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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

Easy-to-drive boats available from Bowness Beach & 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?

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📄 Download full price list for 1-6 passengers (PDF)

âš  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 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 Discount - £34/1 hour or £60/2 hours at 9:30/9:45am from Bowness Baech & Bowness Dock
🛒 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.

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How to find us in Bowness or Waterhead

Bowness Beach - right next to Bowness cruises pier, LA23 3HQ

Only our Bowness Beach hire point is open all year. Bowness Dock is only open during our peak summer season.

  • Bowness Beach is behind the Old England Hotel - look for wooden huts & red & white boats (📍 Google) (📍 W3W)

The beach hire-point is a few minutes' walking distance from the main Bowness Pier (where the main cruises go from).


Waterhead - right next to Ambleside (Waterhead) cruises pier, LA22 0EY

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 or Waterhead hire points.

Choose from Bowness Beach or Waterhead hire points.

Book Now