Paddle boarding in the Lake District

[parentallyadept]

We are off to the Lake District for a week on Friday, staying in the south lakes area. We are a family of 5 including 3 autistic teens and we are keen paddle boarders - can anyone recommend somewhere a bit quieter to paddle that's reasonably easy to park and launch from? I know it's a big ask and everywhere is likely to be busy as it's the summer holidays...

I just got back from kayaking there...

Do I assume you have your own p.boards, that you inflate at your convenience? Where exactly is "south lakes", how far would you travel?
Do you have the GoPaddling App.
When you say "quiet" do you mean like almost no one, or just not screaming kids or motorboats & sailboats to dodge.
Windemere is busy with other craft, not for the faint-hearted to avoid (but not Thames speedboats, either)

I don't recommend Monk Coniston if you want to avoid screaming kids, lol.

If you take the Windermere ferry just outside Bowness across the lake and then turn right towards Harrowslack Car Park (National Trust), Far Sawrey, Ambleside LA22 OLR (alternatively, you can drive around), we went paddleboarding there last summer and there is a small bay. Other people will likely be there but probably not as busy as other places such as Fell Foot Park at the south end of Windermere.

Another place to look at might be the east side of Coniston Water where there are several pull-ins or another carpark at the head of the lake which will be busier but it has toilets there. There is also the Brown Howe Car Park on the west side of Coniston A5084, LA12 8DW which has lakeside access.

yeah... that is exactly where I was kayaking last Friday morning !! I literally had to puzzle where to go to avoid the Bowness Nab chain ferry chains. It was busy area with a steady stream of small cruisers, tourist boats & some sailboats. I dunno what OP wants by "a bit quieter". though. Coniston was very pretty and mellow away from the carpark... Bassenthwaite was very noisy only at small area of northern end.

Thirlmere was truly quiet. Bassenthwaite Lake was mostly quiet. Grasmere was nicely mellow & laid back & sheltered. Other kayakers recommended Ullswater & Derwent water to me but I ran out of time.

Thank you all, that's very helpful. We are staying at Grainge-over-sands and we all have our own boards that we can inflate. I'm happy to drive wherever for the best spots. By quiet, I know we're not going to be the only people paddling, but preferably not hordes of people (relative to the time of year, obviously!)

Ullswater (park at Pooley bridge) shouldn't be too busy if you get there early.

If you’re in Grange you should find it easy to access Fell Foot here: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/fell-foot/index
my dds have been kayaking there and even did an open water swimming course there too! I imagine you should be able to use your paddle boards there but you may have to enquire beforehand. It is busy at times but the water is usually quite peaceful. Plenty to do there and nice spots for picnics. One of our fave places in the LD.

Further watersports info on Fell Foot here op:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/fell-foot/activities-on-lake-windermere-at-fell-foot

looks like you can use your boards there!

Fell foot was fairly busy when we went last week but there was plenty of space for the paddle boards. We found a nice little spot at the side of the boathouse with a Pebble beach which was quieter.

It's a bit of a trek from Grange Over Sands to anywhere other than Windermere or Coniston but if you don't mind a drive, the Western Lakes are generally quieter. I'm not sure what the rules are on paddle boarding but Ennerdale, Loweswater and Crummock all tend to be quiet places by Lake District standards.

Ullswater
Good spots on the way to Glen Ridding. Beef to be early for car-parking