Derwent Water: round the islands from Calfclose Bay

Park at the National Trust's Great Wood car park, cross the road and launch from the shingle at Calfclose Bay. The loop takes in the islands at the north end of Derwent Water: past Rampsholme and Lord's Island, out to Friar's Crag, round Derwent Isle with its house and boathouses, then south across the lake to St Herbert's Island, where a hermit lived in the 600s, and back past Rampsholme to the bay. Landing on the islands is not allowed, so enjoy them from the water. Cat Bells, Skiddaw and the Borrowdale fells are all around.

It is 4.5 km round; allow about an hour in a canoe or kayak and 1¼ on a paddleboard. The grade is Easy: short, and never more than about 260 m from a shore. But the lake catches the wind from Borrowdale and from the west, so the crossing to St Herbert's can turn choppy; leave it out if the wind gets up. The Keswick launches run between their landing stages all day: keep clear of them.

No permit is needed for canoes, kayaks or paddleboards on Derwent Water; powered craft have a 10 mph limit. The Great Wood car park charges. Wear a buoyancy aid and check the conditions before you set off.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap waterways (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.