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Discover the beauty of Lake Windermere at your own pace.

Discover the beauty of Lake Windermere at your own pace.

Self-Drive Electric Motor Boat Hire

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

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Autumn/Winter Opening

  • Bowness Beach - book now for up to 4 April 2025 (except Christmas Day - 25 Dec)
  • Waterhead - open every day until 3 November
  • Bowness Dock - open Saturdays & Sundays until 3 November.

Easy-to-drive boats available from Bowness Beach, Bowness Dock & Waterhead

  • 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 and can take a maximum of six people.
  • £40 deposit is taken when booking, that gets refunded when you bring the boat safely back on time* (*5-7 day bank process time)
  • Please book online - we can't take bookings over the phone.
  • Dogs are welcome on board
  • 📍Which hire point is closest to me?

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.

About our boats

Our quiet, electric self-drive boats at Bowness Beach, Bowness Dock and Waterhead are an excellent 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 weather.
  • Quiet, green electric engine and boats are easy to drive.
  • Accompanied children under 16 go FREE.
CostPer extra adultUnder 16s
One-hour hire (1 or 2 adults)£42£6FREE
Two-hour hire (1 or 2 adults)£74£6FREE


🌞 Early Bird Special: Look out for discounted hire on some of the early morning slots | £34/1 hour or £60/2 hours
🛒 BOOK NOW | 📄 Full pricelist

Electric Motor Boat

Electric 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

Please be aware that you will need to arrive 15 minutes before your booked slot for safety training and lifejacket fitting.

A £40.00 deposit will be taken when you book. This will be returned to you if the boat is returned on time and isn't damaged.

  • Bookings are limited to a maximum group size of six, a valid ticket must be purchased for every person traveling, including children of any age.
  • Child prices are valid for children aged 15 years and under.

Book Your Boat

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

Book Now

How to find us in Bowness or Waterhead

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

To beat queues and waiting times, we've have two hire points within the busy village of Bowness.
Both are at the same postcode - LA23 3HQ and only about 400metres apart 😀.

  • Bowness Beach is behind the Old England Hotel - look for wooden huts & red & white boats (📍 Google) (📍 W3W)
  • Bowness Dock is behind the amusement arcade/coin casino - look for our red & white boats (📍 Google) (📍 W3W)

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. Its nearest postcode is LA22 0EY. (📍 Google) (📍 W3W)

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


Restrictions on hire

  • 🚫 No alcohol allowed on board
  • 🚷 6 persons maximum (including babies)
  • 🚭 No smoking
  • 🦺 Buoyancy aids supplied range in size from babies (10Kg and above) to XXXL adults. Sorry no dog buoyancy aids available.
  • 🐕 Dogs allowed on board
  • 🕑 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.

Book Now