When the day-trippers head home and the car parks empty, the Lake District shifts into something different — softer, slower, and far more personal. This evening paddle gives you up to three hours on the water as the light turns golden and the lakes settle into their quietest hours. Ideal for beginners, couples, families with older children and anyone wanting to end the day on something memorable, it's a flexible, small-group way to see this landscape at its best.
Your session begins on the shore with a friendly welcome and a walk-through of your packraft, paddle and buoyancy aid. Before you launch, we'll cover the basics — how to sit, how to steer, how to handle the boat if a breeze picks up — so that by the time your feet leave the ground, you already feel settled. Everything is pitched for first-timers, and there's no rush; the priority is making sure every paddler is comfortable on the water before the route begins.
Once afloat, the tone of the evening takes over. Colours deepen across the fells, swallows sweep low over the surface, and the lakes often glass out just as the sun starts to drop behind the skyline. You'll paddle at a gentle pace, pausing often to take in the changing light, the quiet coves, and the reflections that only appear at this hour. It's an unhurried outing, designed as much for noticing as for paddling — and most guests say the stillness stays with them long after they've come off the water.
How your evening finishes depends on where the route takes you. Some paddles close at the original launch point as the last light fades; others end somewhere entirely new, with the journey back completed on foot, by bike, bus or taxi. Because packrafts pack down small, multi-mode adventures are part of what makes this experience different — you might even continue onwards to a remote tarn if conditions and the group are up for it.
The Lake District is England's largest national park and home to some of the country's most recognised waters, from Windermere and Ullswater to quieter pools tucked deep in the fells. Routes are chosen based on the conditions on the night, which means you're always paddling somewhere matched to the wind, the light, and the mood of the group. Expect a mix of broad open water, wooded shoreline and glimpses of crags rising behind the treeline — always with space to stop, drift, and look around.
Evenings here have a particular character. Traffic eases along the lanes, footpaths empty, and the fells cast long shadows across the valleys as the sun lowers. On the water, this translates to calmer surfaces, fewer boats, and a quality of light that photographers travel miles to catch. Whether you're local to Cumbria or visiting for the first time, paddling at this hour opens up a version of the landscape most people never get to see.
This experience is open to most people, with no previous paddling required. Beginners, couples, solo guests and families with older children are all very welcome. A reasonable level of general mobility helps — enough to sit comfortably in a packraft and manage a short walk to and from the water — but there's no fitness test and the pace is gentle throughout. Children aged 8 and above can take part when accompanied by a participating adult, and anyone 18 or over can join independently. Basic water confidence is useful, as all guests wear a buoyancy aid and the session begins with a full safety briefing.
What you wear makes a real difference to how much you enjoy your evening. Comfortable outdoor clothing suited to the weather works best, along with a waterproof layer in case conditions shift. Sturdy footwear — light boots or trainers — will see you through the walk in and any short portages. We'd also recommend a small backpack for snacks, water, sun protection, and a warm top for when the temperature dips once the sun is down. All packrafting equipment, including buoyancy aids, is provided, and you'll be talked through everything before you set off.
Packrafting is our single focus, and it shows. Every route has been walked, paddled and refined over years of exploring Cumbria's waters, which means each evening session is built around genuine local knowledge rather than an off-the-shelf itinerary. Small group sizes keep the atmosphere relaxed, and kit is chosen specifically for comfort, warmth and quick learning — so you'll feel settled on the water far faster than you might expect.
What really sets these outings apart is the flexibility. Because packrafts pack down into a backpack, we're not tied to the same launch points each day; we can take you to quieter, harder-to-reach corners of the Lakes and finish the evening somewhere entirely different from where it started. Combined with patient, personal guidance and a deep respect for the landscape we work in, that flexibility is what turns a simple paddle into something people talk about long after they've headed home.
About the centre
Carlisle
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
Cumbria, United Kingdom
From £173.65
Cumbria, United Kingdom
From £180
Cumbria, United Kingdom
From £200
