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Discover the beauty of Lake Windermere at your own pace, safely in your own space.

Discover the beauty of Lake Windermere at your own pace, safely in your own space.

Self Drive Motor Boat Hire

Explore Windermere at your own pace with the hire of your own motor boat

Warning Image

COVID-19 Re-opening

Boats can be hired from now until 31 August as we trial our new 'socially-distanced' service.
More dates will be added if it proves popular.

✔️Online booking only | ✔️Staggered departures | ✔️Enhanced cleaning | ✔️Quarantined buoyancy aids. Find out more >

Hire a boat from Bowness Beach or Waterhead for 1 or 2 hour sessions

  • No boating experience is necessary as we provide full safety instructions, a sailing guide to the lake and buoyancy aids for everyone on board. If you get into trouble at any time, our safety boat will come to your rescue.
  • Our boats can be hired for 1 or 2 hours.
  • Contact-less hiring experience in line with social distancing guidelines.

🛒 BOOK NOW | 📄 Download full price list for 1-6 passengers (PDF)

⚠ Please arrive within plenty of time for your booking. Boats are non-refundable or transferable.

A luxury motor boat heading out to explore Windermere

Luxury Motor Boats

Our range of quiet electric self-drive boats available at Bowness and Waterhead and are a great way for you and your family to explore Windermere in comfort.

  • Maximum 6 people (1 person must be over 18).
  • Comfy padded seating.
  • Rollback roof for all weathers.
  • Quiet electric engine and easy to drive.
  • Accompanied children under 16 go FREE.
CostPer extra adultUnder 16s
One hour hire (1 or 2 adults)£35£6FREE
Two hour hire (1 or 2 adults)£58£4FREE


📄 For more hire options and prices, please see our fact sheet. | 🛒 BOOK NOW

Luxury Motor Boat

Luxury Motor Boat

With a quiet, electric motor these easy-to-drive boats are a great way to explore the northern half of Lake Windermere.

📷 View our gallery of self-drive boats

📷 View the interior in our 360° VR tour

If you wish to book, please select a date in the sidebar.

Book Your Boat

Select a location and a date to view prices and sailing times.

How to find us

Bowness Beach or Bowness Dock? What's the difference?

About 400metres 😀

To keep everyone safe and to maintain social-distancing, we've introduced two hire points within the busy village of Bowness.

Both locations are a few minutes' walking distance from the main Bowness Pier (where the main cruises go from).


Waterhead - right next to Ambleside (Waterhead) cruises pier

Our Waterhead hire point is 2 minutes' walk from Ambleside (Waterhead) Pier where the main cruises go from.

ℹ Check your e-ticket after booking for clear instructions and a small map of how to find us.

Restrictions on hire
Please note 🚫 No alcohol allowed on board 🚫 6 persons maximum (including babies) 🚫 No smoking
⚠ Please arrive within plenty of time for your booking. Boats are non-refundable or transferable.

Choose from Bowness Beach, Bowness Dock or Waterhead hire points.

Choose from Bowness Beach, Bowness Dock or Waterhead hire points.