Explore Windermere at your own pace with the hire of your own motor boat.
Our quiet, electric self-drive boats are an excellent way for you and your family to explore Windermere in comfort.
Maximum 6 people (1 person must be 18 or over).
Comfy padded seating.
Rollback roof for all weather.
Quiet, green electric engine and boats are easy to drive.
Accompanied children under 16 go FREE.
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.
Please arrive within plenty of time for your booking. Boats are non-refundable or transferable.
Standard Ticket Prices
1 Hour Slot£44.00
2 Hour Slot£78.00
£40 deposit is taken when booking, that gets refunded when you bring the boat safely back on time: 5-7 day bank process time
Cruise Map
Cruise Map
Departure Points
Start this cruise from any of these locations
Located at the northern tip of Windermere, our Waterhead hire point offers a peaceful and scenic start to your self-drive boat trip.
Our Waterhead hire point's closest postcode is LA22 0EY and is situated just 2-minutes' walk from the main Ambleside (Waterhead) Pier where the cruises go from. It's right outside Waterhead Coffee Shop on the front.
There is a small car park at the main pier, but you will also find ample pay-and-display parking within a 5-minute walk. Waterhead is also easily accessible by bus.
Conveniently located right next to the main Bowness Pier (LA23 3HQ), our Bowness Beach hire point is the only location open all year round. It's also the closest to Bowness village centre with the many, cafes, shops and pubs.
This hire point is easy to find; simply look for our wooden huts and red and white boats on the shore behind the Old England Hotel.
Our Bowness Dock hire point is the ideal spot to start your self-drive boat adventure. Located just a 2-minute walk from the bustling Bowness Pier (LA23 3HQ), you'll find our fleet of red and white boats waiting behind the amusement arcade and the Lake View Bar & Grill.
Bowness Dock is the closest hire point to the main car parks, as well as a great starting point for exploring the many cafes, shops, and pubs in the village.
Located at the peaceful southernmost tip of Windermere, our Lakeside hire point is a great place to begin your self-drive boat journey.
Just a 2-minute walk from the main Lakeside Pier (LA12 8AS), you'll find our red and white boats waiting directly in front of the Lakeside Hotel & Spa.
A reasonably-priced pay-and-display car park is right outside, but public transport is limited with the nearest bus stop 1.5 miles away via a footpath to Newby Bridge.
As a family of four we had a fantastic time on the boat. Easy to use and lots of friendly and helpful people showing you everything plus the weather was brilliant so couldn’t have gone any better. Would highly recommend this and cannot wait to come back now thank you very much. ~Liam. Google Reviews.
Great trip on the lake in the boat. Very careful about safety instructions and spotlessly clean and well looked after boat. Highly recommended! ~Fi M. Google Reviews.
Highlight of our visit was taking a boat out around the lake. The staff were super friendly, informative, helpful and they were great with our dog who was even allowed on board! Beautiful way to see the lake and thankfully we were blessed with the weather. Would 100% recommend. Laura McNamara. Google Reviews
Fantastic time hiring a boat for an hour. Third year in a row we have done it and it's always excellent. Book online as it does get fully booked. Easy, swift service once we arrive and great staff. Highly recommend! ~Morgan Ditchburn. Google Reviews.
As a family of four we had a fantastic time on the boat. Easy to use and lots of friendly and helpful people showing you everything plus the weather was brilliant so couldn’t have gone any better. Would highly recommend this and cannot wait to come back now thank you very much. ~Liam. Google Reviews.
Great trip on the lake in the boat. Very careful about safety instructions and spotlessly clean and well looked after boat. Highly recommended! ~Fi M. Google Reviews.
Highlight of our visit was taking a boat out around the lake. The staff were super friendly, informative, helpful and they were great with our dog who was even allowed on board! Beautiful way to see the lake and thankfully we were blessed with the weather. Would 100% recommend. Laura McNamara. Google Reviews
Fantastic time hiring a boat for an hour. Third year in a row we have done it and it's always excellent. Book online as it does get fully booked. Easy, swift service once we arrive and great staff. Highly recommend! ~Morgan Ditchburn. Google Reviews.