Wild Swimming in the Lake District: Our Favourite Lake Beaches Near Your Caravan or Lodge

There’s a moment, a few seconds after you step into a Lake District lake, when your whole body seems to wake up at once. That’s the appeal of wild swimming here – the cold hits, your skin tingles and everything else falls away. 

The best part of doing it from a caravan or lodge holiday is what comes next: a warm towel, a hot drink and (if you’ve picked the right spot) a hot tub waiting on your front deck.

Key takeaways:

• Bassenthwaite Lake sits right beside Herdwick Croft, making it one of the easiest lakes in Cumbria to combine with a caravan or lodge stay.
• Not every lake allows swimming – a few, including Haweswater and Thirlmere, are off-limits because they’re used as drinking water reservoirs.
• True sandy beaches are rare among the lakes themselves; for proper sand, you’ll want a drive out to the Cumbrian coast.
• Cold water swimming feels best when there’s somewhere warm to retreat to afterwards – which is exactly what a Lake District lodge with its own hot tub is for.

Swimming at Bassenthwaite and the lakes nearby

Herdwick Croft sits right on the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, so a dip is a few steps from your front door. Swimming is allowed here (diving isn’t, and you’ll want to stay alert for the occasional motorboat), and the lake’s size means there’s always a quieter stretch to find your own space. 

Skiddaw rises up behind it, which makes for one of the more dramatic backdrops you’ll get for a wild swim anywhere in the country. For more detail on the lake itself, our Bassenthwaite Lake guide is worth a read before you go.

If you fancy exploring further, Derwentwater is a short drive south through Keswick, with easy access from Friars Crag. West of Keswick, Buttermere and Crummock Water are quieter still, both banning powered craft entirely, which makes for a wonderfully peaceful wild lake swim. 

All three make a lovely day trip alongside a walk – our guide to walking routes near Herdwick Croft Holiday Park covers routes that take in several lakeside stretches.

How to access the Lake: best spots

Bassenthwaite doesn’t have a single obvious beach, so it helps to know exactly where to head:

• Scarness Bay – the spot closest to Herdwick Croft, reached via a short lakeside footpath from a small layby near the site entrance. The shoreline here is pebbly rather than sandy, but the entry is shallow and gentle, which makes it an easy, family-friendly spot to wade in.
• Peel Wyke – on the western shore, with a slipway that gives you a smoother entry if you’d rather avoid picking your way over stones. It’s also a short walk from the Pheasant Inn, handy for a warming pint afterwards.
• Bowness Bay – a quieter spot reached by following the shoreline path around from Scarness, popular with swimmers after a bit more solitude.

Underfoot, expect pebbles and stones rather than sand at all of these, so it’s worth packing accordingly. A few things that make a real difference:

• Lake shoes or old trainers – the lake bed is stony in most spots, and these save your feet on the way in and out
• A large towel or changing robe – for a quick, dignified change on an open shoreline
• A warm top or fleece – to put on the moment you’re out, before the cold really sets in
• A flask of something hot – tea, coffee or hot chocolate, ready and waiting for the walk back
• A dry bag – to keep your towel and warm layers dry while you’re in the water

Which lakes are safe to swim in?

Most of the Lake District’s larger lakes allow swimming, including Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston, Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite, Buttermere, Crummock Water, Grasmere, Loweswater, Rydal Water and Wastwater. 

A handful are strictly off-limits, though, because they double as drinking water supplies: Haweswater, Thirlmere, Ennerdale Water and Kentmere reservoir are all closed to swimmers.

On the busier lakes – Windermere and Coniston in particular – boats gliding past are a consideration. Stick to a shoreline route rather than swimming out into open water, and think about wearing a brightly coloured swim hat or using a tow float so you’re easy to spot.

Are there any sandy beaches in the Lake District?

Not many! And at least not by the lakes themselves. Most lake shorelines are shingle or pebble rather than golden sand – lovely for paddling and swimming, less so for sandcastles. Spots like Millerground and Fell Foot on Windermere have small shingle beaches with shallow, gently sloping entry points, which work nicely for a family swim.

For proper sand, you’re better off heading out to the Cumbrian coast. From Bassenthwaite, the Solway coast around Silloth and Allonby is around 40 minutes’ drive, with wide sandy beaches and big open skies. Further south, Haverigg, Silecroft and the Sandscale Haws nature reserve near Barrow are worth the longer trip if you fancy making a full day of it.

The feeling of a wild swim (and how to warm up afterwards)

There’s a particular kind of tiredness that comes from a day spent half in and half out of cold water – swim, warm up, walk, swim again – and it’s one of the nicest kinds of tired there is. The trick to enjoying the cold is having somewhere good to return to. Several of our lodges at Herdwick Croft come with their own private hot tub, so you can go from a bracing dip in Bassenthwaite straight into warm water on your own decking, no wetsuit required.

It’s a lovely rhythm for a holiday: cold swim, warm soak, hearty dinner, repeat. If you’ve got children or dogs along who’d rather stay dry, our guides to family-friendly days out near Herdwick Croft and the dog-friendly Lake District both have plenty of ideas for while the rest of the group dries off.

A few safety basics worth knowing

The ‘shock’ of slipping into cold water is real, even on a warm day, so ease in gradually and never swim alone in an unfamiliar spot. Check the weather and water conditions before you set off, since Lake District weather can shift quickly, and steer well clear of any lake currently flagged for blue-green algae, which does occasionally appear in warmer months. 

A tow float isn’t just for busy lakes – it’s useful anywhere, both for visibility and as something to rest against if you need it.

FAQs: Lake District Wild Swimming

Where to go wild swimming in the Lake District?

Bassenthwaite Lake is the obvious choice if you’re staying at Herdwick Croft, given it’s right on the doorstep. Derwentwater, Buttermere and Crummock Water are all within easy reach too, each offering a slightly different feel, from Derwentwater’s popularity to Buttermere’s peace and quiet.

Which lakes in the Lake District are safe to swim in?

Swimming is permitted in most of the major lakes, including Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston, Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite, Buttermere, Crummock Water, Grasmere, Loweswater, Rydal Water and Wastwater. Always take care around boat traffic on busier lakes, and check local signage for any temporary restrictions.

Which is the cleanest lake in the Lake District?

Buttermere, Crummock Water and Wastwater are often held up as among the cleanest and clearest, partly thanks to bans on powered craft and comparatively little agricultural run-off in their catchment areas. 

You might also like…

• Want the full story on the lake next door? Our Bassenthwaite Lake guide has everything you need.
• Combining a swim with a walk? Walking routes near Herdwick Croft Holiday Park covers routes that take in the lakeshore.
• Travelling with children? Family-friendly days out near Herdwick Croft has ideas for the whole trip, wet or dry.
• Bringing a dog along for a paddle? Our dog-friendly Lake District guide covers where they’re welcome.
• Ready to book your stay? Explore our holidays in the Lake District.