the best type of towel for avid travellers. They dry quickly, wrap up into a tiny ball and keep you dry and warm. A must-buy for any wild swimmers!
- A dry robe – Dry robes are one of the best investments you can make when wild swimming – not just in the Lake District, but on the beaches of Cornwall or the fairy pools of Scotland. Allowing you to change clothes anywhere, they not only give you privacy but keep you warm! I highly recommend purchasing a dry robe if you’re going to be wild swimming in the Lake District.
- Watershoes: Some of the lakes are full of shingles and sharp rocks. Protect your feet!
- Goggles – not a must-have, but a great one if you want to see anything below the murky water. You can get lucky and spot some interesting fish in some of the lakes!
- Waterproof phone case – I wouldn’t go near the water without mine (even on the lakeshores, everything gets wet). Be prepared and keep your tech safe! Plus, they’re great if you want to take photos in the water!
- Go-Pro: Again, not a must-have, but a great buy if you like taking underwater photos or videos. We bought our Go-Pro around five years ago, and it still works perfectly, so it’s definitely worth the investment!
Wild swimming in the Lake District tips
Wild swimming and open water swimming are all fun and games, but there are of course some dangers that you need to be aware of.
If you’re wild swimming for the first time, be sure to enter the water slowly and find your footing before trying anything adventurous. It’s not for everyone, and if you find it’s not for you, that’s ok!
⚠️ Not every tarn, river, stream or lake in the Lake District is safe to swim in. Be sure to check before swimming.
💦 Always rinse yourself off after visiting the lakes, especially if you go from one to another. The transferral of non-native and invasive weeds being left in some of the waters causes problems preserving the lakes.
🩴 Always wear suitable footwear! There are lots of rocks underwater which can become slippery from the undergrowing plants and weeds.
❗️Be sure to enter the water slowly as the water can be extremely cold.
😬 If you want to jump in, make sure you’ve acclimatised by swimming in the same body of water first.
👯♂️ Avoid swimming alone.
🏞️ Do not swim in rivers with strong currents.
🤕 Be careful of infection with open wounds and cuts. Wrap wounds in bandages or plasters.
🏊🏼♀️ If you’re planning on swimming for a long time, wear a wetsuit. This gives you extra protection from the cold (you don’t want to catch hyperthermia).
⛑️ As well as a wetsuit, be sure to pack all of the right equipment. A first-aid kit, a tow float and towels to quickly warm up after are just as important.
🦟 If you’re swimming at dusk, remember mosquito repellant.
☀️ If you’re swimming during the day, remember to wear sun cream.
🐶 Taking a dog to Lake Windermere? Blue-green algae can often be found in Lake Windermere. This has been proven to be potentially fatal to dogs, so be sure to read up about the current conditions before visiting! For more information, head to the Lake District National Park’s website.
📱BONUS TIP: Download the app ‘The Wild Open Water Swimming’ app from the Wild Swim Store for up-to-date lakes, tarns and rivers that are safe for open water swimming.
Please check the Lake District Gov website for any updated changes before you swim.
Where to stay near Lake Windermere
Looking for somewhere to stay near Lake Windermere? If you’d like to be close by, I recommend staying in either Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere or Ambleside.
All three are lovely Lake District villages, and are within walking distance to Lake Windermere!
Here are some of my recommendations if you’d like to stay close to the lake!
- Grayling Cottage: A cute and cosy cottage in Ambleside. It’s just a one-minute walk from Ambleside town centre and is beautifully decorated. ➡ BOOK THIS COTTAGE NOW!
- Fairfield House and Gardens: for those who want to be looked after during their stay in Bowness-on-Windermere! ➡ BOOK THIS HOTEL NOW!
- The Rockefeller Apartments: for your own apartment in the heart of Bowness. ➡ BOOK APARTMENTS NOW!
- Jerichos Boutique Accommodation: for a luxury stay in the beautiful town of Windermere. ➡ BOOK HOTEL NOW!
- Beaumont House with a free off-site health club: A 5-star Victorian property in a peaceful countryside location, just minutes from the heart of Windermere. ➡ BOOK HOTEL NOW!
Getting around the Lake District
If you can, take a car to get around the Lake District. If you only have one day, you don’t want to spend hours waiting for public transport. Don’t have a car? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!
However, if you haven’t got access to a car, exploring the Lake District can still be done! The Lake District has amazing public transport (a lot better than some of the rest of the country), and you can whizz around on buses and boats. For more information about travelling around the Lake District without a car, you can check out my guide here.
➡ Need to hire a car in the Lake District? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! 🚗 LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!
| 🌎 Top Travelling Tip!
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Swimming in Lake Windermere: FAQs
1) What part of Lake Windermere is best to swim?
There are a few locations around Lake Windermere that are great for wild swimming, all with their own pros and cons. The best include Millerground, Fell Foot, Low Wray and Borrans Park.
If you want a large park and picnic area, head to Borrans Park. For a family favourite, piers and sunset views, head to Millerground.
2) How long does it take to swim the length of Lake Windermere?
If you were to swim the entire length of Lake Windermere, it would take between 4-8 hours one way. But this all depends on the weather, how busy the lake is and other factors. For safety reasons, you are only able to swim the length of Windermere with a boat pilot.
3) Is Windermere full of green algae?
Blue-green algae can be fatal to dogs and harmful to humans, so it’s really important to research the area and check the Lake District website for algal bloom updates before visiting.
4) Does Lake Windermere get choppy?
Yes, Lake Windermere can become incredibly choppy, especially in areas where there are large boats and steamers. If you are wild swimming, stick to some of the quieter spots like Fell Foot and Millerground to avoid choppy waves.
5) What is the best time of year to visit Windermere?
In general, the Lake District has four seasons, with the warmest being from June to August, and the coldest in November to February.
❄️ During the winter months (November – February), the Lake District is known to get quite a bit of snow. If you’re visiting during the colder months, make sure you pack the necessary warm clothes (especially if you want to hike).
☀️ The summer months in the UK (June – August) are always the most expensive, and the busiest. I’ve visited the Lake District during this time, and although the weather has been amazing, you can expect to share your trip with a lot of other tourists!
Related posts: Lake District in December | Lake District in September
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Swimming in Lake Windermere: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about swimming in Lake Windermere. When you’re planning a trip to the Lake District, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Lake District content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
