Class action! Schoolkids return for lessons in the Lake District

The first school trip since lockdown has taken place on Windermere with a party of pupils enjoying outdoor lessons involving boats, trains and auto-mobiles.

The class, from Milnthorpe Primary School, paid a fun and educational visit to England’s longest lake thanks to Windermere Lake Cruises which is once again welcoming school groups back on board.

Along with the Windermere cruise - the Covid-secure school trip also involved a ride on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway and a tour of the Lakeland Motor Museum.

Teacher, James Barr says: “After all the restrictions of lockdown it was wonderful to be able to take pupils on an exciting and educational school trip once more and feel confident everyone was in a Covid secure environment throughout the whole day. Staff, parents and children are delighted to once again be planning and participating in exciting school trips.”

With lockdown restrictions easing from May 17, Windermere Lake Cruises is open for educational visits again and looking forward to welcoming school parties from all over Cumbria and beyond.

Windermere Lake Cruises’ Sales & Marketing Director Jennifer Cormack says, “We know how difficult 2020 was for everyone, especially children who have been unable to see family and missed their friends after prolonged periods of school closures.

“So, it is great to be able to offer them an exciting and educational day out in the Lake District once again, with all safety measures in-place, so they can enjoy a cruise and a trip to our sister attraction, the Lakeland Motor Museum.”

In-line with government advice, procedures remain in place to make sure all school visits are pre-booked, with coach parking available exclusively to parties which have booked a cruise. Covid-secure measures also mean all passengers must be pre-booked onto their preferred sailing due to onboard seat allocation plans to ensure social-distancing is adhered-to for those not part of the same household or support bubble.

Just over a year ago Windermere Lake Cruises launched a brand-new vessel, MV Swift, which operated only a handful of services before a second lockdown was introduced. As a result, school parties can still be among the first passengers to enjoy a cruise onboard the new boat.

Special timetables and seating arrangements mean passenger numbers are limited and thorough cleaning procedures remain in place. Hand sanitisation stations are provided both onboard and prior to boarding.

The ‘Transport Trio’ package which today’s school party enjoyed includes entry to the Lakeland Motor Museum, a cruise on Windermere and a journey on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

Other school trip itineraries include:

• The chance to see more than 30,000 motoring exhibits including over 150 magnificent classic cars and motorbikes bikes and other special toy and model displays at the Lakeland Motor Museum, before a short drive to Leighton Hall, where an exciting birds of prey display and an opportunity to play in the gardens awaits.
• For young writers, a brand-new Dove Cottage package has also been launched, combining a cruise on England’s best-known lake with a visit to the home of England’s best-known poets, William Wordsworth, in the nearby village of Grasmere.
• The ‘Lake Swing-der-mere” itinerary combines a cruise with an adventure at Treetop Trek at the Lake District Visitors Centre, Brockhole, where children and their teachers can make their way around an adventure course suspended high in the trees.

Jennifer Cormack continues, “We’re delighted to be working with other great businesses in the area on these fun school trip itineraries. I know first-hand how children certainly have got itchy-feet this year, so we’ve been careful to come up with fun days-out which, when combined with a cruise, will create long-lasting childhood memories.”