Ferry services
A number of the larger lakes in Cumbria have ferry services
operating on them. Some are all year round services whilst others
are seasonal.
Coniston
Coniston Water is situated in South Cumbria and is accessible
from many of the main tourist centres by public transport. There
are daily
ferries (external link) operating on the lake
throughout most of the year, with a reduced timetable during the
winter. In addition, the National Trust have a restored steam gondola
(external link) operating in summer.
Derwentwater
The Keswick Launch
Company (external link) offers ferry services and cruises
throughout the year. Launches start their journey at Keswick boat
landings and circulate round the lake in either direction, calling
at the seven jetties situated at various points round the shore. A
full trip round the lake takes approximately 50 minutes
Ullswater
Ullswater, the second largest lake in Cumbria, has villages at
either end providing visitor facilities and accommodation. Pooley
Bridge (to the north), Glenridding and Patterdale (both to the
south) can all be reached by public transport, as can the
well-known Aira Force waterfall (to the west). Helvellyn, the third
highest mountain in England, can be climbed from the southern end
of the lake via the well-known 'Striding Edge' and 'Swirral Edge'
ridges. The ferry
service (external link) is now all year round, although there
is a reduced timetable in Winter.
Windermere
Windermere is the largest lake in England and stretches for
around nine miles between Ambleside at the north end and Newby
Bridge in the south. There are frequent lake ferry and cruise
services in summer with a reduced timetable operating in
winter. A cross-lake
car and foot passenger ferry (external link) gives access
to Hill Top (home of Beatrix Potter) and the picturesque village of
Hawkshead, either by road, on foot or by bus in summer.
The lake can be reached by national network rail via Windermere
Station (connects to Oxenholme on the West Coast Main Line) and
various scheduled bus services. At the south end of the lake there
is a connection with the Lakeside & Haverthwaite
Railway (external link), a standard gauge line that often
runs steam-hauled services.