Windermere: Getting around
Millions of people visit the Windermere area each year. The A591 is one of the main routes into the Lake District, and there are car parks close to the lake shore. Or ditch the car in favour of the bus, train, cycle, boat or just your own two feet!
By bus
Buses stop at Windermere train station, Troutbeck, Waterhead, Ambleside, Lakeside and Newby Bridge. Frequent buses are:
- #599 Windermere to Bowness
- #555/556 Windermere Kendal Ambleside Grasmere and Keswick
- #618 Lakeside, Newby Bridge and Ulverston
- #541 Winster, Crosthwaite and Kendal
- #108A Troutbeck and Ullswater
By train
Windermere train station is the end of the branch line and has direct trains which run as far south as Manchester Airport. You can transfer at Oxenholme The Lake District (near Kendal) on the main West Coast line to the Windermere branch line. Oxenholme to Windermere takes approximately half an hour.
Useful public transport links
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- Cumbria County Council bus timetables
- First TransPennine Express Trains
- Traveline for bus, train and coach information
- National Rail for timetables
- NorthernRail
- Virgin Trains serving Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle
- Trainline for online tickets
- Lakeside and Haverthwaite preserved railway
- Ravenglass and Eskdale preserved railway
- Manchester Airport Guide
By bike
Try out pedal power for a whole new perspective of Windermere! Hire bikes from:
- Country Lanes Cycling Holidays (opens in new window) (01539 444544) next door to Windermere station.
- Windermere Canoe and Kayak on Ferry Nab Road, Bowness (015394 44451)
- Ambleside Mountain Bikes (015394 33592) at Ghyllside Cycles, The Slack, Ambleside
- Bike Treks (015394 31245) at The Old Post Office Buildings, Millans Park, Ambleside
Ferry
A car ferry links Ferry Nab on the eastern shore of Windermere with Ferry House, Far Sawrey on the west. It's a handy shortcut for Hawkshead, Grizedale forest and Kendal.
It is a drive-on, drive-off service where car passengers stay in their cars and an attendant comes round to collect the fare once the ferry is moving.
There are 18 spaces and it is a popular service so do expect queues during busy periods, especially in the summer.
For more details, download Cumbria County Council's leaflet The Other Shore: The Windermere Ferry - check out Cumbria County Council website (opens in new window).
Cruises
Take to the water to truly experience Windermere. The many different options and tickets allow you to hop off, walk back or just sit back and watch the mountains, woodlands and islands unfold before you. To plan your own voyage of discovery, take a look at Windermere Lake Cruises (opens new window).
Parking
If possible, please try to leave the car at home and use public transport to help keep the Lake District special.
If you're heading off into the rest of the National Park, keep an eye on the fuel gauge as in some of the more remote areas, filling stations are few and far between.
Our car parks around Windermere
Locations:
Beech Hill - To the west of the A592, 3 miles south of Bowness. Gives access by foot to the shore of Windermere. (Map reference 389 921)
Brockhole - At the Lake District Visitor Centre, to the west of the A591, 2 miles north of Windermere village on the road to Ambleside. (Map reference 390 010)
Waterhead - To the east of the road which links the A591 to Coniston and Hawkshead and passes the head of Windermere, opposite the steamer pier and a mile south of the village of Ambleside. (Map reference 376 033). Credit cards accepted.
The red drawing pin symbols shows their location on the map below.
Click a map control tool such as zoom in, move your mouse and click on the map. You can use the arrows to move around the map. Loading maps can take time, so please be patient!
Pay and display prices:
Payable every day 8am - 8pm including Bank Holidays
- Up to 1 hour: £1.50
- Up to 2 hours: £2.50
- Up to 4 hours: £4.50
- Up to 12 hours: £6.50
- Weekly for this car park: £25
Want even more visitor information?
Visit Golakes (opens in new window), the official website of the tourist board for The Lake District and Cumbria. Browse and book accommodation and attractions online and see what's on in the area.
