Windermere Lake Cruises
Ambleside – Waterhead / Bowness-on-Windermere / Lakeside – Newby Bridge
Windermere Lake Cruises has a large fleet of modern and traditional launches and ‘steamers’, which operate the full length of Windermere, calling at Waterhead, Bowness and Lakeside. A return cruise between Bowness and Waterhead takes about 1.25 hours. A return cruise between Bowness and Lakeside takes about 1.5 hours, and a return cruise round the whole lake takes about 3 hours. Some boats also stop at the pier at Brockhole, the National Park Visitor Centre. Scroll down for timetables, fares, landings and “steamer” details.
Alternative Lake Cruises
While Windermere Lake Cruises, on some of their larger “steamers”, can sometimes feel a little “corporate” or as though you are on a cross Channel ferry, more intimate and relaxing boat trips are available on nearby Coniston Water with the glorious Steam Yacht Gondola ( a real steam yacht) and the Coniston Launch.
Other delightful boat trips and cruises can be taken on Derwentwater, near Keswick, with the Keswick Launch and on Ullswater, near Penrith, with Ullswater Steamers.
The Windermere Lake Cruises pier at Bowness-on-Windermere
Smaller boats do a circular tour between Waterhead, Wray Castle and Brockhole.
Although often described as steamers, the former British Rail owned boats are all in fact motor vessels, and are the MV Swift of 2020, MV Tern of 1891, the MV Teal of 1936, and the MV Swan of 1938.
Lakeside Station near Newby Bridge was built in 1869 as the terminus of the old Furness Railway. Today you can travel to Haverthwaite on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. Also at the station is the Aquarium of the Lakes. Combined tickets for these can be purchased.
Windermere Lake Cruises – “Steamers”
These four “steamers” operate on the main Yellow and Red cruise routes (scroll down for routes & fares)
MV Swift
Built in 2020, MV Swift is the newest of all the vessels owned by Windermere Lake Cruises. Swift has three decks and a capacity of 300. Facilities include:
- Refreshment bar and licensed bar
- Promenade deck
- View stations
- Indoor/outdoor upper deck with glazing that can be lowered/raised for different weather conditions
- Centrally heated saloons and toilets
- Wheelchair accessible toilet
- All facilities are wheelchair accessible on this boat
MV Teal
The diesel powered MV Teal was built in 1936 in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria. She is 142 feet long and can carry up to 533 passengers. The vessel is wheelchair accessible except for the toilets and licensed bar. Facilities include –
- Refreshment bar and licensed bar
- Promenade deck
- View stations
- Centrally heated saloons and toilets
MV Swan
Again 142 feet long and carrying up to 533 passengers, the MV Swan has three decks and was built in 1938 in Barrow. The vessel is wheelchair accessible except for the toilets and licensed bar. Facilities include –
- Refreshment bar and licensed bar
- Promenade deck
- View stations
- Centrally heated saloons and toilets
MV Tern
The flagship of the Windermere Lake Cruises fleet, the MV Tern was originally built in 1891, in Essex, as a steam yacht and converted to diesel in 1956. She was refitted in 1997/8 at a cost of £250,000. She is 145 feet long and can carry up to 350 passengers. The vessel itself is wheelchair accessible but not the facilities (below)
- Refreshment bar and licensed bar
- Centrally heated saloons and toilets
Windermere Lake Cruises – Modern Launches
The Modern Launch “Miss Cumbria III” at Bowness Pier
Windermere Lake Cruises has 9 modern launches in its fleet. These range in size from Miss Lakeland I at 67 feet long, which can carry up 173 passengers, to to Venture at just 37.7 feet and carrying 45. The others are Miss Lakeland II, Miss Cumbria I, II, III & IV, Silverholme and Westmoreland.
None of these are wheelchair accessible. All of the modern launches except Venture, which has no on board facilities, have toilets, heating, refreshments and either licensed bars or alcoholic drinks for sale.
You will find the modern launches operating on the “Islands Cruise”
Windermere Lake Cruises – Traditional Launches
The Traditional Launch ‘Queen of the Lake’ arriving at Wray Castle pier.
There are 4 traditional launches in the Windermere Lake Cruises fleet and they operate on shorter runs. hopping between landing stages.
The launches “Queen of the Lake” and “Princess of the Lake” are just under 50 feet in length and carry up to 84 passengers each. “Muriel II” and “Sunflower” are just under 50 feet in length and carry up to 57 passengers each.
None of the traditional launches are wheelchair accessible or have facilities.
Windermere Lake Cruises Timetables
Summer timetable to the 2nd of July 2021
Due to the current situation Windermere Lake Cruises are only releasing timetables a few weeks in advance. We recommend visiting their website for the most up to date timetables.
Windermere Lake Cruises Fares 2021
Red Cruise – Bowness to Ambleside Waterhead or vice verse
Return Fares – Adult £13.00 / Child* £6.50
Yellow Cruise – Bowness to Lakeside (Newby Bridge) or vice verse
Return Fares – Adult £13.70 / Child* £6.90
Blue/Island Cruise – Take in the islands around the central half of Windermere
Fares – Adult £10.00 / Child* £5.00
Freedom of the Lake
Round the lake from any pier. This is valid for 24 hours from time of purchase and is valid on all scheduled sailings including the Islands Cruise and cruises to Brockhole.
Fares – Adult £24.00 / Child* £12.00
*Child is 4 to 15 years
All Tickets are to be booked and seats must be reserved online before departing.
Tel 015394 43360
Windermere Lake Cruises Gallery >>
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(Updated 26/06/2021)
Contact : Windermere Lake Cruises, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3HQ. Tel 015394 43360. Grid Ref : NY 377030
