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Boat services across the Lake District
There are public boat services on four of the main Lake District lakes; Windermere, Derwent Water, Ullswater and Coniston Water. They all provide wonderful scenic boat cruises, often used for pleasure but most also connect with buses or trains allowing onward travel across the area.
There are descriptions of each lake, the various cruises on offer and where they stop along the way. The interactive maps show all boat stops on each lake. Where the stop is near a town or attraction, a link is included for further details.
Many cruises operate throughout the year with increased frequency between Easter and November. There are links to cruise operator websites for current timetables and further information.
Current timetables: Winter 2021/22 timetables. See below for further details and timetable links.
Select Lake District lake
| Windemere | Derwent Water |
| Ullswater | Coniston Water |
Windermere
England’s largest lake at over 10 miles long and up to a mile wide. The northern end of the lake is the most spectacular, backed by Lake District mountains, but the low hills that surround the rest of the lake are also very attractive. The central area of the lake around Bowness has several islands and is often busy with boats. The shoreline at Bowness can also get very busy, as can Ambleside at the northern end. Both towns are popular destinations for visitors with plenty of attractions. The rest of the lakeshore is relatively peaceful, particularly the western side where there is some good walking and cycling along the shore, especially between Wray Castle and Ferry House.
South Cumbria beyond the Lakes
Attractions summary
Select attraction for further detail
England’s largest lake at over 10 miles long and up to a mile wide. The northern end of the lake is the most spectacular, backed by Lake District mountains, but the low hills that surround the rest of the lake are also very attractive. The central area of the lake around Bowness has several islands and is often busy with boats. The shoreline at Bowness can also get very busy, as can Ambleside at the northern end. Both towns are popular destinations for visitors with plenty of attractions. The rest of the lakeshore is relatively peaceful, particularly the western side where there is some good walking and cycling along the shore, especially between Wray Castle and Ferry House.
South Cumbria beyond the Lakes Attractions summary Select attraction for further detail
Derwent Water
Affectionately called ‘the Queen of the Lakes’, it is certainly in an unbeatable position nestling in the jaws of Borrowdale with fabulous views in all directions. Wherever you look there are great sights, Skiddaw, Cat Bells, Borrowdale and Lodore Falls to name but a few. The main centre is Keswick which also has some wonderful lakeshore access and is the base for lake cruises. Away from Keswick much of the shoreline has public access with a popular 10 mile walk around the whole lake. The busier shore is the eastern side, mainly because the valley road runs alongside making access easy. The western shore is more peaceful but still easily accessible by boat.
Keswick Launch
The Keswick Launch cruises around Derwent Water calling at the following seven jetties; Keswick, Ashness Gate (Ashness Bridge), Lodore, High Brandelhow, Low Brandelhow, Hawes End, Nichol End. Cruises start at Keswick and alternatively travel clockwise and anticlockwise around the lake.
The full cruise takes approx 50 minutes and you can hop on and off at any jetty. This is ideal if you want to combine a cruise with walking a section of the lakeshore footpath.
Frequent cruises per day between March and November and February school holidays. Weekend cruises at other times but can be closed during winter, check website.
Ullswater
A beautiful lake of many contrasts. The northern end is quite green with low hills, the southern end is very mountainous and spectacular. The western shore has a main road running alongside it, the eastern shore is less accessible and quite tranquil. There are two lakeshore villages where people tend to congregate, Pooley Bridge at the northern end of the lake and Glenridding at the southern end. Other than these, public lakeshore access areas are mostly found at various roadside locations along the western shore. The eastern shore has some fabulous footpaths but shoreline access is limited. The Ullswater Way is a relatively new 20 mile walk all around the lake. A stunning and demanding walk but you can do shorter sections of it as described in the guide.
Ullswater Steamers
You can cruise the length of Ullswater lake on Ullswater Steamers which takes an hour each way, stopping at Glenridding, Howtown and Pooley Bridge. Or you can take the Aira Force Shuttle boat between Glenridding and Aira Force. Frequent cruises per day between Easter and November, less outside that period. Daily cruises all year except 24th/25th December. A popular day trip is to combine a boat cruise with a walk between Pooley Bridge and Howtown, Glenridding and Howtown or Glenridding and Aira Force.
Coniston Water
A popular lake for boating and scene of one of the most famous boating incidents in history – Donald Campbell’s ill fated water world speed record attempt in 1967. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking with Coniston mountain range to the north, Grizedale Forest to the east and bracken covered Common to the west. The main centre is at Coniston village, situated between the lake and Coniston Old Man mountain. Lake Road runs approx 0.5 miles from the village to Coniston jetty which is the centre for lake activities. There are many fabulous lakeshore access points around the lake, all easily accessible from the jetties where the cruises stop and from the footpaths and roads which follow the lakeshore.
<h3><span style=”color: #ffff00;”>Coniston Launch</span></h3>
<img class=”size-medium wp-image-5204″ src=”https://lakedistrictonboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Coniston-Launch-300×225.jpg” alt=”” width=”300″ height=”225″ /> Coniston Launch
<a href=”http://www.conistonlaunch.co.uk/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Coniston Launch</a> operate a number of different cruises around Coniston Water, starting from Coniston jetty.
<strong><a href=”http://www.conistonlaunch.co.uk/timetable.htm” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Northern Cruise.</a></strong> Cruise around the northern half of Coniston Water, calling at <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Coniston,</a> Coniston Inn (formerly Waterhead), Torver, <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Brantwood.</a> There are regular cruises every day between February and November, outside that period a few cruises at weekends only. 45 minute cruise. Cruise forms part of the <a href=”https://www.mountain-goat.com/Transport-Services/525-Cross-Lakes-Experience” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>’Cross Lakes experience'</a> connecting with the <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/transport/lake-district-buses/”>505 bus service</a> at Coniston Inn. This jetty is closer to a bus stop than Coniston jetty.
<strong><a href=”http://www.conistonlaunch.co.uk/timetable.htm” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Wild Cat Island Cruise.</a></strong> Seasonal cruise around most of Coniston Water, passing Wild Cat Island from Swallows and Amazons. Calling at <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Coniston,</a> Torver, Sunny Bank, <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Brantwood.</a> A few cruises per day from Easter to end October. 60 minute cruise.
<strong><a href=”http://www.conistonlaunch.co.uk/timetable.htm” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Southern Lake Themed Cruise.</a></strong> Seasonal cruise around the whole of Coniston Water, calling at <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Coniston,</a> Torver, Lake Bank, Sunny Bank, <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Brantwood.</a> One cruise per day, Monday to Thursday from Easter to end September. Alternate themed trips, Swallows and Amazons or Campbells on Coniston. 90 minute cruise.
<h3><span style=”color: #ffff00;”>Steam Yacht Gondola</span></h3>
<img class=”size-medium wp-image-2088″ src=”https://lakedistrictonboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Coniston-Water-Gondola-300×225.jpg” alt=”SY Gondola & Brantwood” width=”300″ height=”225″ /> SY Gondola & Brantwood
The famous and beautiful <a href=”https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Steam Yacht Gondola</a> is a rebuilt Victorian steam powered yacht, originally built in 1859 and now operated by the National Trust. There are 3 cruises on offer between Easter and end October but none outside that period. Cruises start from Coniston jetty and include commentary.
<strong><a href=”https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola/features/head-of-the-lake-cruises” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>North Lake Cruise.</a></strong> Seasonal cruise around the northern half of Coniston Water from <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Coniston</a> with request stops at <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Brantwood</a> and Monk Coniston. One cruise per day between Easter and end October. 1 hour cruise.
<strong><a href=”https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola/features/south-lake-cruise-” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>South Lake Cruise.</a></strong> Seasonal cruise around the central part of Coniston Water from <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Coniston</a> with request stops at Parkamoor and <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Brantwood</a>. One cruise per day between Easter and end October, two cruises per day in high season. 1 hour cruise.
<strong><a href=”https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola/features/full-lake-cruises” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Full Lake Cruise.</a></strong> Seasonal cruise around the whole of Coniston Water on special themed cruises from <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Coniston</a> with request stops at Lake Bank, Parkamoor, <a href=”https://www.lakedistrictonboard.com/attractions/south-west-lakes-attractions/”>Brantwood</a> and Monk Coniston. One cruise per day between Easter and end October. 1 hour 40 minutes cruise.