Bringing your bike on board
Information on bringing your bike with you across Windemere
Bikes are welcome on many of our services and our boats are often a convenient way to access the quieter trails and roads around the Windermere lakeshore.
This page has important information to consider if you are bringing your bike with you.
Which routes can I bring my bike on?
Steamers and modern launches
Cyclists and their bikes are welcome on our other services operated by our 'steamers' and modern launches on the Red Cruise (Bowness < > Ambleside) & Yellow Cruise (Bowness < > Lakeside). Operates all year.
- Bikes are welcome if there is space available
- Bikes cost £1 extra on the price of your ticket per journey
- Foot passengers take priority on this service, and our busiest times are from 1pm - 4pm.
Cross Lakes Shuttle
Bowness < > Ferry House (next to Car Ferry)
With the Windermere Car Ferry (operated by Cumbria County Council) out of service, we have extra boats ferrying passengers on this route. Space is at a premium on this service and there is only space for 4 bikes on board.
- Bikes are welcome if there is space available
- Bikes cost £1 extra on the price of your ticket per journey
- Foot passengers take priority on this service, and our busiest times are from 1pm - 3pm.
Windermere Bike Boat
The only dedicated boat for cyclists on Windermere between Brockhole - Lake District Visitor Centre on the eastern shore to Bark Barn on the quiet western shore. Operates May - September only.
- Bikes are welcome on this service
- 8 departures a day from either pier
- Cyclists have priority over foot passengers
- See timetable and prices
I'm planning on catching the dedicated Bike Boat service from Brockhole - So where can I go after disembarking at Bark Barn?
After disembarking the special Bike Boat service (details here) at Bark Barn Jetty, there are several different ways you and your fellow cyclists can continue your journey to explore what's on offer along Windermere's western shore and beyond.
Here are just a few options (Please note, the routes described are all accessible from our pier at Bark Barn, but the starting points of each route described do vary. Please plan your route in advance):
Claife Heights:
Claife Heights is an area of low fells lying west of Windermere and is an excellent place to explore for anyone new to mountain biking.
Its tree-covered slopes are bisected by bridleways and tracks that are at no point difficult, but do provide great sport with climbs, short fast descents, fords, and a profusion of muddy pools.
More details of the route can be found on the golakes website, here.
A PDF of the route is also here.
Hawkshead to Claife Heights:
Ride on the traffic free route by Windermere lake shore. Climb through the trees to emerge on Claife Heights, with grand views of the Coniston fells and pass delightful tarns.
More details of the route can be found on the golakes website here.
A PDF is also available, here.
Hawkshead to Cunsey:
Explore some of the quieter valleys of South Lakeland, ride alongside Esthwaite Water and climb out of the valley for grand views of the high fells.
Descend to Dale Park past wildflower meadows into the quiet Rusland valley.
More details of the route are here.
A PDF is also available, here.
Hawkshead to Wray Castle:
After crossing Windermere, England's longest lake, cycle by Esthwaite Water - one of the smallest lakes in the Lake District. Soak-up great views of the high fells across Windermere on a traffic-free path along the lake shore to Wray Castle.
More details of the route are on the golakes website, here.
A PDF is also available, here.