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Great North Swim Special - Ambleside Start

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

This special boat service runs on Saturday 8 - Sunday 9 June 2023 between Ambleside (Waterhead) and Brockhole - the start/finish line of The Great North Swim.

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

🏊 Looking for an Bowness shuttle service?

A small map of the route between Ambleside Waterhead & Brockhole

Boat departures

🕑 Saturday 8 June

  • We depart Ambleside (Waterhead) at 7:45, 8:45, 9:45, 10:45, 11:45, 12:45, 13:45, 14:45, 15:45. The journey takes 20 minutes.
  • We depart Brockhole at 8:15, 9:15, 11:15, 12:15, 13:15, 14:15, 15:15, 16:15. The journey takes 20 minutes.

🕑 Sunday 9 June

  • We depart Ambleside (Waterhead) at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00. The journey takes 20 minutes.
  • We depart Brockhole at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:03. The journey takes 20 minutes.

Swimmers prepare for departure at 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 Ambleside or Brockhole.
  • 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 23rd March 2024 until Sunday 3rd November 2024)

  • 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 Ambleside 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.

We're sorry, this cruise isn't sailing today. Please contact the booking office for more information.

Service Status

green

Today's Service Status

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

✔️ Services OK

🟡 YELLOW CRUISEBowness ↔ Lakeside

✔️ Services OK

🔵 ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → Bowness

✔️ Services OK
🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE from Bowness
Bowness Beach / Bowness Dock ↻

✔️ Services OK

🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE from WaterheadWaterhead (near Ambleside) ↻

✔️ Services OK

🟤 YELLOW CRUISE & STEAM TRAINHaverthwaite ↔ Lakeside ↔ Bowness

✔️ Services OK

🟢 GREEN CRUISEAmbleside → Wray Castle → Brockhole → Ambleside

✔️ Services OK

🚶 WALKERS TICKETBowness → Brockhole → Wray Castle → Walk → Ash Landing → Bowness✔️ Services OK
🚣 ROW BOAT HIRE from BownessBowness Beach / Bowness Dock ↻

✔️ Services OK

🚣 ROW BOAT HIRE from WaterheadWaterhead (near Ambleside) ↻

⚠️ Back Late April.
Keep checking back

CROSS LAKES SHUTTLE

Bowness ↔ Ash Landing✔️ Services OK
FELL FOOT FERRYLakeside ↔ Fell Foot⚠️ Starts 25 May

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