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Red Cruise

Sail from Bowness to Ambleside or vice versa

Bowness → (Brockhole) → (Windermere Jetty Museum) → Ambleside → 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, Brockhole or Windermere Jetty Museum 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 Brockhole and Windermere Jetty Museum 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.

Warning Image

Brockhole - closing early all summer

Brockhole - The Lake District Visitor Centre has ammended its opening hours for 2024. Please note that the facilities close at 17:00, with the site closing at 18:00.
Our boat arrivals/departures at 17:30 and 18:15 will still go ahead and our ticket offices will still be manned after the park closes.


If you're planning a visist 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 Brockhole when travelling southbound from Ambleside, simply return from Brockhole to Bowness via Ambleside..

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.
Adults Children Families
£17.50£10.50£50.00

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, Brockhole or Windermere Jetty Museum and is valid on all scheduled Red Cruise departure times and is not time specific.

Launch services departing Bowness stop at Brockhole 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
09:5010:25MV Swift
10:2010:50Steamer
10:4011:20Launch
11:1011:40Steamer
11:3012:10MV Swift
12:2012:50Steamer
13:0013:40MV Swift
13:3014:00Steamer
14:0014:40Launch
14:3015:00Steamer
14:5015:30MV Swift
15:3516:05Steamer
16:0016:40Launch
16:4017:10Steamer
17:1017:45MV Swift
17:5518:30Launch

Today's sailings from Ambleside

Depart AmblesideArrive BownessVessel type
09:5010:20Launch
10:3511:05MV Swift
11:0011:30Steamer
11:3012:00Launch
12:0012:30Steamer
12:2012:50MV Swift
13:1013:40Steamer
13:5014:20MV Swift
14:1514:45Steamer
14:5015:20Launch
15:1515:45Steamer
15:4016:10MV Swift
16:2016:50Steamer
16:5017:20Launch
17:1517:45Steamer
17:5018:20MV Swift

Additional 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 ↻⚠️
Keep checking back
🚣 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.

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 £2 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