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Current Service Status: amber
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Great North Swim Special - Ambleside Start

An easy way to get to the start/finish line of the Great North Swim

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2025 Event - Available in April

We're just updating the online shop for this ticket. Tickets will be available to purchase from mid April 2025.
Archive information about the 2024 event can be ssen below.

This special boat service runs on Saturday 8 - Sunday 9 June 2024 between Ambleside (Waterhead) and Brockhole - the start/finish line of The Great North Swim.

With a direct service between Ambleside (Waterhead) ↔ Brockhole, swimmers and spectators can enjoy a hassle-free park & ride service between the many car parks around Ambleside (Waterhead). Beat the crowds and limited parking at Brockhole by using this special boat service.

🏊 Looking for an Bowness shuttle service?

A small map of the route between Ambleside Waterhead & Brockhole

Boat departures

🕑 Saturday 8 June

  • We depart Ambleside (Waterhead) at 7:45, 8:45, 9:45, 10:45, 11:45, 12:45, 13:45, 14:45, 15:45. The journey takes 20 minutes.
  • We depart Brockhole at 8:15, 9:15, 11:15, 12:15, 13:15, 14:15, 15:15, 16:15. The journey takes 20 minutes.

🕑 Sunday 9 June

  • We depart Ambleside (Waterhead) at 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00. The journey takes 20 minutes.
  • We depart Brockhole at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30. The journey takes 20 minutes.

Swimmers prepare for departure at Brockhole

Ticketed Seating
To ensure that everyone can get to/from the start/finish these boats have ticketed seating.

  • Choose from either a single or return journey from either Ambleside or Brockhole.
  • You must book a seat for the outward and return legs of your journey for everyone in your group.
  • Infants (under 3s) who don't need a seat (who can travel on a parents knee) can travel for free.


A modern launch heading townards Brockhole

Additional Information

Beat the crowds with a special park & ride boat service to the Great North Swim.

Beat the crowds with a special park & ride boat service to the Great North Swim.

Service Status

amber

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🍃 WINDY WEATHER - Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 December (page updated -21/12/25 1pm)

Strong winds are forecast for this weekend. As a precaution, we have suspended all cruise and self-drive bookings.
Winds are getting stronger this afternoon, so services are closing earlier today - see details below.

Please keep checking back as weather conditions can change.

Today's Service Status

🔴 RED CRUISE Bowness → Brockhole → Ambleside Waterhead → Bowness

⚠️ Services OK this morning
Last boat Bowness → Ambleside at 14:15
Last boat Ambleside → Bowness at 14:30

🟡 YELLOW CRUISEBowness ↔ Lakeside

⚠️ Services OK this morning
Last boat Bowness → Lakeside at 14:00
Last boat Lakeside → Bowness at 13:05

🔵 ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → W'Mere Jetty Museum → Bowness

✔️ Services OK
Last departure is 14:00
🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE
Bowness Beach only

⚠️ Just turn up today. 1 hour bookings only.
Last hire is 13:00 →
14:00

🕑: We are now running to our off-peak season timetable (autumn/winter/spring).