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Red Cruise

Sail from Bowness to Ambleside or vice versa

Bowness → 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) & 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.

Please note that the red cruise does not stop at Brockhole when traveling southbound from Ambleside, simply return from Brockhole to Bowness via Ambleside..

Standard Ticket Prices (valid from Monday 30th October 2023 until Friday 22nd March 2024)

  • Prices below are return fares
  • Book your tickets by selecting a date in the 'Book Your Cruise' box below.
Adults Children Families
£16.50£9.90£47.50

Additional Information

Our 'steamer' MV Teal on the Red Cruise

Our 'steamer' MV Teal on the Red Cruise

Combine stunning scenery with this cruise on the north of Windermere.

Red Cruise Photos & Videos

Book Your Cruise

Select a date to view prices and sailing times.

  • Child prices are valid for children aged 5-15 years. Children under 5 travel free.
  • Family tickets are valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children.

Timetable

This ticket can be used to start from either Bowness, Ambleside or Brockhole and is valid on all scheduled Red Cruise departure times and is not time specific.

Launch services departing Bowness stop at Brockhole and Windermere Jetty and before continuing to Ambleside. Southbound is direct Ambleside to Bowness.

Times normally operated by our 'steamers' Swan, Teal or Tern or MV Swift may sometimes be substituted for a smaller vessel for operational reasons. Prices and timetable information are subject to change without notice.

Today's sailings from Bowness

Depart BownessArrive AmblesideVessel type
10:0010:35Launch
10:4511:20Launch
11:3012:05Launch
12:1512:50Launch
13:0013:35Launch
13:4514:20Launch
14:1514:50Launch
14:4515:20Launch
15:0515:40Launch
15:4016:15Launch

Today's sailings from Ambleside

Depart AmblesideArrive BownessVessel type
09:5010:20Launch
10:4511:15Launch
11:3012:00Launch
12:1512:45Launch
13:0013:30Launch
13:4514:15Launch
14:3015:00Launch
15:0015:30Launch
15:3016:00Launch
15:4516:15Launch

Additional Information

Download Timetable (PDF) Service Status Route Map Access and Facilities

Download Timetable (PDF)

Off-Peak Timetable (30 Nov - 24 Dec 2023)

File Size: 445.786 KB

Off-Peak Timetable (26 Dec 23 - 7 Jan 24)

File Size: 445.596 KB

Off-Peak Timetable (8 Jan 24 - 2 Feb 24)

File Size: 455.344 KB

Off-Peak Timetable (3 Feb 24 - 9 Feb 24)

File Size: 444.687 KB

Off-Peak Timetable (10 Feb - 22 Mar 24)

File Size: 446.987 KB

Lake Spotter's Guide - information on the main things to look out for around the lake

File Size: 862.877 KB

Service Status

green

Warning Image

Tuesday 5 December
(Page updated 9am, Tuesday)

Our services are all back to normal, after the weekend snow. Please note that there is still a lot of snow on the minor roads. Please take extra care when travelling to us today.

Service Status

🔴 RED CRUISE Bowness → Brockhole → Ambleside Waterhead → Bowness
✔️ Services OK
⚠️ Not calling into Brockhole
🟡 YELLOW CRUISEBowness ↔ Lakeside

✔️ Services OK

🔵 ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → Windermere Jetty Museum → Bowness

✔️ Services OK
⚠️ Not calling into Windermere Jetty Museum
🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE from Bowness
Bowness Beach ↻

✔️ Services OK


🕑: We are now running to our winter timetable | We sail every day except Christmas Day.

Route Map

Load Map

Access and Facilities

♿ Disabled Access

Three different types of vessels operate on this route with varying accessibility.

  • ♿ MV Swift - (marked with a green wheelchair icon on our timetables): our most accessible vessel - step-free access from pier to indoor/outdoor seating & accessible toilet
  • ♿ 'Steamers' MV Swan/Teal - (marked with black wheelchair icon on our timetables) - step-free access from pier to indoor/outdoor seating. Toilets down steep steps.
  • ❌ 'Steamer' Tern & modern launches like Miss Cumbria/Miss Lakeland - are not recommended for customers with limited mobility

Please visit our Accessibility section for more information.

Wheelchair users are strongly advised to call us to confirm which vessel is operating on which service, particularly in poor weather conditions. As on rare occasions, the vessels operating each route can change.

🧑‍🦽 Carer goes free policy

If a disabled adult in your group needs a carer, then the carer travels free. For more information about this scheme and to see all the terms and conditions, please read our company policy for disabled passengers.

☕ On-Board Facilities

  • MV Swift - ☕ 🍺🍷🥪Full bar with hot/cold drinks, draught beer/lager & sandwiches/snacks | 🚾Toilets including accessible toilet | 💺Indoor & outdoor seats
  • 'Steamers' Swan/Teal/Tern - ☕ 🍺🍷🥪 Full bar with hot/cold drinks, draught beer/lager & sandwiches/snacks | 🚾 Multiple toilets | 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats
  • Launches like Miss Cumbria/Miss Lakeland - ☕🍾 Bottle bar with hot/cold drinks/snacks | 🚾 Single toilets | 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats

🎫 Conditions of Carriage

Our services are provided in accordance with our Conditions of Carriage.

🚭 No Smoking Policy

For the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew, Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd operates a no smoking policy on-board its vessels, piers and shore premises. This includes electronic cigarettes.

🐶 Dogs

All well behaved dogs are welcome on board and travel for free.

🚲 Bikes

Bikes are welcome on board our larger vessels if space is available. Each bike will cost £1 per journey pier to pier payable on the day of travel.


Upgrade This Cruise

Did you know that you can make more of your cruise by upgrading it? Why not combine your cruise with a local attraction, or enjoy a full day on Windermere with the Freedom of the Lake.

Freedom Of The Lake ®

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

Upgrade Book Now
Annual Pass

Annual Pass

Unlimited cruising for a whole year. | ⚓ Valid on any daytime cruise every day except Christmas Day 📆 364 days

Upgrade