Windermere at Millerground
Millerground is a short stretch of wooded shore north of Bowness, with a shingle edge and an old stone landing that make getting into England's largest lake straightforward. Its bathing water has been rated Excellent. Windermere carries motorboats, yachts and lake cruisers, so stay close to the shore, wear a bright cap and tow float, and keep clear of the jetties and moorings.
Photo: Andrew Abbott · CC BY-SA 2.0
Latest reading · SwimScore 79/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 13°C, wind 7 km/h, UV 0. Updated .
Know before you go
- Best conditions
- Calm mornings; the national park advises swimming along the shoreline, being visible, and ideally having a kayak or paddleboard for support.
- Getting in
- Lakeshore off Rayrigg Road between Bowness-on-Windermere and the A591. Swimming is allowed on Windermere, which the national park lists as a busier lake with registered powered boats and 10 mph / 6 mph speed limits.
- Parking & transport
- Rayrigg Meadow pay-and-display car park (Westmorland and Furness Council), a few minutes south along Rayrigg Road: open all day, charges 8am to 8pm.
- Water quality
- Designated bathing water 'Windermere, Millerground Landing': classified Excellent by the Environment Agency in 2024 and 2025. The EA samples designated waters from 15 May to 30 September.
- Who swims here
- Windermere hosts the Great North Swim, which began in 2008 and which the national park describes as the UK's largest outdoor swimming event.
- Watch for
- Boat traffic: motorboats, sailing boats and cruisers use the lake; avoid jetties, moorings and ferry routes
- Cold water shock
- Blue-green algae can occur in warm, dry weather
- Facilities
- Millerground Landing (stone landing stage)
Sources: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk, westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk, lakedistrict.gov.uk, lakedistrict.gov.uk, lakedistrict.gov.uk, en.wikipedia.org
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Details
- Location
- Windermere, England, United Kingdom
- Type
- lake
- Coordinates
- 54.3815, -2.9223