Explore Windermere
Choose your boat:
Choose your boat:
Ambleside (Waterhead)
Brockhole
BownessBowness ↔ Ambleside Cruise
Prices are return fares
Valid from: Monday 3rd November 2025
Valid until: Friday 27th March 2026
Experience the beauty of Windermere’s northern shoreline on this scenic round-trip cruise from Bowness. Choose to enjoy the full 75 minute non-landing journey, or hop on and off at key destinations along the way.
Explore our full gallery for more stunning images.
Stunning views you can enjoy on our cruises
Modern launch coming into Waterhead
The MV Swift coming in to Waterhead
Smaller boats (launches) call in to Brockhole Pier
Explore our full gallery for more stunning images.
Booked the red cruise. Had a lovely day. Dog friendly, staff are lovely and we had a brilliant day. 100% recommend. Great that this still operates out of season (we went in January). Well worth a try. The boats are lovely and warm inside and have a bar for snacks/drinks. Outside as you would expect depends on the weather, we hit gold on a sunny winters day and saw lots of aircraft on the way to Ambleside. ~ Seaside49750944746. TripAdivsor.
Such a beautiful and scenic cruise around Lake Windermere, we took the Red Cruise, 75 minutes, it was very reasonably priced, you can depart at Ambleside but we decided to stay on, it was a beautiful sunny day too, very chilled with a lovely lady giving a commentary giving you lots of historical and fascinating facts of Lake Windermere and we absolutely loved the commentary, thank you for making our weekend a fantastic time, we will be back next year 😀 ~ TheSpencers71. TripAdivsor.
I recently went on the Red Cruise with Windermere Lake Cruises, and it was an absolutely delightful journey! The cruise took us on a scenic 40-minute ride to Ambleside, and I couldn't have asked for better weather. The clear skies added to the beauty of Lake Windermere.What truly made this experience exceptional was the fantastic staff on board. They were incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves. Their knowledge of the area and willingness to share interesting facts about the surroundings added an educational aspect to the trip.One of the highlights for me was seeing how much my two furry companions, my pooches, enjoyed the journey. The fact that they are pet-friendly made this trip even more memorable for us.All in all, Windermere Lake Cruises provided a wonderful experience, and I'm already looking forward to coming back again next year. If you're in the Lake District and looking for a relaxing and enjoyable way to explore the stunning landscapes, this cruise is a must-try
Lovely afternoon on the red cruise. We sailed from Windermere and the views were breathtakingly beautiful. We decided to hop off at Ambleside and have a look around. We caught the cruise back a few hours later. Everything was very easy and accessible for all. We enjoyed some drinks and snacks on our return journey which were reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend. ~ Lisa P. TripAdvisor.
Booked the red cruise. Had a lovely day. Dog friendly, staff are lovely and we had a brilliant day. 100% recommend. Great that this still operates out of season (we went in January). Well worth a try. The boats are lovely and warm inside and have a bar for snacks/drinks. Outside as you would expect depends on the weather, we hit gold on a sunny winters day and saw lots of aircraft on the way to Ambleside. ~ Seaside49750944746. TripAdivsor.
Such a beautiful and scenic cruise around Lake Windermere, we took the Red Cruise, 75 minutes, it was very reasonably priced, you can depart at Ambleside but we decided to stay on, it was a beautiful sunny day too, very chilled with a lovely lady giving a commentary giving you lots of historical and fascinating facts of Lake Windermere and we absolutely loved the commentary, thank you for making our weekend a fantastic time, we will be back next year 😀 ~ TheSpencers71. TripAdivsor.
I recently went on the Red Cruise with Windermere Lake Cruises, and it was an absolutely delightful journey! The cruise took us on a scenic 40-minute ride to Ambleside, and I couldn't have asked for better weather. The clear skies added to the beauty of Lake Windermere.What truly made this experience exceptional was the fantastic staff on board. They were incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves. Their knowledge of the area and willingness to share interesting facts about the surroundings added an educational aspect to the trip.One of the highlights for me was seeing how much my two furry companions, my pooches, enjoyed the journey. The fact that they are pet-friendly made this trip even more memorable for us.All in all, Windermere Lake Cruises provided a wonderful experience, and I'm already looking forward to coming back again next year. If you're in the Lake District and looking for a relaxing and enjoyable way to explore the stunning landscapes, this cruise is a must-try
Lovely afternoon on the red cruise. We sailed from Windermere and the views were breathtakingly beautiful. We decided to hop off at Ambleside and have a look around. We caught the cruise back a few hours later. Everything was very easy and accessible for all. We enjoyed some drinks and snacks on our return journey which were reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend. ~ Lisa P. TripAdvisor.
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From a full day of adventure on Windermere to exploring exciting events on and off the water, see how you can make the most of your Lake District adventure.
14 November 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
21 November 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
28 November 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
5 December 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
12 December 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
13 December 2025
Enjoy a festive morning filled with fun, games, and a hearty breakfast with Santa himself.
19 December 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
24 December 2025
Santa’s band of elves will be there to welcome you and your child into their workshop where you’ll be whisked away on a magical, festive journey.
26 December 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
2 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
9 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
16 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
23 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
30 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
6 February 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
13 February 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
20 February 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
27 February 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
6 March 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
13 March 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
20 March 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
27 March 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
Our famous Red Cruise route offers passengers the best views of the South Lakeland fells, linking the famous towns of Bowness and walkers’ favourite, Ambleside.
Autumn adventures around Windermere for the family.
Make the most of your time on Windermere by upgrading your cruise. Combine your trip with a visit to a local attraction, or enjoy unlimited travel all day with Freedom of the Lake.
