Ennerdale Water - Access
Information from the Wild Ennerdale Partnership (WEP) on canoeing in Ennerdale is available here. As individuals and non commercial groups of paddlers you do not require a permit to paddle Ennerdale. Commercial groups do require permits from United Utilities who own the lake.
The general advice from WEP is to park at either Bowness Knott or Bleach Green car parks and carry your boat (300 to 400m) to the lake. Nevertheless the National Trust have agreed that canoeists may use the more convenient gated permissive bridleway, a pretty rough track marked No Unauthorised Access, through How Hall Farm to the old Angler's Hotel site as authorised users. Unloading is possible at the water's edge but please park further back after unloading. Please ensure all gates are closed, park sensibly and treat the site and other users with courtesy and respect. No camping or fires are allowed and please do your bit by not leaving any litter and clearing any you see left by others.
It is a good idea to put a sign marked "Authorised parking for launching" sign in your vehicle window so that others don't assume there is open access.
Please do all you can to help preserve this negotiated authorisation so we can all continue to enjoy paddling on this wonderful secluded lake.
We'll update this advice if there are any changes.
Regional Waterways Advisor. Cumbria - 2018
The general advice from WEP is to park at either Bowness Knott or Bleach Green car parks and carry your boat (300 to 400m) to the lake. Nevertheless the National Trust have agreed that canoeists may use the more convenient gated permissive bridleway, a pretty rough track marked No Unauthorised Access, through How Hall Farm to the old Angler's Hotel site as authorised users. Unloading is possible at the water's edge but please park further back after unloading. Please ensure all gates are closed, park sensibly and treat the site and other users with courtesy and respect. No camping or fires are allowed and please do your bit by not leaving any litter and clearing any you see left by others.
It is a good idea to put a sign marked "Authorised parking for launching" sign in your vehicle window so that others don't assume there is open access.
Please do all you can to help preserve this negotiated authorisation so we can all continue to enjoy paddling on this wonderful secluded lake.
We'll update this advice if there are any changes.
Regional Waterways Advisor. Cumbria - 2018
Update September 24 2020 - Closure of the Access Road at the Angler's Hotel site, Ennerdale.
A short resume of the situation on behalf of British Canoeing.
The closure of the access road came about with the involvement of N.T./U.U./and the tenant farmers. Overnight use by campervans and unauthorised users, at the height of the good weather and post lock down period, provided a climax to a few years with some inappropriate use.
Under the auspices of the Wild Ennerdale partnership the facility to launch had been granted to canoeists whilst others without a need for lakeshore access were signposted to Bleach Green or Bowness Knott car parks. Unfortunately the signage was not sufficient to deter the inappropriate/unauthorised users who, by their presence, tended to advertise the site but not the restricted use.
Having discussed the matter with NT/UU - they are aware of the importance/value of the site for launching, the care that canoeists were taking over the site and the creeping misuse which the site suffered. They recognised the knock on effect for paddlers for whom lengthy portage to get to the water was problematic.
Initial discussion suggested that the access would be reopened late September onwards. There has always been the possibility of a barrier/keypad arrangement but appropriate signage and the fundamental need to educate some of the users of wild places, more apparent since lockdown, were also highlighted. Having followed this up ten days ago, UU voiced their hope to see the matter resolved this week and I can only assume that NT are struggling to meet this time frame. It would seem appropriate to exercise patience under current circumstances but I will not let the situation drag on as paddlers do use the lake all year round.
British Canoeing are offering whatever support we can to enable this access site to be reopened and maintained.
I will let you know of any further developments but felt that paddlers needed to know that the matter is in hand. Please spread word of the present situation to any other paddlers and feed back if you feel there are any issues not being addressed or made clear.
Keep paddling, stay safe,
Mike Mills, for British Canoeing.
