Finally came back to playing Skyrim only to find as usual the clever (not) people at Bethesda have done their usual lazy trick of making DLCs start pretty much immediately. This of course means my low level starter having just made it to the graybeards is now continually attacked by those accursed cultists who usually wipe me out- it's very annoying.
Is there a mod or some other way to disable the DLC until later (this was possible in OB by mods).

It's already delayed until after you see the greybeards. This makes logical sense (Miraak takes notice of you when the greybeards call you dovahkiin).

If you don't want it to happen when you're low level, don't see the greybeards until later.

Why don't you simply uncheck dragonborn.esm until you are ready?

I think that Bethesda handled it pretty well on this occasion. It's introduced at what I feel is an appropriate time, and fits in quite naturally with the main game.

agreed


and this. i mean, if your not planning to go out to the island, just leave it off til ya are, not like it adds anything to the main land really.

unfortunately I already had managed to visit the graybeards at low level due to using stealth so I'm now stuck with them and no I don't agree that Bethesda did it well as really so far You've only taken part in the killing of one dragon as part of a part army and secondly Miraak wouldn't actually know you at this point since you've haven't exactly rocked the world on your own yet (i.e. not completed teh Graybeard training)

By this point you've been through at least one dungeon (to get the dragon map/stone thing), killed at least one dragon (guard tower), made it halfway across the world realm and up the mountain to High Hrothgar encountering who knows what along the way and have been proclaimed Dovahkiin. Sounds good to me.