About this club
Lakeland Rowing Club is a British Rowing-affiliated club at Isthmus Bay in Keswick, rowing on Derwentwater in the Lake District World Heritage Site. Its junior and senior membership spans people in their early teens through to their early eighties.
A small group of retired rowers established Lakeland in 2007. Members initially used Windermere and Bassenthwaite, storing boats at home and moving them between sites, before creating bases at Derwent Water Marina and Fell Foot Park.
In 2016 the two bases became independent clubs: Lakeland continued on Derwentwater while the southern members formed Windermere Rowing Club. Lakeland outgrew the marina, secured National Trust land on Keswick Isthmus in 2018 and built a new base there.
The club combines leisure rowing with competition and accepts beginners, returning rowers, visiting crews and people interested in coaching or coxing. It mainly sculls in quads, doubles and singles, while also holding an eight and boats that can be rigged as fours and pairs.
Adult and junior learn-to-row courses run over two days and include land-based and water sessions. Course fees include a period of club membership, and bursaries are available; graduates can continue through annual adult, junior, student or family membership.
Lakeland hosts the Derwentwater Head. The 2026 event drew 142 crews across three divisions, while the 2023 edition was described by the club as the first full-scale Derwentwater Head in more than 150 years.
Club members compete on the water and indoors. Lakeland reports medals at the 2025 British Masters, World Masters and World Indoor Championships, plus new British records; its 2026 record includes wins at events hosted by Tyne United, Trafford, Northwich and Tees.
Upcoming competitions hosted by Lakeland Rowing Club
- 6 Mar 2027 Derwentwater Head head