‘Cross Lakes Experience’ gets underway for February half-term

Families can leave the hassle of driving at home this February half term, with the launch of the ‘Cross Lakes Experience’ ticket in the heart of the English Lake District.

Windermere Lake Cruises has teamed up with tour specialists Mountain Goat and The National Trust to bring the service to the shores of Windermere and beyond. With daily services from Sat 16 – Sun 24 February, the Cross Lakes Experience links up England’s largest lake with Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s House and Hawkshead, two of the locations most synonymous with one of the Lake District’s best loved inhabitants, children’s author Beatrix Potter.

The Cross Lakes Experience gets underway at Bowness Bay with a cruise across Windermere to the tranquil, western side of the lake. Passengers can then take a mini coach to Potter’s 17th century farmhouse at Hill Top, preserved by The National Trust as a time-capsule of her fascinating life. There’s then the option of a short trip to Hawkshead, a chocolate-box village with connections to both Potter and the poet William Wordsworth.

Ian Wilkinson, from Windermere Lake Cruises, said, “The Cross Lakes Experience is a great, value-for-money way of seeing the landscape around Windermere from a completely new perspective. With regular services throughout February half-term, passengers can sit back and enjoy spending time with their loved ones without the worry of driving and parking at each location.”

Joanne Hudson, of The National Trust at Hill Top, said, “The Cross Lakes Experience allows visitors to make the most of their day in the Lakes. Leaving the car behind and taking the boat and bus makes the journey a special part of a day out. And so much easier and greener than taking the car! It’s a great way to see the real sights and landscape which inspired Beatrix Potter.”

Special family tickets (2 adults and 3 children) are available for the Cross Lakes Experience costing £31.00 for a return journey, from Bowness to Hawkshead. Passengers can also choose to do shorter sections of the route if they prefer, with prices for a single cruise across Windermere (Bowness-Ferry House) starting from just £1.50 for children and £2.55 for adults.

As well as running throughout February half term, the Cross Lakes Experience will also be available every weekend in March, with a new extended service getting underway at Easter.