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
Red Cruise
Sail from Bowness to Ambleside or vice versa
Bowness → (Windermere Jetty Museum)→ (Brockhole) → Ambleside (Waterhead)→ Bowness | See route map below
🕘 75 minutes return / 30-35 minutes one way
- This beautiful round trip from Bowness can be taken as a 75 minute non-landing cruise.
- Alternatively, you may board at either Ambleside, Windermere Jetty Museum or Brockhole and return on a later boat from Bowness. Your ticket allows you to get off at each stop and catch a later boat back.
- Each cruise includes a fascinating commentary on the history, attractions and points of interest surrounding Windermere.
Our smaller boats called modern launches (marked red on the timetable below) stop at Windermere Jetty Museum and Brockhole on the eastern side of the lake on their way up to Ambleside. Visit the Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole that includes attractions for the whole family. Boat passengers enjoy free entry to the grounds.
 | Autumn/Winter opening Some of our smaller stops on this cruise have limited opening in the Autumn/Winter
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If you're planning a visit to Windermere Jetty Museum, purchase your entry ticket upon arrival or save by purchasing a combined cruise and museum entry ticket.
Please note that the red cruise does not stop at the museum when travelling southbound from Ambleside, simply return from the museum to Bowness via Ambleside..
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.
| Adults | Children | Families |
|---|---|---|
| £18.40 | £11.10 | £53.00 |
Additional Information
- 🎫 Buy tickets online or at pier ticket offices on the day
- ➡ Single fares can be purchased from our ticket offices
- 🐕 Well-behaved dogs travel free
- 🚲 Bikes are welcome on our 'steamer' services
- 📆 Plan your day around this cruise - see a sample Itinerary
- 🚶 The Ambleside (Waterhead) Pier is a pleasant 15 minute (0.8mile) walk from the centre of Ambleside village.
- 🍴The Pier Cafe Bar on Ambleside (Waterhead) Pier combines a delicious range of food and refreshments with some amazing views across the water.
- 🗺️ Download our Lake Spotter's Sheet, a helpful guide to bring with you when you travel with us. This summary sheet points out the main things to see around the lake including the fascinating history of Windermere.
