Swimming

This being the Lake District National Park, there are plenty of lakes, many of which you can swim in, but also 26 miles of coastline and estuaries. While there are three water supply reservoirs where swimming is prohibited - Ennerdale Water, Haweswater and Thirlmere - the rest are open and available and boast unpolluted waters. If you do take a dip, you'll be sharing the water with boaters, and on Coniston Water, Derwentwater, Ullswater and Windermere you'll find heavier boat traffic and extra caution is advised. No matter where you swim, remember that swimmers can see boaters quite easily but it's difficult for boaters to spot swimmers, that's why you should follow these three rules: - Never swim alone - Wear a brightly coloured swim cap and tow a bright float - Swim with a safety boat or canoe, one that's displaying a white and blue Alpha flag to alert boaters of your presence The water here is cold, so you'll need a wetsuit. Many of the waters you may want to swim are shallow, so check the depth before you dive in!