21 May 2025

Summer is a perfect time to enjoy Windermere, and for many, that means heading onto the water. Whether you’re paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, or simply dipping your toes in, it’s essential to stay safe and protect the lake you love.

Throughout the summer, Stoked Watersports will be running free, drop-in water safety sessions at the National Trust’s Fell Foot site located at the southern tip of Windermere, where the lake narrows and gradually turns into the river Leven, which flows through Newby Bridge to Morecambe Bay.

These informal sessions are designed to offer a useful resource for anyone coming to site with their own equipment. The Stoked team will go through basic safety tips and share vital local knowledge about the lake and the conditions on that day. Stoked Watersports offers equipment hire and guided sessions for all ages and is one of the outdoor providers working with the National Trust at Fell Foot.

Some of the topics that will be covered in the sessions include:

• Being prepared: Weather, wind, current, suitable clothing, sun cream, water, safety kit.
• Sharing the lake safely: Windermere is a busy environment with ferries, recreational boats, swimmers, and paddlers all sharing the same blue space.
• Respecting nature and the environment: Be aware of your surroundings, don’t disturb wildlife or feed water birds and make sure to leave no trace by taking your litter home with you.
• Reducing the spread of invasive species: Learning how to apply the “Check, Clean, Dry” principles to stop aquatic hitchhikers and practical advice and tips
• What to do in an emergency: should something happen, learn what action to take, including using the RNLI’s Float to Live guidance, using whistles, hand signals and staying calm.

You can find out more about Fell Foot here.

Top Water Safety Tips from the Lake District National Park Authority

To support this work and keep all lake users safe, the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has shared its top tips for enjoying Windermere responsibly:

• Check the weather before heading out
• Always bring a friend—don’t go alone
• Wear a flotation device or buoyancy aid
• Attach your leash if paddleboarding
• Be visible: wear a bright cap or tow float when swimming
• Stay close to the shore
• Watch out for other water users
• Don’t drink and paddle

These simple steps can help prevent accidents and ensure your time on Windermere is memorable for all the right reasons.

Love Windermere, Safely

The Love Windermere Partnership is working together with a range of organisations to help everyone enjoy the lake safely and sustainably. From promoting responsible recreation to sharing accurate water quality information, we want everyone to help protect Windermere now and for the future.

Find out more at:

• Swimfo – Bathing water quality | Bathing water quality statistics – GOV.UK | Understanding Bathing Water Quality
• Spot, snap, and report blue-green algae | Engage Environment Agency
• Storm overflow map | United Utilities – Better Rivers

Stay informed, stay safe—and enjoy your time on (and in) the water.

Image: Paddle boarding on lake Windermere at Fell Foot, Cumbria. ©National Trust Images/John Millar