Best swimming (paddling) spots in Lake District?

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We know the lakes well and love the really big walks but don't often go in summer.

Being completely optimistic where are best places to head for if it's too hot for the big climbs?

We're staying in Ambleside but will have the car

I don't know, but NOT Lake Windermere. It shelves very VERY quickly and I nearly drowned in it when I was young.

IIRC Coniston was nice.

No, not Winderemere - we generally avoid that anyway. Too much noise and too many people!

Yes Coniston is nice. I was really after specific spots on the river/lake bank. grid refss would be good!

Wastwater, right in front of the youth hostel. It's the deepest lake in England so its freezing, take a wetsuit!

If you want to scare yourself stupid you can take the Hard Knot Pass from Ambleside to wastewater

If you visit Wray Castle (National Trust) there is a spot on a quiet edge of Windermere that is absolutely beautiful. Lots of small children were paddling last time I was there. The castle is extremely child friendly too.

I was just thinking that serin. Years ago our clutch went halfway up and DH (thank god!) had to reverse all the way back down. Strangely he hasn't been keen to do that trip since.

Not sure if I'm too late with this suggestion, but try Rydal water, perfect for paddling or swimming and the one we always use. You can walk from Ambleside, it's about two miles from Rothay Park, on Under Loughrigg. Or you can drive, take the A591 Rydal Road from Ambleside towards Grassmere, turn off at Under Loughrigg, over the hump backed bridge, there is a small pay and display car park. then a 10 minute walk up the track to the Lake.

What serin said or the bit further along next to the little hill with trees (10 min walk away but you can still see youth hostel from it) mind we just let our two paddle so don't know how quick it gets deep past knees stage!

This is a zombie thread - but does anyone have any other suggestions for nice spots of kids to paddle in the lake district - maybe a bit off the beaten track? Particularly the western lakes..

High Dam, just outside of Finsthwaite is a peaceful lake for wild swimming and paddling.
Across the lake from Woodside atFell Foot Park, Bowness. It gets quite busy though.
The east shore of Derwentwater just south of Keswick, about 20-25 miles from Bowness, is also a good place for a paddle. There are some small beach areas with amazing views down the lake. You can either park in the Lake road car park in Keswick and walk down to the shore past the Theatre on the Lake, or park further down the lake. Plenty of great child friendly places in Keswick to have lunch.
Another place is on the shores of Ullswater at Glenridding. Follow the signs for the steamer when entering Glenridding. There is a car park near the steamer jetty, and a nice grassy area with paddling in the lake. The trip up the lake to Pooley Bridge and back on the steamer is very worthwhile. There are several good places for lunch in both Glenridding and Pooley Bridge.

Thanks so much for your detailed reply! Really helpful

Park at White Moss Common between Grasmere and Ambleside and you can paddle in the river or walk to Grasmere or Rydal Water and paddle in there. It's not exactly off the beaten track but it's lovely. We used to paddle in Esthwaite water as children which was relatively quiet but I don't know where we used to park (not helpful!)

All the big lakes can get pretty busy. I've just been for a 5am dip in Windermere though and had it to myself . Rydal is probably the most accessible and also a tad warmer as it's smaller.

If you want to get off the beaten track, try Devoke Water. It can be a bit reedy though.

Have a look at Elterwater and a circular walk taking in cathedral cave and the old packhorse bridge and skelwith force. Lovely 6 mile or so route and paddling opportunities

Ps watch out for blue green algae in lakes

High Dam, Finsthwaite