Windermere moorings

[J&Mxx]

Hi, New on here and to sailing on Windermere...
Looking at possible swinging mooring sites for next year. Any candid thoughts about various sites? Advantages, disadvantages?

 

[Jim@sea]

I had a mooring on Windermere 10 years ago. (I also had one in 1973) What annoyed me was when I towed my trailer carrying my dingy and parked in the car park I had to pay to park the car and as the trailer was also occupying a parking space paid for parking there also.
I decided to get a pontoon space at Whitehaven Marina.
And if you are allocated a mooring space it costs a fortune to have the mooring tackle laid.

 

[KDee]

Moorings in short supply post Lockdown….Maybe talk to the lake wardens at Ferry Nab or the guys at Maiden Marine.

 

[bignick]

As KD states above, moorings on the lake are allocated by the Lake Wardens based at Ferry Nab. I don’t know if Travis is still there, but he would be the person to speak to if he is.

Windermere fees and charges
https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/media/5262/mooring-pack-2018.pdf

There are a few factors to consider regarding which mooring area to go for: e.g. road access, parking, lake access, shelter.

Ferry Nab is no1 in my book. There’s a large car park, but you have to pay for it, plus there are dinghy racks, but these are also on a waiting list and you need to pay. If you’re using the boat a lot for day sailing then having a hard dinghy that you can carry to the water saves a lot of time and effort. It can get busy in summer, and isn’t as quiet or sheltered if you’re sleeping on the boat. Easy to get to and you can launch and recover there on the slipway. There are also facilities there - Dan’s burger van/hut and free showers (for mooring holders).

Next choice for me would be either round the back of Belle Isle or Mitchell Wyke (opposite Ferry Nab on the west shore of the lake, just north of the ferry). Much quieter if you plan on sleeping on board. People used to keep dinghies on the shore, but I don’t know if that is still allowed. Takes a bit longer to drive there, but if you were there for a few days at a time then that would be ok as parking is free (or used to be). Longer row to your boat, but is sheltered from a Sw and is a nice place to be on board in the evening.

I kept my own boat at Whitecross Bay, but that was because we also had a static caravan there. If you don’t, then you would find it difficult getting to your boat, because you can’t access the lake shore to launch a dinghy. Also surprisingly exposed to a westerly gale.

It’s quite pricey to keep a boat there, but you do get free use of the tractor for slip launching (operated by the wardens) and they’ll operate the rig hoist for you as well, so it’s not all bad.

There’s a map of the available mooring areas on the second link, but I’d strongly recommend having a chat to the lake wardens before you do anything.

 

[J&Mxx]

As KD states above, moorings on the lake are allocated by the Lake Wardens based at Ferry Nab. I don’t know if Travis is still there, but he would be the person to speak to if he is.

Windermere fees and charges
https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/media/5262/mooring-pack-2018.pdf

There are a few factors to consider regarding which mooring area to go for: e.g. road access, parking, lake access, shelter.

Ferry Nab is no1 in my book. There’s a large car park, but you have to pay for it, plus there are dinghy racks, but these are also on a waiting list and you need to pay. If you’re using the boat a lot for day sailing then having a hard dinghy that you can carry to the water saves a lot of time and effort. It can get busy in summer, and isn’t as quiet or sheltered if you’re sleeping on the boat. Easy to get to and you can launch and recover there on the slipway. There are also facilities there - Dan’s burger van/hut and free showers (for mooring holders).

Next choice for me would be either round the back of Belle Isle or Mitchell Wyke (opposite Ferry Nab on the west shore of the lake, just north of the ferry). Much quieter if you plan on sleeping on board. People used to keep dinghies on the shore, but I don’t know if that is still allowed. Takes a bit longer to drive there, but if you were there for a few days at a time then that would be ok as parking is free (or used to be). Longer row to your boat, but is sheltered from a Sw and is a nice place to be on board in the evening.

I kept my own boat at Whitecross Bay, but that was because we also had a static caravan there. If you don’t, then you would find it difficult getting to your boat, because you can’t access the lake shore to launch a dinghy. Also surprisingly exposed to a westerly gale.

It’s quite pricey to keep a boat there, but you do get free use of the tractor for slip launching (operated by the wardens) and they’ll operate the rig hoist for you as well, so it’s not all bad.

There’s a map of the available mooring areas on the second link, but I’d strongly recommend having a chat to the lake wardens before you do anything.

That's all very useful. Thank you.

 

[ridgy]

Unless you're looking for a floating caravan or in to racing then hard to see the attraction.
Nowhere to go when you go out, a handful of busy jetties.
I like the place in the winter when it's cheap but the summer costs vs utility is a non starter with the traffic of getting there.

 

[Pirx]

I have a mooring at Fell Foot at the very South of Windermere.
Briefly, and in no particular order:
Fell Foot is easy to get to by car from the South as it isn't necessary to penetrate far into the lake District. The shore at Fell Foot is owned by the National Trust who provide some mixed facilities.
My licence for a mooring costs approx £1k per year from South Lakes District Council.
Licence for a boat with an engine is £15 per year from the Lake Wardens
Laying a new mooring costs approx £500, you might be able to negotiate for an existing one.
Dinghy storage approx £80 from Nat Trust
Winter storage ashore approx £300 from Nat Trust + £130 for hauling out - you need a trailer or a yard trolley.
Car parking at Fell foot is free if a Nat Trust member, otherwise about £7 per day

The South end of the lake is far less built-up and developed than the middle or North - the autumn colours can be stunning.
Lake sailing is usually very relaxing but can occasionally become 'interesting'. The wind is all over the place: I think I learned more about sail trimming in our first summer on the lake than in 50 years of going to sea.
For us it has the advantage of being reasonably close by car and there are, obviously, no time constraints due to tides, locks, grumpy harbourmasters, commercial traffic etc. On the other hand it's only 10 miles long and you can't go anywhere.

We also have a boat at Stranraer and find we don't sail on Windermere nearly as much as we used to: I'm wondering if I should sell the boat and mooring ......

 

[Yorkshire Astronaut]

Are you absolutely sold on Windermere?

3 years ago we bought a trailer sailer with the intention of putting it on Windemere. However, after a lot of head scratching, and the building of a spreadsheet that different mooring types, costs, traveling times (we are coming from North Yorkshire, so travel time over the year adds up and makes a big difference), etc, we changed our minds and switched to a swinging mooring at the North end of Ullswater. Best decision ever, absolutely no regrets!

£400 to initially lay a mooring (though you may be able to buy some second hand gear), £400 per year mooring fees with Dalemain Estates, 15 mins drive away from the A66, and you can buy an annual car park pass (£85) which gives you lake access right next to the moorings, for the inflatable tender that you will keep in your car boot!

Much quieter (and therefore much more pleasant IMHO), more sail orientated, hardly any motor boats, and frankly much prettier lake that Windemere. What's not to love?

 

[Yorkshire Astronaut]

Oh, and whereas there is a backlog and a shortage of spaces on Windermere, plenty of moorings are available on Ullswater...