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Great North Swim Special

An easy way to get to the start/finish line of the Great North Swim


This special boat service runs on Friday 13 - Sunday 15 June 2024 between Bowness and Brockhole - the start/finish line of The Great North Swim and finish line of Windermere Marathon.

With a direct service between Bowness ↔ Brockhole, swimmers, runners and spectators can enjoy a hassle-free park & ride service between the many car parks around Bowness (PDF Download Map). Beat the crowds and limited parking at Brockhole by using this special boat service.

🏊 Looking for an Ambleside (Waterhead) shuttle service?

A small map of the route between Bowness & Brockhole

Boat departures

🕑 Friday 13 June

  • We depart Bowness at 9:50♿, 10:15, 10:40, 11:15, 11:30♿, 12:15, 13:00♿, 13:15, 14:00, 14:15, 15:15, 16:15, 16:45, 17:45, 18:45. The journey takes 20 minutes.
  • We depart Brockhole at 10:45, 11:45, 12:45, 13:45, 14:45, 15:45, 16:45, 17:15, 18:15, 19:15. The journey takes 20 minutes.

🕑 Saturday 14 June

  • We depart Bowness at 7:45♿, 8:45♿, 9:50♿, 10:15, 10:40, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15, 12:45, 13:15, 13:45, 14:15, 14:45, 15:15, 15:45, 16:15, 16:45. The journey takes 20 minutes.
  • We depart Brockhole at 8:15♿, 9:15♿, 10:45, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15, 12:45, 13:15, 13:45, 14:15, 14:45, 15:15, 15:45, 16:15, 16:45, 17:15. The journey takes 20 minutes.

🕑 Sunday 15 June

  • We depart Bowness at 7:45♿, 8:45♿, 9:50♿, 10:15, 10:45, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15, 12:45, 13:15, 13:45, 14:15, 14:45, 15:15, 15:45, 16:15, 16:45 The journey takes 20 minutes.
  • We depart Brockhole at 8:15♿, 9:15♿, 10:45, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15, 12:45, 13:15, 13:45, 14:15, 14:45, 15:15, 15:45, 16:15, 16:45, 17:15. The journey takes 20 minutes.

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Swimmers setting off from Brockhole

Ticketed Seating
To ensure that everyone can get to/from the start/finish these boats have ticketed seating.

  • Choose from either a single or return journey from either Bowness or Ambleside.
  • You must book a seat for the outward and return legs of your journey for everyone in your group.
  • Infants (under 3s) who don't need a seat (who can travel on a parents knee) can travel for free.


A modern launch heading townards Brockhole

Standard Ticket Prices (valid from Saturday 5th April 2025 until Sunday 2nd November 2025)

  • Prices below are return fares
  • Book your tickets by selecting a date in the 'Book Your Cruise' box below.
AdultsChildren
£12.00£6.00

Additional Information

Beat the crowds with a special park & ride boat service to the Great North Swim.

Beat the crowds with a special park & ride boat service to the Great North Swim.

This ticket can be used to start from either Bowness or Brockhole. Choose a single or return ticket. Launches (smaller boats) are marked in red on the timetable below.

⚠ Please ensure you arrive in plenty of time for your booking, tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

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  • Child prices are valid for children aged 5-15 years old.
  • Infants (Under 5s) who can sit on a parents knee travel free.

More information

Service Status

green

Today's Service Status

🔴
RED CRUISE
Bowness → W'Mere Jetty Museum →Brockhole → Ambleside
Waterhead → Bowness

✔️
Services OK

🟡
YELLOW CRUISE
Bowness ↔ Lakeside

✔️
Services OK

🔵
ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → Bowness

✔️
Services OK
🟢
GREEN CRUISE
Ambleside → Wray Castle → Brockhole → Ambleside✔️
Services OK
🚶
WALKERS TICKET
Bowness → Brockhole → Wray Castle → Walk → Car Ferry→ Bowness✔️
Services OK
🚤
MOTOR BOAT HIRE

from Bowness
Bowness Beach / Bowness Dock ↻

✔️
Services OK from Beach
⚠️
Dock closed - move to Beach

🚤
MOTOR BOAT HIRE

from Waterhead
Waterhead (near Ambleside) ↻

✔️
Services OK

🚤
MOTOR BOAT HIRE

from Lakeside
Lakeside ↻✔️
Services OK
🚣
ROW BOAT HIRE
from Bowness
Bowness Beach / Bowness Dock ↻

✔️
Services OK

🚣
ROW BOAT HIRE
from Waterhead
Waterhead (near Ambleside) ↻

⚠️
Opens later in April


CROSS LAKES SHUTTLE


Bowness ↔ Ash Landing⚠️
Starts 24 May

FELL FOOT FERRY
Lakeside ↔ Fell Foot

⚠️
Starts 24 May

🕑
: We are now running to our peak season timetable.

Map

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