Windermere - Low Wray Campsite

[Stigomery]

I'm taking my daughter off for a bonding weekend of loosely based Swallows & Amazons type boating adventure, minus the sails and plus an engine ;-)

I'm looking at best campsites for easily launching the SIB and going exploring. My options so far are Coniston Hall campsite and Low Wray campsite.

I'm drawn to Low Wray because you can book waterside pitches which seem ideal for just throwing the SIB in and setting off and it's not too far to drive over to Coniston to do Peel Island...

Can anyone share any Windermere/Coniston advice? Specifically these campsites?

Just registering SIB now...

Thanks

[Andy C]

Low Wray campsite is National Trust owned and around Windermere they don't allow launching of powered craft, however small, over any of their land.

If you launch elsewhere you need to have registered:

Lake District National Park - Windermere boat registration

[Stigomery]

Thanks, are there any waterside campsites that allow on-site launching?

Are they really that on-the-ball to stop me wheeling a small sib in, paddling out a bit and then starting up?

[Andy C]

My experience of NT campsite wardens is that the more jobsworth ones would be most happy to stop you. I don't know of any other campsites for tents next to the water on Windermere.

I think there are better options on Ullswater and Coniston, and neither of these lakes needs any kind of boat registration. I'm sure someone can offer some first hand knowledge for you.

[Mantaclause]

Coniston hall is great for launching a sib you can camp quite close to the lake and if you have launch wheels then it's an easy path down to the lake. You don't need a license for coniston either.

[Landlockedpirate]

Although Low Wray looks perfect on paper, its actually far from it. I can confiirm that the wardens are seriously strict about powered craft. We had freinds staying there a few years ago so we took our boat up to meet them.

The picture shows how far out we had to anchor to keep the onsite and on water wardens off our backs, but at least the kids enjoyed playing taxi in the tender for the weekend FWIW, I dont think there are any bylaws that stopped us anchoring closer in, but we wanted to keep the peace.They were not actually allowed to land the sib either (4 hp engine) but we could wade out to it. The other issue with Windermere for a one off visit is the cost of registration and numbers, fine over a year, but expensive for a single visit.




As most people have mentioned, Ullswater is a much better option, there are 2 campsites on the water. Park Foot (ask for Aikbeck Field) is the more commercial of the 2 and Waterside House still being a working farm.

[Big Al C]

As Mantaclause says, Coniston Hall is great for launching. A small slip if you have wheels or not. You can camp were you want, toilet block is old but have always found it clean,,,,, used it plenty of times either with the lads or just with my daughter.
There's no electricity hook up and they don't do caravans.

[Stigomery]

Originally Posted by Landlockedpirate

Although Low Wray looks perfect on paper

You know, it really does!

But thanks for the great advice. I think Coniston Hall it is!

As regards Windermere, £30 for a couple of days on the water might sound a lot, but time with my girl is precious and that is nothing for a bit of fun together.

Hardly a tank of fuel!

[Big Al C]

They have a charge for launching all sorts of crafts there (Coniston Hall),,,, boat, canoe, what ever. Never been asked if I'll be boating, even with two Canadian canoe's on the roof rack in full sight. Never been charged.