Explore Windermere
Choose your boat:
Choose your boat:
Wray
Ash Landing
Bowness
Ambleside (Waterhead)Scenic walk and boat trips
Leave the car behind and enjoy a beautiful walk around Windermere. The walker's ticket combines 3 boat cruises with a stunning 4.5 mile walk along the quiet western shore and is a great day out for the whole family.
Along the way, you'll enjoy breathtaking views of the lake, peaceful woodland paths, and the chance to explore highlights such as Claife Viewing Station (free entry, National Trust), Wray Castle estate grounds (free access, National Trust) and uninterrupted views across the water.
This circular route returns you to your starting point by boat later in the day. Please allow over four hours to enjoy the experience fully and come prepared with suitable outdoor clothing and footwear.
Route: Ambleside → Wray → Walk to Ash Landing → Bowness → Ambleside
Start at Ambleside Waterhead and take the traditional wooden launch to Wray Jetty. From there, follow the lakeshore path south to Ash Landing, with optional stops at Wray Castle Estate and Claife Viewing Station.
Catch the Cross Lakes Shuttle to Bowness, then return to Ambleside on the Red Cruise.
Route: Bowness → Ambleside → Wray → Walk to Ash Landing → Bowness
Begin in Bowness-on-Windermere and take the Red Cruise north to Ambleside. From there, change boats to join the traditional wooden launch heading to Wray Jetty.
Follow the same walk from Wray to Ash Landing, with the option to stop at Claife Viewing Station. Once you reach Ash Landing, take the shuttle boat back to Bowness to complete your circular lake cruise and walk.
Route options also available from Brockhole and Windermere Jetty Museum
You can also begin your cruise and walk from Brockhole or the Windermere Jetty Museum, following the same route via Ambleside and Wray.
Please note that car parking is limited at both locations.
(You can choose to start your circular route from Bowness, Ambleside, Brockhole or Windermere Jetty Museum).
Start your day with a cruise to Ambleside (Waterhead) and change for the small boat to Wray. Start your walk from Wray and then catch your final boat back to Bowness from Ash Landing.
(1) 🛳️ Depart Bowness for Ambleside (Red Cruise) | 🛳️ Arrive Ambleside | (2) 🛳️Depart Ambleside for Wray (Green Cruise) | (3) 🚶 Start your walk from Wray to Ash Landing (walk takes 2hrs+) | (4) 🛳️ Depart Ash Landing (Cross Lakes Shuttle) | 🛳️ Arrive back in Bowness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
09:50 | 10:25 | 11:00 | 11:20 | Faster walk 14:10 Slower walk 15:10 | 14:25 15:25 |
10:15 | 10:45 | 11:00 | 11:20 | Faster walk 14:10 Slower walk 15:10 | 14:25 15:25 |
10:40 | 11:20 | 12:15 | 12:35 | Faster walk 15:10 Slower walk 16:10 | 15:25 16:25 |
11:10 | 11:40 | 12:15 | 12:35 | Faster walk 15:10 Slower walk 16:10 | 15:25 16:25 |
4.5 mile walk to Ash Landing along the scenic lake-shore forest path. Download map (PDF)
Join your 1st boat of the day to Ambleside, then change at Ambleside for Green Cruise to Wray , walk and then 2 boats back to Brockhole
(1) 🛳️ Leave Brockhole for Ambleside (arrive Ambleside) | (2) 🛳️ Leave Ambleside for Wray on Green Cruise | (3) 🚶 Start your walk from Wray to Ash Landing (walk takes 2hrs+) | (4) 🛳️Depart Ash Landing | 🛳️ Arrive Bowness | (5) 🛳️ Depart Bowness (Red Cruise) (arrive Brockhole) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10:10 (arr.10:25) (Red Cruise) | 11:00 | 11:20 | Faster walk 13:35 Slower walk 14:35 | 13:50 14:50 | 14:00 (arr. 14:25) 14:50 (arr. 15:15) |
| 10:20 (Green Cruise) | 10:40 | 11:00 | Faster walk 14:15 Slower walk 15:05 | 14:25 15:25 | 14:50 16:00 |
| 11:05 (Red Cruise) | 11:20 | 12:15 | Faster walk 15:05 Slower walk 15:55 | 15:25 16:15 | 16:00 17:10 |
| 11:30 (Green Cruise) | 11:50 | 12:15 | Faster walk 15:05 Slower walk 15:55 | 15:25 16:15 | 16:00 17:10 |
| 11:55 (Red Cruise) | 12:10 | 12:15 | Faster walk 15:05 Slower walk 15:55 | 15:25 16:15 | 16:00 17:10 |
4.5 mile walk to Ash Landing along the scenic lake-shore forest path. Download map (PDF).
Take Green Cruise to Wray → Walk from Wray to Ash Landing → Take the Cross Lakes Shuttle from Ash Landing to Bowness → Take the Red Cruise to Ambleside
| Depart Ambleside (Green Cruise) | Arrive Wray | Walk starts at Wray to Ash Landing (walk takes 2hrs+) | Depart Ash Landing (Cross Lakes Shuttle) | Arrive at Bowness | Depart from Bowness (Red Cruise) | Arrive Ambleside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:50 | 10:05 | 10:10 | 12:40 | 13:00 | 13:30 | 14:00 |
| 11:00 | 11:15 | 11:20 | 14:15 | 14:35 | 14:50 | 15:30 |
| 12:15 | 12:30 | 12:35 | 15:05 | 15:25 | 15:35 | 16:05 |
| 13:45 | 14:00 | 14:05 | 16:40 | 17:00 | 17:10 | 17:45 |
4.5 mile walk to Ash Landing along the scenic lake-shore forest path. Download map (PDF).
Take Red Cruise to Ambleside → Change to Green Cruise to Wray → Walk to Ash Landing → Boat to Bowness → then back to Windermere Jetty
| Depart Jetty (Red Cruise) | Arrive Ambleside | Depart Ambleside (Green Cruise) | Start your walk from Wray to Ash Landing (walk takes 2hrs+) | Depart Ash Landing for Bowness (Cross Lakes Shuttle) | Depart Bowness for Windermere Jetty (Red Cruise) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:50 | 11:20 | 12:15 | 12:35 | 15:05 | 16:00 |
4.5 mile walk to Ash Landing along the scenic lake-shore forest path. Download map (PDF)
Had a great day on and around Lake Windermere. Purchased the walker’s tickets which were excellent value for money. The weather was amazing, the boats on time, clean and welcoming and the ability to walk part of the lake’s west coast was just great. Definitely recommend this for a long day out around lake Windermere. Only comment would be finding Ash Landing was a bit tricky but that’s not down to the boat company! ~ TJHar. TripAdvisor.
Had a fantastic trip from Bowness to Ash Landing and back today. The crew were very informative and great fun and made the trip even better! Rachel in particular, who helped us plan a route for our walk and was incredibly helpful and insightful, thank you very much! We had a great time and felt very welcomed. Thanks again:). ~ ThomasB. TripAdvisor.
Had a great day on and around Lake Windermere. Purchased the walker’s tickets which were excellent value for money. The weather was amazing, the boats on time, clean and welcoming and the ability to walk part of the lake’s west coast was just great. Definitely recommend this for a long day out around lake Windermere. Only comment would be finding Ash Landing was a bit tricky but that’s not down to the boat company! ~ TJHar. TripAdvisor.
Had a fantastic trip from Bowness to Ash Landing and back today. The crew were very informative and great fun and made the trip even better! Rachel in particular, who helped us plan a route for our walk and was incredibly helpful and insightful, thank you very much! We had a great time and felt very welcomed. Thanks again:). ~ ThomasB. TripAdvisor.
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.
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.
