The Lake Wardens Service
Our team look after Lake Windermere, England's largest
lake, as the council owns the bed of the lake and some of the land
around it.
The Wardens operate a patrol and rescue service and also act
as a first responder unit on behalf of the North West Ambulance
Service.
They also provide RYA powerboat training for other agencies
such as Cumbria Fire and Rescue, Cumbria Constabulary, the
RSPCA and The National Trust, and are able to offer
advice on all matters relating to the Lake and its usage.
As owners of the bed of the lake the Wardens are
responsible for the administration of moorings
and encroachments. They administer over 1000 swinging
moorings situated through 28 areas of the lake and these are
available for boats up to a maximum length overall of 11mtrs.
The Public Health Act 1907 requires all commercial hire craft,
carrying 12 or fewer passengers to be licenced. SLDC
is the licensing authority for craft operating anywhere within
the South Lakeland area. Follow the links to Pleasure Boats and
Boatmans
Licence.
Education
The Wardens also work with schools to provide water safety
days/visits to the lake and also assist with events in the area and
public lectures.
Facilities
They operate a public slipway which allows access to the
water for trailered craft up to a maximum of 3.5 tonnes.
The office at Ferry Nab is open every day except Christmas Day,
opening hours vary according to the time of the year.
Facilties and services include:
- boat registration
- a public launch facility
- car and trailer parking
- public jetties
- mast hoist
- picnic area
- hot and cold snacks
- boat and trailer storage
- dinghy storage
- showers
- waste disposal point and a recycling point.
There may be charge for some of these
facilities
Opening Hours
Opening hours vary throughout the year, please contact Lake
Wardens for details
Location
The Wardens office is situated at Ferry Nab, about half a mile
south of Bowness-on-Windermere on the B5284. Follow the signs
for Hawkshead via the ferry.
Please use the link to
multimap website for
directions.
Contact Information
Post: The Lake Wardens Office,
Ferry Nab, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3JH
Tel: 015394 42753.