Windermere Lake Cruises, Waterhead

About

Discover Windermere: Cruises from Waterhead pier

Our northernmost pier at Ambleside (Waterhead) is set in a beautiful location with arguably the best views of the Lake District Fells from the water. Our pier is located half a mile (0.8km) from Ambleside village centre and is an easy flat walk, or there are regular buses from the village to right outside the pier (stop: Waterhead Inn for Pier).

Windermere Lake Cruises offers sight-seeing tours every day except Christmas Day (25 December)

Visitors to Waterhead Pier in Ambleside can enjoy relaxing cruises on historic Victorian ‘steamers’ like MV Tern, Swan, and Teal, as well as comfortable modern launches that operate year‑round (except Christmas Day). With warm indoor cabins, open decks, cafés, bars, and onboard toilets, every vessel is designed for a comfortable journey, complemented by brief commentary highlighting local history, wildlife, and landmarks. Perfectly positioned on the northern shore of Windermere, Waterhead Pier offers an easy blend of lake cruising with the charm of Ambleside’s lakeside cafés, pubs, and scenic shoreline.

Top ways to explore from Waterhead pier:

• Red Cruise: A popular 75-minute scenic journey connecting Waterhead (Ambleside) to Bpwness.
• Freedom of the Lake® Ticket: Visitors can purchase 24 hours of unlimited ‘hop-on, hop-off’ access across all routes, allowing exploration of the lake at their own pace.
• Self-Drive Boat Hire: Adventurers can take control and hire an electric motorboat or a traditional rowing boat for a private and memorable lake experience.

Visitors can find their ideal adventure and discover the majestic scenery of the Lake District National Park from a unique vantage point.

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More boats and routes in the summer

During the peak season (Easter – October), Windermere Lake Cruises visits more piers and specialist cruises are available:

• Walkers Ticket – a unique circular route of Windermere that combines boat and 5-mile walk.
• Green Cruise – this seasonal service (April – October) connects Wray Castle on the western shore, Brockhole – The Lake District Visitor Centre and Ambleside. Disembark at Wray Castle to explore the grounds and family-friendly attraction or start our Walkers Ticket – a circular route by boat and footpath that lets you experience the quieter side of England’s Largest lake.

Hop off to explore

All Windermere Lake Cruises services allow you to hop off to explore each pier and then catch a later boat back. Visit a lakeshore attraction with discounted cruise/combined tickets or explore the many scenic Lakeland walks that start/finish around each pier.

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Private Hire

All Windermere Lake Cruises (WLC) vessels can be hired privately and can carry groups of two to over 200 people. Plan a wedding, celebration or business meeting with a difference by viewing the private charter section of the we WLC website.

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Access for all

The cruise fleet consists of both modern and historic vessels. If you have limited mobility, some vessels and routes offer better access than others.

Please visit our accessibility guide for more information:

View Our Accessibility Policy

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