Freedom Of The Lake ®
Unlimited boat travel for 24 hours on all routes | ⚓ See the full lake on this ticket: Lakeside ↔ Bowness ↔ Ambleside in 🕘 over 3 hours
Cross Lakes, bus and Hill Top
A combined ticket for boat and bus travel including entry to Hill Top - Beatrix Potter's former home.
 | Route currently unavailable - back on 28 March 2026 This route only operates during our peak summer season and is currently closed for winter. The information below is for reference only and this service will resume on 28 March 2026. |
Travel direct from the heart of Bowness village to Hill Top - Beatrix Potter's former home.
This combined boat/bus/attraction ticket is the best way to travel to this fascinating National Trust property and gets you guaranteed entry into Hill Top.
Your ticket price includes:
🛳️ Return boat travel between Bowness and Ash Landing.
(Operates every day)
A shuttle service from Bowness to Ash Landing offers a convenient way to access the western shore. Enjoy stunning views of woodlands, historic houses, and beautiful gardens along the way.
🕑 The journey takes about 20 minutes.
🚌 Return bus travel between Ash Landing and Hill Top.
(Not on Fridays unless peak school holidays)
The Mountain Goat 525 bus conveniently picks you up from Ash Landing Car Park - only 100 metres from our pier. From there, the bus takes you up the hill to drop you off at Hill Top.
🕑 The journey takes about 15 minutes.
🎫 Guaranteed entry into Hill Top - Beatrix Potter's former home
(Not open Fridays unless peak school holidays)
Step into the enchanting world of Beatrix Potter by visiting National Trust property Hill Top, her cherished home and the birthplace of her beloved stories.
Brimming with her favourite things, this historic cottage is where Beatrix found inspiration for her tales and nurtured her love for the Lake District.
This ticket also includes return bus/boat travel to Bowness - valid at anytime.
How this ticket works:
- With spaces on this ticket limited, you must pre-book (up to one day before) to ensure space on the bus and at Hill Top. If space is available, you may also buy tickets on the day from Bowness Pier ticket office.
- Select a departure time from Bowness Pier 3 - 9:50, 10:35, 11:25. 12:15, 13:50, or 14:40. The full journey from Bowness to Hill Top takes around 40-45mins.
- Show your booking at the pier ticket office, when boarding the awaiting bus at Ash Landing and entrance to Hill Top.
- You can return on any bus and boat back from Hill Top on the day. The last bus departure from Hill Top departs 16:30, getting into Bowness at 17:00 - This will be shown on your e-ticket
Take a copy of the timetable with you (PDF)
- Find out more about Hill Top on the National Trust website
- Hill Top and the bus do not operate on Fridays except 30 may, 25 July, 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 August
- Photo: Thanks to PunkToad on Creative Commons CC 2.0 on Flickr
Standard Ticket Prices (valid from Saturday 5th April 2025 until Sunday 2nd November 2025)
| Adults | Children |
|---|---|
| £31.40 | £19.50 |
Additional Information
- Dogs are welcome on board the boats and bus. They are allowed in the garden of Hill Top only.
- Booking on the day? Just buy from the pier ticket office.
- Valid for any return bus and boat journey when you're finished at Hill Top.