Inflatable dinghy on Lake Windemere - advice needed please

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NewFishOnTheRock

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Hi all,

I purchased the Intex Mariner 4; an inflatable dinghy, for my partner recently and we're heading to lake Windermere soon for its maiden voyage. I've been researching the required permissions needed to sail an inflatable on the lake and most results seem to be based on dinghy's with o/b motors (we'll be rowing). Apart from the fishing license for my partner, I'm a bit unclear about what else we need. I know it's wise, but is it mandatory to be insured? I'm also aware of the fees for public slipway use from the jetties but do we need any permissions to be on the lake?

Any assistance is much appreciated, thank you.
 
I've no experience on Windermere, but on Coniston and some of the other lakes I've often paddled about in my kayak fishing. I would expect it's similar for inflatables, normally launching charges are aimed at boats that need to be backed down a slip using a car. I'd just wait till you get asked for any money!
 
You can Google and download the "Windermere Lake User's Guide", which details rules and regulations out on the water.

You don't need to register a rowing or sailing craft but you do for a powered craft - even if it's just using an electric trolling motor. In practice you can launch a hand-carried inflatable or canoe from anywhere with public shore access, but be aware that a large proportion of the shore does not have public access. What you probably will have to pay for is parking.

For a small, rowed inflatable, I wouldn't worry about insurance, as long as you don't go knocking dings into anyone's moored-up pride and joy. If you're just using the oars that come with the boat, watch out for the wind picking up, you'll struggle rowing against a stiff breeze in a boat like that with oars like those. Of course, you won't be blown far, but it could be quite inconvenient, and potentially dangerous. A little anchor may be useful, although only if you're close to the shore.

And I always wear a buoyancy aid, 'cos I worry about drowning.

John
 
Thank you both for your responses, very helpful.

Noted on the car parking charges Marc, thanks, I think there's a few other spots along the shore for non-motorised launching available so hopefully we can nab a free spot somewhere - I'm getting visions of trekking through hurrendous thickett miles from the shore just to save £12 - I'm frugal personified...

We'll actually only be stopping off at Windermere ahead of a log cabin break in Carlisle so hope to have a practice paddle before check in and make the most of the day. We'll have a little lake to ourselves thereafter for fishing and rowing Miss Daisy (That's me). That's not me gloating btw, this is the result of living in Birmingham for too long and yearning for a long awaited bit of p&q!!

I searched the District's tourism site and downloaded the user guide and the Windermere plan ahead of posting my note yesterday John, and I did manage to gleen some useful information in terms of where we can launch from (I mean blow up and pop in), but dinghy's seem to fall into a bit of a grey area in terms of relevant permissions etc. Perhaps it's just me not using the right terminology on my search - [novice alert].

Any who, glad to hear about the insurance not being essential, we've both had a little experience rowing and I appreciate your tip on the oars. We'll see how we get on but my other half has future plans to fit a motor so the rowing will be a novelty for now. We have CE lifejackets (£15 for two, brand new - good ol' Gumtree - refer to above frugal reference) and one for the dog who is water weary to say the least (the floor has a solid bottom and we're tarping it too - do you think that will do?) so with your fab advice on board, I think we're good to go!

Thanks again :)
 
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I live at Bowness.

You can launch any non-motor boat on the lake without having to register. You don't need insurance unless you have a mooring.
You can launch any boat you can carry to the water's edge at Ferry Nab without charge. You do need to pay for parking at Ferry Nab. If you go to the Warden's office you can pay less to park than via the machine.

Here is the good news. (Keep it secret)

Cross the ferry at Ferry Nab. You can follow the road and turn off Harrowslack. It is National Trust so you can park for free if you are a member. You can launch from the shore (£3 for canoes etc), but if the Ranger does not spot you it costs nothing (This is what the Ranger told me. I have never been charged).

BUT. If you carry on round a couple more bends, past the NT car park on the right then turn off left down the rough track where the road turns right up a steep hill you are in heaven.
It it a National Trust road which has no charging policy and you can launch from the shore. It is the Ash Landings site. (Again, this is from the NT Ranger's mouth)

PM me if you want more info.
 
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I'm so glad I joined this site :)

Lakesailor - thank you for the brilliant advice and tips - I Google earthed your detour suggestion, Ash Landing looks like the perfect little spot - we will definitely pay a visit. We're actually going to drop by on the way home so we can spend the maximum time out on the lake. Oh, and your secret's safe with me :)

Hugh - I have PM'd you, thank you. Good luck on the Hadrian's Wall front! I fear you'll have a lot of rebuilding to do but if the warning on your signature comes from personal experience I trust you'll have the extra time on your hands!
 
I don't know what you intend to fish for but you should be aware that Windermere has its own regulations in place. For example if you are pike fishing you can only use lures or dead sea fish, no freshwater fish baits dead or alive.
 
ningcompoop said:
You can Google and download the "Windermere Lake User's Guide", which details rules and regulations out on the water.

You don't need to register a rowing or sailing craft but you do for a powered craft - even if it's just using an electric trolling motor. In practice you can launch a hand-carried inflatable or canoe from anywhere with public shore access, but be aware that a large proportion of the shore does not have public access. What you probably will have to pay for is parking.

For a small, rowed inflatable, I wouldn't worry about insurance, as long as you don't go knocking dings into anyone's moored-up pride and joy. If you're just using the oars that come with the boat, watch out for the wind picking up, you'll struggle rowing against a stiff breeze in a boat like that with oars like those. Of course, you won't be blown far, but it could be quite inconvenient, and potentially dangerous. A little anchor may be useful, although only if you're close to the shore.

And I always wear a buoyancy aid, 'cos I worry about drowning.

John
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Also, make sure you have a fully charged mobile phone with you.

If you get into difficulty, it's 999 and ask for Coastguard - yes, Coastguard. We do cover Windermere :encouragement:
 
Avocet said:
Newfish, if you're heading back from Carlisle, Ullswater might be worth a look? Pooley bridge is only 5 miles or so from Junction 40 on the M6. We're finding it much less crowded (and formal) than Windermere. Some possible launch sites on here:

http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/default.aspx?page=display&nodeid=1810
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The slipway at Howtown is murder for parking.
There is a good car park and launching beach for canoes etc at Glencoyne Bridge which is about a mile North of Glenridding.

Windermere however has much more to look at, especially if you are paddling instead of motoring.
 
Lakesailor said:
The slipway at Howtown is murder for parking.
There is a good car park and launching beach for canoes etc at Glencoyne Bridge which is about a mile North of Glenridding.

Windermere however has much more to look at, especially if you are paddling instead of motoring.
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Anything round the Pooley Bridge end? That's the closest to the M6 if they're coming from Carlisle. This is only our first season on the lake and we don't really know the edges very well yet.
 
There is the shore, south of the boat hire spot, but it is quite a carry from the car park. Probably 300+ yards.
Waterside House is a decent, friendly spot, but they charge of course. Quite a few people "live" there about the slipway during the summer so it is a very sociable place.
On the West side there are a couple of laybys on the lake edge getting down towards Aira Foss, halfway down the lake
If they are oar-bound in an inflatable I can't see Ullswater being a big attraction. It is a beautiful lake but you need to be able to get about on it.
Derwent Water is 15 miles or so along the A66 and whilst the shore is available for launching in a few spots, parking is awkward.
Thirlmere is almost at Keswick, but has dedicated car parks and you can launch non-motor boats for nothing.

Windermere is, also, about 17 miles from junction 36 on the M6, but has quite a few launching possibilities for engineless boats. Being a member of the NT gives free access to Fellfoot and the aforementioned Harrowslack. Coniston also has some free possibilities for launching boats you can carry, but is even further from the M6. There is Miller Ground on Rayrigg Meadows in Bowness, but you pay for parking (unless you park up Birthwaite Road) and it is a bit of a carry to the water.

There is a free slipway in Arnside, but it is on the Morecambe Bay estuary and tidal, so a bit iffy for oar-power.
 
Thankyou gents for the helpful suggestions, it's good to know we have a few options. For this trip we're taken with the Ash Landing site so I think we'll do the crossing at Ferry Nab as you originally suggested Lakesailor. I will be referring back to this thread as a launching site suggestion hotlist for future rowing trips and also for options when OH fits a motor. We're back to the stop off at the LD on the way up to Carlisle due to family commitments at the end of the break so this route seems the most logical from M6 (A601 - A6 - A5074 directly to Bowness if my estimations are correct).
 
No. M6 (junction 36) Follow A590 and A591 to Crook Rd/B5284 (Ie: Keep on the dual carriageway for about 7 miles until you reach a large roundabout)

Exit the roundabout onto Crook Rd/B5284 (1st left]

Carry on that road until you each a steep downhill bit ending at a T junction (with a rowing boat full of flowers opposite)

Turn left and turn 1st right onto Longtail Hill

At the bottom turn right and then left after 200 metres. That is the Ferry Nab road.

This should show the route on Google https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/5...4c9bdc2c7966727!2m2!1d-2.9280753!2d54.3545189

The route you have suggested takes forever.
 
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Of course, if you DID take the scenic route, it would take you very close to Derwentwater, which is quite shallow and sheltered for small craft, and has several little islands to explore (Except the one with the big mansion house on it).

Launching is something I've done from Nichol End Marine and they have a little coffee shop right at the water's edge (literally)! They don't charge much for a launch, but not sure about outboards:

http://www.nicholend.co.uk/launching/

Very friendly bunch and a little chandlery too.
 
Bit strange really. I live between Bowness and Windermere, However as the two towns are now collectively Bowness on Windermere I am bemused. Do I live in Bowness, or do I live in Windermere?

However, as you are (have been) involved in educating people I will take on board your comments as you are likely to be more right than what I am.
 
Lakesailor said:
Bit strange really. I live between Bowness and Windermere, However as the two towns are now collectively Bowness on Windermere I am bemused. Do I live in Bowness, or do I live in Windermere?

However, as you are (have been) involved in educating people I will take on board your comments as you are likely to be more right than what I am.
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Well, technically, of course, the village of Windermere is non existent, merely a bit of marketing on the part of the railways.
 
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