The Lake District, UK: where serenity meets stunning scenery.
Ever considered discovering the best places to paddle board in Lake District?
Picturesque lakes and dramatic fells await you.
Embrace the adventure and let’s explore the Lake District’s tranquil waters together. On board?
Planning Your Paddle in Lake District
Season figures are averages of the daily maximum temperature in the ERA5 climate archive for 2019 to 2024, rental counts come from OpenStreetMap. Every spot below can carry its own rules on top of these.
- Season: average daily highs clear 15 °C from June through September. July is the warmest month, averaging 17 °C, and outside that window a wetsuit is what separates a short session from a comfortable one.
- Rules and licences: Access in England and Wales depends on who controls the water. The Canal & River Trust requires a valid waterways licence for a paddleboard on its canals and rivers, either short term or through Paddle UK membership, and that licence expressly does not cover the Trust’s reservoirs. Lakes and reservoirs in other hands set their own conditions, so check the individual spot before you load the car. There is no statutory kit list, but official guidance after a fatal accident is blunt: wear a buoyancy aid, and a quick release waist leash in moving water.
- Rentals nearby: OpenStreetMap lists 3 places within 16 miles that hire out boards, kayaks or canoes, among them Total Adventure Kayak Hire. Call ahead, opening times outside the main season are short.
Where to Paddle Board in Lake District
#1 Windermere
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre, Bowness Pier (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Generally calm, occasional wind
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Swans, ducks, geese, freshwater fish
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Langdale Pikes, Claife Heights, Belle Isle
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Respect speed limits, wear appropriate safety gear
Windermere, the largest natural lake in England, resides in the heart of the Lake District. Its calm waters and stunning surroundings make it the perfect location for paddleboarding enthusiasts.
Explore the many bays of Windermere, take in the picturesque views, and soak up the peaceful atmosphere of the lake.
#2 Derwentwater
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Derwent Water Marina, Keswick Launch (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Calm water, fluctuating winds
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fish, water birds, red squirrels
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Cat Bells, Friar’s Crag, Skiddaw
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Be cautious of other water users, adhere to safety guidelines
Derwentwater, a picturesque lake surrounded by fells and woodland, offers paddleboarders a serene and peaceful experience.
Take in the beautiful scenery and explore the numerous islands on the lake, ensuring a memorable paddleboarding adventure.
#3 Coniston Water
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Coniston Boating Centre, Brown Howe Car Park (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Generally calm, occasional wind
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fish, water birds
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: The Old Man of Coniston, Brantwood estate, Peel Island
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Follow local guidelines, be cautious of occasional lake traffic
Coniston Water, lying amidst majestic fells, provides a beautiful setting for paddleboarding. The lake served as an inspiration for Swallows and Amazons, a beloved British children’s book.
Explore its hidden coves and enjoy views in the shadows of the Old Man of Coniston.
#4 Ullswater
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Pooley Bridge, Glenridding Pier (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, changeable winds
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fish, birds, deer
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Helvellyn, Glencoyne Bay, Aira Force waterfall
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Be aware of other water users, follow any local signs and safety guidelines
Ullswater, the second-largest lake in the Lake District, offers paddlers both calm bays and dramatic scenery. Surrounded by striking fells, this lake’s beauty is inspiring.
Paddle along the shorelines and discover picturesque scenes like Glencoyne Bay and Aira Force waterfall.
#5 Thirlmere
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Mountain Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Wythburn Beach, Armboth Car Park (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, wind from open moorland
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fish, birds, roadside deer
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Helvellyn, Long Moss Moor
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Follow local rules, be cautious of local weather conditions
Thirlmere, a quiet and secluded mountain lake, provides a serene paddleboarding environment. Located away from the main tourist areas, it is perfect for those seeking tranquility.
Glide through tranquil waters with views of the nearby fells and open moorland.
#6 Bassenthwaite Lake
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Bassenthwaite Sailing Club (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, occasional wind
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fish, birds, red squirrels
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Skiddaw, Osprey nesting sites
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Avoid disturbing wildlife, respect private properties
Bassenthwaite Lake, nestled beneath Skiddaw, offers a peaceful paddleboarding escape. Its calm waters and abundant birdlife make for a relaxing experience.
Not only can you enjoy the views of the imposing Skiddaw, but you may even spot nesting ospreys nearby.
#7 Crummock Water
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Lanthwaite Wood Car Park (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, occasional wind
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fish, birds
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Grasmoor, Melbreak
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Follow local rules, respect nature and private properties
Crummock Water, situated between Buttermere and Loweswater, offers a tranquil paddleboarding experience. The lake is less crowded than some of its neighbors, providing a peaceful escape surrounded by beautiful fells.
#8 Ennerdale Water
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Bowness Knott Car Park (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, light wind
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fish, birds, red squirrels
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Pillar, Great Gable
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Follow local rules, respect nature and private properties
Ennerdale Water, one of the most westerly lakes in the Lake District, is surrounded by spectacular mountains and offers a remote and tranquil paddleboarding experience.
#9 Esthwaite Water
- 🏖️ ️ Location Type: Lake
- 📍 Access Point: Esthwaite Water Trout Fishery (private, permission needed) (Google Maps)
- 🌊 Water, Currents & Wind: Calm waters, light wind
- ☀️ Popular Seasons: Spring to Fall
- 🐟 Wildlife Encounters: Fish, water birds
- 🏞️ Landmarks & Views: Claife Heights, Grizedale Forest
- ⚠️ Safety, Environment and Rules: Follow local rules, wear appropriate safety gear
Esthwaite Water is a smaller, privately owned lake near Hawkshead, run as a trout fishery and surrounded by woodland. It is not a public launch spot: do not put a board in here without the explicit permission of the fishery, and ask them before you go.
What to Take With You
Whatever the water here looks like, the same short list comes along. Each box below shows the model that currently sits at number one in our own test of that category.
- Typefoam, paddle cut
- ApprovalUSCG and Transport Canada
Every model we tested: 10 Best Life Vests for Paddle Boarding
- Cordcoiled, stretches to 9 ft
- Swivelstwo in-line
- RatingIP68 certified, 1 m for 30 minutes
- Floatsyes
- Capacity20, 30 or 45 L
- Materialdual layer PVC over polyester mesh
Every model we tested: The 9 Best Dry Bags for Paddle Boarding
- Typetall neoprene boot
- Thickness3 mm
FAQ
Where can you paddle board in the Lake District?
Popular places for paddle boarding in the Lake District include Ullswater, Coniston Water, and Derwent Water.
Do paddle boards need to be registered in the Lake District?
A paddle board without a motor needs no registration on Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater or Coniston Water; the Windermere registration scheme only covers powered boats. Other lakes set their own conditions: Esthwaite Water is a private fishery, and some owners ask for permission or a launch fee, so check with the owner of the water before you go.
When is the best time to paddle board in the Lake District?
The prime time for paddle boarding in the Lake District is between late spring and early autumn, due to mild weather.
Sixteen lakes, and only some of them let you launch without a permit. Windermere is the big one, Derwentwater the one with the islands, and Bassenthwaite the quiet one at the north end.
Paddle Boarding Near Lake District
Looking for another spot on the same trip? These guides cover the closest paddling waters we have mapped around Lake District.
- Cumbria (3 miles south)
- Keswick (5 miles northwest)
- Coniston (6 miles southeast)
- Bassenthwaite (8 miles west)
