Windermere Lake Cruises

Whether you want to catch a boat to family attractions, you're after a peaceful leisure cruise or you're planning an extravagant boat party, there's a boating experience suitable for everyone. Check out our complete guide to the Windermere Lake Cruise... The CruisesNo matter where you start your journey with Windermere Lake Cruises, be it from Bowness Bay, Ambleside or Lakeside, the spectacular and family friendly voyage gives the traveller a cruise with mountain views plus secluded bays and many wooded islands as you sail by.

A wide range of trip types are available varying in length (from 45 minutes up to 48 hours!) so it's easy to tailor your day to your group, often including stops at Wray Castle and other local spots. The springtime walker's ticket combines 2 boat cruises with a stunning 4 mile walk along the quiet western shore and is a great day out for the whole active family!

Sink your teeth into some history about motor vessels and travel to the Windermere Jetty Museum. Get the full experience and spend your day starting with boats and ending with steam trains. Soak up the whole of the Lake District while chowing down on some smoked trout in the buffet cruises.

Each boating experience offers delightful scenic routes and adventure but you don't always have to sit back while someone else does the driving. Hire out one of many motor boats and explore the lakeside in style with your family. Pay your £40 deposit and hire out your motorboat for 1-2 hours. Explore all the natural beauty on offer at your own pace. Psst, your four-legged friends can hop on board too! And what's more? Children under 16 years old can go for free!

It's well worth using the link to check ahead at everything these folks have on offer as some of the services are seasonal, some are group size dependent, but all are enchanting and relaxing trips that the kids will enjoy.

Nearby AttractionsSo you've booked your boat tickets and you are excited to explore the stunning area but what other incredible experiences are there on offer? With each of the boat trips lasting between 45 minutes to 3 hours, it's always good to start planning your next destination.

Into motors? Check out over 100 years of motor heritage in the Lakeland Motor Museum. Just 32 minutes away from Lake Windermere, it's the ideal destination to anchor your vessel. Discover the world famous Campbell Bluebird or browse a collection of motorcycles and scooters. Three are plenty of activities to get stuck into too like the children's quizzes! It's one of many popular attractions in the Lake District - especially for motorheads!

Neighh way! There's only the Lakeland Pony Treks nearby too! Continue your day out in the open arms of nature and travel around the area on a pony for 1-2 hours. This activity is perfect for families and couples who are after an idyllic day by the mountains. Relaxing is great but what about the heart-thumping thrills of ghyll scrambling, rock climbing, and abseiling? Enroll onto Mountain skill courses and learn from the best of the best at Lake District Adventuring. Can you brave the 3-peaks challenge?

With all these epic attractions close by and so much more, we know families will LOVE visiting Windermere. Book tickets to the Windermere lake cruises and start your journey in England's most outstanding area of beauty today!Food & DrinkFeeling peckish? Tuck into a wide variety of mouthwatering meals from Piri Piri spiced Cumbrian Chicken Strips, smoked trout, hot pot meals, pulled pork buns and so much more. The Windermere Lake Cruises caterers are brilliant to hire for parties, work events and other gatherings. You can bring your own food onboard too.

Feel free to check out nearby restaurants - there's heaps of great places in lake Windermere! Grab a slice of Italy in Rastelli's Pizzeria. Experience Urban food in a rural setting at the Urban Food House. Located in the heart of the Bowness community, the Urban Food House offers tasty meals and lighter bites from Egg Florentine, Vegan Chilli Nachos, Hand cut fries, pizza, jerk chicken, burgers and lots more! Sit back on the lakeside decking and soak up endless amazing views at the Boardwalk Bar & Grill - dogs are welcome here too!

AccessibilityThere are multiple boats and boat rides to choose from during your windermere Lake Cruises experience. Here is a breakdown of each boat and their accessibility:MV Swift - most accessible vessel

• Departures marked with a green wheelchair icon on our timetables.
• Step-free access from Ambleside (Waterhead), Bowness and Lakeside
• Step-free access to inner decks and outer decks (via lift)
• Accessible toilet from main cabin (step-free, oversized and wheelchair friendly)
• Operates on the Red Cruise mostly. But can be sometimes on Yellow Cruise / Full lake during our peak season (April-October)
• View vessel on virtual tour / see vessel plan

Historic ‘steamers’ – MV Swan & MV Teal.

• Departures marked with a black wheelchair icon on our timetables.
• Step-free access from Ambleside (Waterhead), Bowness and Lakeside
• Step-free access to inner decks and outer decks
• Toilets are down some steep stairs on board (12 steps)
• Operates on the Red Cruise / Yellow Cruise / Full lake during our peak season (April-October)
• View vessel on virtual tour / see vessel plan

Historic ‘steamer’ MV Tern

• Departures marked in black on our timetables.
• The oldest vessel (built in 1891) is our least accessible 'steamer'
• Step-free access to under cover, outer decks only
• Toilets are down some steep steps
• Operate on the Red Cruise / Yellow Cruise / Full lake during our peak season (April-October)
• View vessel on virtual tour / see vessel plan

Modern launches such as Miss Cumbria/Miss Lakeland

• Departures marked in blue on our timetables.
• Steps to inner cabins (3 steep steps) and outer cabins (6 steep steps)
• Step from pier to boat when boarding & no handrail
• Operate all year round on the Islands (blue) Cruise / Red Cruise / Yellow Cruise
• View vessel class on virtual tour / see vessel plan

Traditional wooden launches such as Queen of the Lake and Muriel II

• Least accessible vessel
• 2-4 large steps to climb in/out the vessels
• No toilets on board
• Operate on Cross Lakes / Green Cruise during our peak season (April-October)
• View vessel class on virtual tour / see vessel plan

Travel & Parking for VisitorsBy Car

• M6 motorway traffic should use junction 36.
• Follow signs for south Lakes and then brown signs to Windermere Lake Cruises (on the A590 to Lakeside) or (A591 for Bowness and Ambleside).

Parking facilities:

Bowness PierPostcode: LA23 3HQOnce you have reached the pier follow signs for car parking.There are 6 council-run car parks within 15 mins walk. SEE MAP

Ambleside Pier (Waterhead)Postcode: LA22 0EY View large mapOur customers' car park has 21 spaces and costs £5.00 to park all day. In addition, there are 200 spaces in a public pay and display car park close to the pier.

Lakeside PierPostcode: LA12 8AS View large mapThere are 300 spaces within just a few metres of our pier and offer up to 10 hours parking for just £4.00.Please note that passengers wishing to include steam train from Haverthwaite should note that there are an additional 150 spaces at Haverthwaite station.

By Train

Travel to Windermere Railway Station via Oxenholme - Lake District (on the main line between London and Glasgow). Bowness Pier is a 25 minute walk away or you can catch a regular bus/taxi service from outside Windermere train station.

• Plan your train journey to Windermere with Northern Rail.
• Get directions to Bowness Pier from Windermere Railway Station

By BusTravel by Stagecoach Bus services to BOWNESS PIER (LIVE DEPARTURES) on the following services:

• 6 - Barrow - Ulverston - Newby Bridge - Windermere
• 599 - Grasmere - Ambleside -Windermere - Bowness (open top)
• 755 - Morecambe -Carnforth -Kendal - Bowness
• 508 - Penrith - Ullswater - Bowness - Windermere
• Early morning & evening by 555 - Lancaster - Kendal - Windermere

• Daily sailings, buffet cruises & motor boats
• 5 different boat cruises to choose from
• Great connections to restaurants and nearby attractions.