The Best Wild Swimming Spots In Cumbria And The Lake District
The Lake District and Cumbria is a wild swimmer's paradise. From the vast expanse of shimmering lakes to the secluded plunge pools of cascading waterfalls, this region boasts a range of wild swimming experiences unlike anywhere else. Whether you crave the exhilaration of an icy plunge, the serenity of a secluded tarn, or the challenge of open water swimming, this guide will be your compass to discovering the perfect spot.
Derwentwater
Fancy a swim with a backdrop of natural beauty? Derwentwater near Keswick is the answer. Easily accessible, it offers multiple entry points. It’s about a 10mile walk around the whole lake so if you fancy making a day of it, you’ll find loads of dip spots along the way.
Location: CalfClose Bay - What Three Words ///enjoyable.revisits.flotation
Parking: National Trust Great Wood car park is the closest place to park. The address is: Borrowdale Rd. Keswick CA12 5UP.
Great if you like:
- A short walk before and after the swim
- Quiet dip spots
- Easy access to water
- Picnic spots
Directions & Dip Tips:
Walking from Keswick centre down to the lake, take the path down the Eastern shore of Derwentwater. After a few hundred yards you arrive at a quiet beachy area called CalfClose Bay. You’ll also pass Stranshag Bay (just after Friars Crag) which is another option for your wild swim. There are more detailed directions here.
Warm Up & Refuel:
Keswick is chocca full of lovely places to eat and drink. Personally, we enjoyed a picnic on the ‘beach’ afterwards and a flask of tea. But if you’d rather get in the warm and be looked after by someone else, The George Hotel is the one. Traditional homemade pub grub where the steak pie is almost as good as the local wild swimming.
Wastwater
You’ll be hard pressed to find a more tranquil swim than the vast stillness of Wastwater. The water here is beautifully clear, but cold so pack accordingly. Carved by glaciers, Wastwater is England’s deepest lake and a must for the seasoned wild swimmer. Owned by the National Trust, its secluded beauty is guarded by the dramatic peaks that surround it.
Location: Wastwater
Parking: Wasdale Lake Head Car park, CA20 1EX : What 3 Words /// spelling. cold. alongside
Great if you like:
- Remote dip spots
- Cold water
- Plenty of access options
Directions & Dip Tips:
When parked up, take the path that runs to the right of the lake as you face it – the opposite side to the high peaks. This is where you’ll discover multiple spots to choose from grassy banks and beach like bays. There is no phone signal here, so make sure you go with someone, or at least let someone know where you’re going before you set off. It’s quite exposed with little to no shelter so plan your trip according to the weather to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. There are toilets and a drinking water refill station at the carpark.
Warm Up & Refuel:
This is one of our most remote spots and the only place for miles is The Wasdale Head Inn. A lovely cosy old place that has everything you could ask for after a long walk and a dip in the cold.
Blea Tarn
Blea Tarn is a haven for those seeking a picturesque swim. The still water reflects the Langdale Pikes, creating a postcard-perfect scene. It’s a gentle decent into the water with a stoney bank giving you plenty of time to acclimatise to the cold water. It’s close to the carpark to for those nippier days when you don’t fancy hanging around after your dip.
Location: Langdale Valley, Cumbria, LA23 3NP. What Three Words: ///celebrate.contrived.grit
Parking: Blea Tarn (National Trust) Car Park, Little Langdale, Amberside, Cumbria, LA22 9PG
Great if you like:
- Gentle gradient entry
- Remote dip spots
- Plenty of access options
Directions & Dip Tips
You can see the tarn from the car park and there’s a clearly mark and sign posted path. Follow that down to the tarn and veer off to the right to drop down to the water’s edge. It can be boggy in places so watch out after the rain or your feet will disappear in a foot of mud. A stony, grassy bank surrounds the tarn so plenty of entry spots to choose from.
Warm up & Refuel
Chesters By The River is a gorgeous little coffee shop and bakery. We’re talking rhubarb and custard brioche, stone baked pizzas and inventive salads that make people who hate salad, love salad.
Buttermere
Buttermere is home to a jewel-studded chain of crystal clear turquoise plunge pools with seriously stunning views. Fed by a water fall, each one has something different to offer, and as they’re all along the same path, you can window shop your favourite if you have the energy for the climb that comes with it. Worth every step in our opinion.
Location: Buttermere, Cumbria, CA13 2XJ
Parking: Gatesgarth Farm Car Park, CA13 9XA. The parking is £4 for the day and the machine only takes coins, no app, no card, so raid the piggy bank before you go.
Great if you like:
- An adventure
- Climbing to your dip
- Plunge pool style dips
- Incredible views
Directions & Dip Tips
From the car park, turn left along Honister Pass. You’ll see a sign for Honister House on the right after around 150 meters. Follow the trail as it ascends a gravel path. No one covers this exquisite place in more detail than Cat and Joe on walkmyworld. They offer a blow by blow account of the walk with coordinates and a detailed description of the paths and pools on offer.
Warm up & Refuel
The Bridge Inn in Buttermere village is the one for us. Lovely traditional grub with a great terrace overlooking the lakes and surrounding hills for when the warmer days arrive. An ideal place to stay for a few nights if you’re wanting to explore further afield.
Galleny Force (The Fairy Glen)
Worthy of its name, this Fairy Glen offers a series of long crystal clear turquoise pools that flow through the white rocks and woodland of the surrounding gorge. Perfect for a secluded swim with large boulders in the water offering a seat to stop for a moment of calm.
Location: What three words (for the actual waterfall itself) ///begun.convinced.slimy
Parking: There is a small area for cars to park ///foresight.models.amended otherwise you can park just out of the village on the lanes.
Great if you like:
- An easy walk to the dip with a climb down into the water
- A big choice of pools
- Gently flowing water
- Waterfalls
Directions & Dip Tips: Next the this little car park, there is a red phone box. Keep this on your left and keep walking past the houses and the Langstrath Inn. Keeping to the left, you’ll continue through a gate and on to a track that leads through the fields of Stonethwaite Farm and Campsite for about 800m. Head through another gate and down a slightly rough / rocky path and on to a smooth flat path. Just 200m from here is the first pool. You could miss it so walk to the end of the grassy patch and you’ll see the pool below. The stones are nice and grippy when the weather is dry and there are spots where they open up offering an easy climb down. Be careful when wet as they do get quite slippery. To reach Galleny Force itself, continue past this pool, through one final gate and then you’ll see it on the left.
Warm up & Refuel
Retrace your steps back the Langstrath Inn. With a wood fire for colder days and a lovely outside space under tan oak tree overlooking the hills when the sun shines. Great food and a warm welcome awaits.
Wild swimming groups in Cumbria and the Lake District
For group swims, local knowledge and a lively community, Lake District Open Water Swimmers is fantastic. Open to locals and visitors alike – all are welcome! Lake District Swimmers is a gated facebook community, rich with dip spots and great source of information regarding water cleanliness and dip tips.
