Cross Lakes Experience

Bownes, Hawkshead, Grizedale & Coniston

Explore the Lakes without the car

NEW FOR 2009 Tarn Hows Bus Service

The Cross Lakes Experience lets you explore without the car. Cruise with Coniston Launch and Windermere Lake Cruises, and let Mountain Goat and Stagecoach deliver you to the door. The service operates between Windermere, Bowness, Hawkshead, Grizedale and Coniston. When you are planning your day out, here’s our handy guide...

Bowness
The Cross Lakes Experience leaves from Pier 3, but a day in lively Bowness is definitely worthwhile. If shopping is your thing, give yourself a few hours! With a wide variety of cafés and bars for that ‘post-shop’ drink, Bowness has its own unique character. An ice cream on the Glebe is essential!

Hawkshead
Tiny Hawkshead is charming, with a number of good restaurants and more great shopping. With its narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and Beatrix Potter history, it’s one of the most beautiful parts of the Lake District.

Grizedale Forest Park
Grizedale means quite literally “Valley of the Wild Pigs”, although it’s been a while since boars have been spotted here. A fantastic place for children (even big ones!) with sculpture trails, a high rope access course, cycle hire and cycle trails to suit everyone, and a café with scrumptious cakes!

Coniston
The views around Coniston are simply breathtaking and there is no better way to experience this than by taking to the water. Onboard a solar/electric launch or the Victorian steam yacht Gondola*, passengers can enjoy a leisurely cruise on Coniston Water. With regular sailing times on these services, interesting shops and cafés, Coniston is well worth a visit.

*Passengers wishing to sail on the Victorian steam yacht Gondola will need to purchase a separate ticket.

Planning your day out? For peace of mind, Mountain Goat operate a ‘Hail & Ride’ service and will pick you up at any point.

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