Quiet places on Lakes to launch inflatable dinghy

[Marceline]

One thing we'd like to do now we've an inflatable dinghy is to visit a few lakes and explore for an afternoon.

Are there any quiet places with parking nearby can recommend ? We'd love to explore Windermere and other Lake District lakes, and Bala Lake, and maybe even some of the larger meres in Cheshire

 

[Pirx]

The National Trust at Fell Foot - the SW corner of Windemere - have superb facilities for launching. Excellent ramp and jetties, car parking adjacent. There is a charge for this, you can pay in the cafe. Suggest check website for details. One advantage of Fell Foot if coming from the South is that it's the very edge of the Lake District and one can get there without traffic problems.

See: Out on the lake

"Canoe, kayak, inflatable dinghy and paddleboard owners can launch at the south end of the park for free, so long as you can carry the equipment down on foot from the car park. If you’d rather save yourself the hassle and launch safely from one of our slipways then passes are £4 and include entry to our new changing rooms in Fell Foot’s Active Base. You can pick one up from the visitor welcome team in the car park. For those with larger boats on a trailer, the cost is £14. If you park up in the car park at the Active Base it’s just a short walk down to the shore – head through the boat storage to access the lake. "

 

[Marceline]

That sounds perfect - thanks ever so much Pirx

 

[Kwik Decision]

Staying in the Lake District, but moving to different lakes, there's a National Trust car park on the shores of Derwent Water (B5289 near Ashness Bridge) where I used to launch my Topper from years ago - provided you can carry your inflatable a short distance you should be able to launch there, unless things have changed. If you are camping and boating, then Waterside House campsite on Ullswater (mile or so south of Pooley Bridge) gives launching access to the lake. Finally, another camping suggestion is Coniston Hall campsite, which gives launching access to Coniston Water.
Going back years, all the above lakes would allow you to use sailing / rowing craft free of charge (and free of bureaucracy), but anything with a motor needed a permit.

 

[Marceline]

thanks so much - also really great suggestions

tbh tho that raises something I'd not considered before - we were planning to use our ePropulsion elecrtic motor with the dinghy - where could we get a permit for them (and would we also need one for Windermere) ?