Best Wild Swimming Spots in the Lake District: A Complete Guide to Open Water Swimming in Cumbria
The Lake District is, without question, the heartland of wild swimming in England. With 16 major lakes, hundreds of tarns, and a network of rivers and becks threading through the fells, Cumbria offers more open water swimming opportunities per square mile than almost anywhere else in Britain. Whether you are a seasoned cold water swimmer chasing the endorphin rush of a January dip, or a summer visitor looking for a safe and beautiful spot for the family, the Lake District has something genuinely extraordinary to offer.
This guide covers the best wild swimming locations across the national park, with honest assessments of access, water conditions, safety considerations, and what to expect throughout the year. We have drawn on guidance from the Swim England open water framework, the Outdoor Swimming Society, and local knowledge from Cumbrian swimmers who use these waters regularly.
Understanding Access Rights in the Lake District
Before getting into specific locations, it is worth understanding the legal landscape around wild swimming in England. Unlike Scotland, where the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 grants a statutory right of responsible access to almost all land and inland water, England and Wales operate under a more complicated system. There is no automatic right to swim in rivers or lakes in England under the current legal framework.
However, the Lake District National Park is somewhat unique. Many of the major lakes are covered by historic access arrangements or permissive access agreements, and the National Trust, which owns significant portions of the lakeshore, generally permits swimming at many of its sites. The Lake District National Park Authority actively supports responsible open water recreation and publishes guidance for visitors.
Windermere, Coniston Water, Buttermere, and several other lakes have long-established public access for swimming. Always check current local bylaws and any temporary restrictions, particularly during nesting seasons or following blue-green algae alerts, which are monitored by the Environment Agency.
The Best Lakes for Wild Swimming
Windermere
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England at 10.5 miles long and up to 219 feet deep in places, and it remains one of the most popular open water swimming destinations in the country. The lake is best approached with care, as motorised boat traffic is significant during summer months, and swimmers should stay close to the shore and use a brightly coloured tow float for visibility.
The most popular swimming access points include Fell Foot Park at the southern end, managed by the National Trust, where there is a dedicated swimming area with a buoyed off zone. Low Wood Bay near Ambleside offers beach access and good visibility. Miller Ground and Rayrigg Meadow, both on the eastern shore, provide quieter entry points away from the main boating channels.
Water temperatures in Windermere range from approximately 4 to 6 degrees Celsius in January and February, rising to a peak of around 18 to 20 degrees in late July and August. The lake is well-oxygenated and generally clean, though swimmers should be aware that Windermere has faced scrutiny in recent years over phosphate levels and untreated sewage discharges. The charity Friends of Windermere and the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage both monitor water quality and publish alerts. Check the Swim Healthy website run by the UK Health Security Agency before any swim.
Ullswater
Many experienced Lake District swimmers consider Ullswater the finest swimming lake in Cumbria. It is slightly less trafficked than Windermere, considerably more dramatic in its setting, and the water quality is consistently excellent. The lake stretches for 7.5 miles with a maximum depth of around 205 feet, surrounded by the High Street range to the east and Helvellyn to the west.
Glencoyne Bay, accessible from the A592 on the western shore, is arguably the single best wild swimming spot in the entire Lake District. The bay is sheltered, shallow for the first 20 or 30 metres, and backed by woodland. The famous daffodil field at Glencoyne inspired Wordsworth, and the views across the lake to Place Fell are outstanding. National Trust car parking is available nearby.
Sandwick Bay on the eastern shore is reached via a footpath from Howtown and offers a quieter, more remote experience. Howtown itself, accessible by the Ullswater Steamers from Glenridding or Pooley Bridge, provides an excellent approach for those combining swimming with a fell walk. The water at Ullswater is notably clear and the lake is fed largely by clean becks draining off the surrounding fells.
Buttermere
Buttermere sits in one of the most spectacular valleys in the national park, flanked by Haystacks to the south and Red Pike to the west. It is a relatively small lake at just 1.25 miles long, and its compact size combined with its position away from major roads keeps boat traffic minimal. The result is a calm, clear lake that warms noticeably by mid-summer and offers some of the most beautiful swimming in England.
The preferred entry point is from the small beach area on the north-western shore, a short walk from the village of Buttermere. The lake shelves gently and the water is typically very clear, allowing visibility of several metres. A longer swim across the lake and back is around 700 metres and is a popular route for stronger swimmers. The surrounding fells, including the classic Haystacks ridge walked by Alfred Wainwright who asked to have his ashes scattered here, make this one of the most emotionally resonant wild swimming settings in Britain.
Crummock Water
Adjacent to Buttermere and separated only by a narrow strip of flat land, Crummock Water is larger and less visited. At 2.5 miles long and reaching depths of over 140 feet, it offers a more serious open water experience. Scale Force, England’s highest waterfall at approximately 170 feet, flows into Crummock Water at its western shore and the short walk to view it before or after a swim is highly recommended.
The best entry point is from the gravelly beach near Lanthwaite Green at the northern end, where the water is shallow for a considerable distance. The National Trust manages the surrounding land and there is a small car park at Lanthwaite. Water quality here is outstanding, with very low levels of agricultural run-off compared to more intensively farmed valleys.
Coniston Water
Coniston Water is perhaps best known as the site of Donald Campbell’s fatal water speed record attempt in 1967, but it has a strong and growing swimming community. The lake is 5.25 miles long and surrounded by the Old Man of Coniston and the Coniston Fells to the west and the gentler Furness Fells to the east.
Monk Coniston, at the northern end, is a particularly good access point, with National Trust ownership of much of the surrounding lakeshore. The water here is slightly peaty in character, giving it a faint amber tint in places, but it is clean and well-oxygenated. The eastern shore path offers several discreet entry points for those who prefer a quieter swim away from the popular southern end near Coniston village.
The Great North Swim, organised by Great Run, takes place annually on Windermere and draws thousands of open water swimmers. Coniston occasionally hosts smaller community events. Both lakes are affiliated with British Swimming sanctioned open water events throughout the summer season.
Mountain Tarns: High Altitude Swimming in the Lake District
The Lake District’s tarns are its best-kept secret for wild swimming. Formed by glacial action, these high-altitude pools sit in corries and on plateaux across the fells, and they offer a dramatically different experience to lakeside swimming. The approach involves walking, the settings are remote, and the water is almost always startlingly cold even in summer.
Innominate Tarn, Haystacks
Reached after a stiff 45-minute climb from Buttermere village, Innominate Tarn sits on the summit plateau of Haystacks at around 1,900 feet. This is where Alfred Wainwright’s ashes were scattered, as he requested in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. The tarn is small, roughly circular, and very dark due to the peat surrounding it. Water temperatures rarely exceed 12 degrees Celsius even in August.
Swimming here requires acclimatisation to cold water. The shock of submersion at altitude can cause cold water shock, a dangerous involuntary gasping reflex that can lead to inhalation of water. Cold water shock typically occurs below 15 degrees Celsius and is most severe below 10 degrees. The National Water Safety Forum recommends entering slowly, controlling breathing before immersing the torso, and never jumping or diving into cold water for the first time.
Red Tarn, Helvellyn
Red Tarn sits in a dramatic bowl beneath Striding Edge on the eastern face of Helvellyn, England’s third highest mountain at 3,117 feet. At approximately 2,356 feet altitude, this is one of the highest substantial tarns in England and the water can remain very cold throughout the year. The tarn is reached most easily via the path from Glenridding in Ullswater valley.
Swimming here in summer, particularly after a fell walk over Striding Edge, is one of the most memorable experiences in Lake District outdoor recreation. The tarn is deep enough in the centre for confident swimming, and the views back up to the dramatic ridgeline are exceptional. This is not a location for novice open water swimmers given the remoteness, altitude, and consistently low water temperatures.
Moving Forward
Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.
