The quality of bathing water assessed by the Environment Agency has revealed mixed results for 2025 in Cumbria.
England’s bathing waters are rated as excellent, good, sufficient or poor by the agency, which monitors for indicators of pollution known to be associated with risks to bathers’ health such as E coli.
All four of Windermere’s designated bathing sites at Millerground, Lakeside, Fell Foot and Rayrigg were classed as excellent according to the 2025 bathing water classifications, which assessed 449 designated bathing sites in England.
None of Coniston’s three bathing sites made the top classification.
Monk Coniston and Brown Howe were classed as good while the Boating Centre in Coniston was rated sufficient.
Derwentwater at Crow Park in Keswick was classed as poor.
Earlier this warnings not to swim were issued by the Environment Agency at Crow Park and Coniston Water Boating Centre.
On the coast, only Silecroft was rated as excellent with the remaining designated sites classed as sufficient or poor.
The Environment Agency said 87% of bathing spots met standards for excellent or good classification, an improvement on 2024.
Overall, 417 bathing waters (93%), were rated excellent, good or sufficient, representing a slight rise on 2024. 297 sites achieved an excellent rating this year, compared to 289 in 2024, while 32 sites were classified as poor, a decrease on 37 last year.
In 2025, 32 bathing waters in England (7.1 per cent) did not meet the minimum standard, and were classified as poor.
