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Bus & Boat Ticket (Central Lakes Zone)

Unlimited bus travel in the central Lakes zone and a boat journey across Windermere

For a great day out why not explore The Lake District by bus and boat?

This convenient ticket gets you a single boat journey on our red cruise from Bowness Pier to Waterhead Pier (Ambleside) or vice versa, plus unlimited bus travel in the surrounding area. Why not enjoy the beautiful Lakeland scenery from the open deck of a steamer on Lake Windermere and then hop on the famous open-top 599 bus from Waterhead Pier (Ambleside) back to Bowness?

This ticket gets you unlimited Stagecoach bus travel in the Central Lakes Zone (see basic map below). For a ticket that includes bus travel across Cumbria and North Lancashire, please purchase a Bus & Boat (Explorer Zone).

Illustration of where this ticket can be used across Cumbria

The Central Lakes Zone where this ticket covers.

For a more detailed map and bus route information, please see the full route map.


Timetables

Standard Ticket Prices (valid from Monday 31st October 2022 until Friday 31st March 2023)

  • Prices below are return fares
Adults Children Families
£14.00£9.50£38.00

Additional Information

We're sorry, but this ticket cannot currently be booked online. Please purchase your ticket on any Stagecoach bus service.

  • Valid for unlimited travel on all Stagecoach services within the central lakes zone
  • Valid at all times.
See route options

See route options

Additional Information

Service Status

green

Service Status

🔴 RED CRUISE Bowness → Brockhole → Ambleside Waterhead → Bowness
✔️ Services OK
🟡 YELLOW CRUISE
Bowness ↔ Lakeside

✔️ Services OK

🔵 ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → Windermere Jetty (Museum) → Bowness

✔️ Services OK
🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE from Bowness
Bowness Beach / Bowness Dock ↻

✔️ Services OK

🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE from WaterheadWaterhead (near Ambleside) ↻

✔️ Services OK

🟤 YELLOW CRUISE & STEAM TRAINHaverthwaite ↔ Lakeside ↔ Bowness✔️ Open for Half-Term
🟢 GREEN CRUISEAmbleside → Wray Castle → Brockhole → Ambleside
❌ Opens on 1 April
🚶 WALKERS TICKETBowness → Brockhole → Wray Castle → Walk ↻
❌ Opens on 1 April
🚣 ROW BOAT HIRE from BownessBowness Beach / Bowness Dock ↻❌ Opens on 1 April
🚣 ROW BOAT HIRE from WaterheadWaterhead (near Ambleside) ↻❌ Opens on 1 April

CROSS LAKES SHUTTLE

Bowness ↔ Ferry House❌ Closed for winter
FELL FOOT FERRYLakeside ↔ Fell Foot
❌ Closed for winter

🕑: We are now running to our winter timetable. More routes and services available after Easter 2023 📄: Download timetable in PDF (1.5Mb)

Our route

Load Map

Access and Facilities

♿ Disabled Access

Four different types of vessels operate our services with varying accessibility.

  • ♿ MV Swift - (marked with a green wheelchair icon on our timetables): our most accessible vessel - step-free access from pier to indoor/outdoor seating & accessible toilet
  • ♿ 'Steamers' MV Swan/Teal - (marked with black wheelchair icon on our timetables) - step-free access from pier to indoor/outdoor seating. Toilets down steep steps.
  • ❌ 'Steamer' Tern & modern launches like Miss Cumbria/Miss Lakeland - are not recommended for customers with limited mobility
  • ❌ Traditional wooden launches like Queen of the Lake - are not recommended for customers with limited mobility

Please visit our Accessibility section for more information.

Wheelchair users are strongly advised to call us to confirm which vessel is operating on which service, particularly in poor weather conditions. As on rare occasions, the vessels operating each route can change.


🧑‍🦽 Carer goes free policy

If a disabled adult in your group needs a carer, then the carer travels free. For more information about this scheme and to see all the terms and conditions, please read our company policy for disabled passengers.


☕ On-Board Facilities

  • MV Swift - ☕ 🍺🍷🥪Full bar with hot/cold drinks, draught beer/lager & sandwiches/snacks | 🚾Toilets including accessible toilet | 💺Indoor & outdoor seats
  • 'Steamers' Swan/Teal/Tern - ☕ 🍺🍷🥪 Full bar with hot/cold drinks, draught beer/lager & sandwiches/snacks | 🚾 Multiple toilets | 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats
  • Launches like Miss Cumbria/Miss Lakeland - 🍾 Bottle bar with hot/cold drinks/snacks | 🚾 Single toilets | 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats
  • Traditional wooden launches - 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats

🎫 Conditions of Carriage

Our services are provided in accordance with our Conditions of Carriage.


🚭 No Smoking Policy

For the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew, Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd operates a no smoking policy on-board its vessels, piers and shore premises. This includes electronic cigarettes.


🐶 Dogs

All well behaved dogs are welcome on board and travel for free.


🚲 Bikes

Bikes are welcome on board our larger vessels if space is available. Each bike will cost £1 per journey pier to pier payable on the day of travel.

Upgrade this cruise

Get unlimited boat travel by upgrading your ticket to a 'Freedom of the Lake' ticket entitling you to 24 hours worth of travel.

Freedom Of The Lake ®

Freedom Of The Lake ®

Unlimited boat travel for 24 hours on all routes | ⚓ See the full lake on this ticket: Lakeside ↔ Bowness ↔ Ambleside in 🕘 over 3 hours

Upgrade Book Now
Bus & Boat Ticket (Explorer Zone)

Bus & Boat Ticket (Explorer Zone)

Unlimited bus travel in South Lakes/North Lancashire plus a single half-lake cruise. | 🕑 24 hours

Upgrade