Attraction Information
The Cruises
No 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.
So 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.
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?
Food & Drink
Feeling 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.
Accessibility
There 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
- 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
- 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 Visitors
By 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).
Postcode: LA23 3HQ
Once you have reached the pier follow signs for car parking.
There are 6 council-run car parks within 15 mins walk. SEE MAP
Postcode: LA22 0EY View large map
Our 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.
Postcode: LA12 8AS View large map
There 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.
- Plan your train journey to Windermere with Northern Rail.
- Get directions to Bowness Pier from Windermere Railway Station
Travel 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.
Opening Times
Monday to Sunday 09:30 - 17:30
Pricing & Tickets
General Admission
Adults from £8.60
Kids (5-15) from £4.30
Book in advance for cheapest tickets
Find other attractions similar to Windermere Lake Cruises by visiting our attraction tickets section.
FAQs
Yes, there is parking nearby.