Our Windermere lake guide shows you where to park, where to catch ferries and hire boats, footpaths and cycle routes to explore and lake shore towns with facilities like toilets and cafes.
Windermere Lake Guide
Take to the water to truly experience Windermere. There are different routes and tickets so you can hop off, walk back or just sit back and relax, and watch the mountains, woodlands and islands unfold before you.
See routes, timetables and book tickets at Windermere Lake Cruises.
A car ferry links Ferry Nab on the eastern shore of Windermere with Ferry House, Far Sawrey on the west. For details see Travel around Windermere.
Windermere has arctic charr, brown trout, pike, perch, roach and eels, salmon and sea trout. You will need a rod licence to fish in any freshwater in the Lake District.
Before heading out onto the water, take a look at our short water safety videos and guides.
Things to know before you go, tips to plan a great trip and help us look after the landscape you love.
Ferry Nab is the main public launching area with a public car park, toilet and shower facilities, public jetties, sailing dinghy storage and tender storage. It's the only public slipway available for power boats and large boats.
Small motor boats (five horsepower or less) may launch from Waterhead. Sailing dinghies, canoes and rowing boats may be launched from several areas on National Trust land, Rayrigg Meadow and Beech Hill.
There are several private and commercial launching points, predominately on the eastern shore. These include sailing and power boat clubs, caravan parks, commercial jetties and marinas and several outdoor pursuit and activity centres.
We can help you with booking tickets and attractions, ideas for walks places to visit, and we've got a range of guidbooks, maps and gifts. See us on the south side of Bowness Bay, home to Bowness Information Centre.
