Windermere Lake CruisesQuality Assessed

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Assessor comments

"Many options to choose between Ambleside and Lakeside"

Overview

Step aboard the most popular boats in the Lake District. Relax and enjoy the stunning Windermere scenery. Combine a cruise on traditional ‘steamers; and modern launches with walks, visitorattractions and Lakeland villages.Windermere Lake Cruises operates over 100 daily scheduled sailings on the lake at the height of the summer and they vary between 30 minutes and 90 minutes. Popular cruises connect Bowness, Brockhole and Ambleside (Red Cruise) and offer stunning views across the Lakeland fells. All cruise tickets allow you to break up the journey and disembark at each stop, explore the local area and then return on a later sailing. Pick the Yellow Cruise to explore the southern half of Windermere with regular sailings between Bowness and Lakeside, ideal for visiting Lakeland Motor Museum, Lakes Aquarium and Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway. The seasonal Green Cruise allows visitors to travel across to the quiet western shore and explore Wray Castle in a traditional wooden launch. If you’re stuck for time or want to sample the sights and sounds of Windermere, hop on the Blue (Islands) Cruise from Bowness. This 45 minute circular cruise includes a fascinating commentary on the history of England's largest natural lake.

Ratings & awards

VisitEngland Quality Assessed

Our assessor loves...

Lake Cruising - Many options to choose between Ambleside and Lakeside

Walking Ticket - Use the cruises to access a circular walk cruise around Windermere

Self Drive - Hire self drive boats and rowing boats

Cafe options - Cafes at the piers on the lake

Location

Winander House, Glebe Road, BOWNESS ON WINDERMERE, Cumbria, LA23 3HE

About the area

Cumbria's rugged yet beautiful landscape is best known for the Lake District National Park that sits within its boundaries. It’s famous for Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, and Derwent Water, ‘Queen of the English Lakes', but other lesser-known areas in the south, such as the Lune Valley and the coastal towns, are secret gems of wide cobbled streets and rolling hills.