Take the green cruise to Wray to explore the beautiful lakeshore grounds
Categories: Days Out
Explore the quieter side of Lake Windermere with scenic views, lakeshore walks and ground tours
Situated on the quiet western shore of Windermere, the scenic grounds of this Victorian neo-gothic castle are managed by The National Trust. The castle is undergoing a major refurbishment in summer 2025, but there's still plenty of reasons to visit:
- The beautiful grounds and parkland are open all summer from 8am to 8pm. FREE entry for all.
- Grounds and JOEY'S Cafe is open 7 days a week 9:30am - 4:30pm
- Join a free Walk and talk tour of the grounds twice a day at 10:30am and 2:30pm.
- You can't go inside the castle, but you can get up close and explore the exterior of this beautiful building.
Boat visitors can explore the lake-shore grounds for free, follow guided trails and discover hidden shingle beaches, lawns and some of the finest views over Windermere.
Get there on the Green Cruise
(Ambleside > Wray > Brockhole > Ambleside)
The easiest way to reach Wray is by boat with 14 boats arriving and departing daily during peak season. Wray Jetty is only 15 minutes away from Ambleside (Watehead) Pier, so why not ditch the car and enjoy a cruise on Windermere?
Wray Jetty is a 10-minute walk up a gravel track to the castle and grounds. See directions below.
Combine your visit with a 4-mile walk down the quiet lake-shore to Claife Viewing Station.
Our Walkers Ticket combines three lake cruises and a walk to create a circular route of Windermere. The route passes through the grounds of both National Trust Wray and Claife Viewing Station, so you can visit both on foot and on boat.
Find out more about our walkers ticket
How to find Wray Jetty
The Wray grounds, cafe, campsite and jetty are all easy to find, but just in case you have trouble, here are their exact locations using What Three Words & Google references:
- 🏰 Wray Grounds 📍What 3 Words - ///desks.ivory.preheated📍 Google Maps - C22P+68 Ambleside
- 🛳️ Wray Jetty 📍 What 3 Words - ///spilling.noun.drill📍 Google Maps - C23P+9Q, Ambleside
- ⛺ Wray Campsite 📍 What 3 Words - ///icon.also.confetti 📍 Google Maps - C23M+P3 Ambleside
