Lake District Day Tour: 10 Lakes & Ullswater Cruise

See Ten Lakes in One Day Without the Driving Stress

You travel by comfortable minivan through ten lakes, valleys and mountain passes, with a one-hour boat cruise on Ullswater included and all entry fees covered. Small groups mean you can ask questions and the pace stays relaxed. There's time for photos, a gingerbread stop in Grasmere, and short walks at Castlerigg Stone Circle and viewpoints. Hotel pickup is available, or you can meet at Windermere station, Bowness pier, or Oxenholme train station if you're arriving from London.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ullswater1h 10m · entry included
2. Buttermere Valley5m
3. Crummock Water10m
4. Bassenthwaite Lake5m
5. Grasmerepassing by
6. Rydal Waterpassing by
7. Castlerigg Stone Circle20m
8. Borrowdale Valleypassing by
9. Bowness-on-Windermerepassing by

Full day Lake District tour and cruise

• Meet at pick-up location
• Drive past Windermere Lake
• Pass by Thirlmere Lake
• View Grasmere village and lake
• Stop for Grasmere Gingerbread
• Pass Rydal Water lake
• Drive through Ambleside town
• Photo stop at Bridge House, Ambleside
• Drive through Troutbeck village
• Pass by Ullswater village
• Join 1-hour Ullswater boat cruise
• Drive through Glenridding village
• Pass by Buttermere Lake
• Stop at Crummock Water lake
• Photo stop at Castlerigg Stone Circle
• Drive through Keswick town
• Photo stop at Ashness Bridge
• Photo stop at Surprise View
• Photo stop at Moss Force Waterfall
• Drive through Borrowdale Valley
• Drive through Rosthwaite village
• Drive through Braithwaite village
• Stop at Thornthwaite Forest viewpoint
• Photo stop at Honister Pass
• Drive past Helvellyn and Skiddaw mountains
• Return to pick-up location

The experience

The minivan pulls away from Bowness-on-Windermere at 8am, and you're already looking at England's largest lake from the shore. This is the Lake District full-day tour that does what it promises: you'll see Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater, Buttermere, Crummock Water, Bassenthwaite, Rydal Water, Grasmere, Thirlmere and a handful of valleys and stone circles in between, all without you having to navigate a single winding mountain road yourself. The group stays small, no more than seven passengers, which means you're not crammed in, and the driver knows when to stop for photos without being asked.

Around mid-morning you'll reach Ullswater, where the real centerpiece happens: a full hour on the water, cruising the length of the lake while the fells rise up on either side. William Wordsworth called it "the happiest combination of beauty and grandeur," and from the boat you understand why. The guide points out Helvellyn in the distance, tells you about the old lead mines, mentions the ospreys that nest here in summer. You're not rushing. After the cruise, there's time to breathe, to stand at viewpoints like Surprise View (which really does surprise you, you can see Scotland on a clear day), to walk the short loop at Castlerigg Stone Circle, set on a hilltop with 48 stones arranged five thousand years ago. The atmosphere there is genuinely strange, in the best way.

Lunch happens in Grasmere, where you stop at the famous gingerbread shop. The recipe's been secret since 1854, and yes, it tastes like nothing else, spicy-sweet and dense. The village itself is small and old, with the church where Wordsworth is buried just visible from the main street. After that, the route takes you through Borrowdale Valley (dense with enormous ferns and yews, genuinely feels like Tolkien wrote it), past Ashness Bridge (one of the most photographed spots in the Lakes), and up to Honister Pass, where you stop at the top and the wind hits you properly. On the way back down toward Windermere, you pass through Ambleside, see the tiny Bridge House straddling Stock Ghyll stream, and get a sense of how these Victorian villages still work. They're not museums, they're actual places where people live and the weather still matters.

The minivan has air-con, WiFi, and charging ports, so you're not uncomfortable, and the stops are timed so you're not sitting still too long either. The guides know the area deeply. They'll tell you the story of the villages drowned under Thirlmere when Manchester needed water, explain why the Herdwick sheep look the way they do, mention the hermits and the mock sea battles and the poets who walked these valleys. You get back to your starting point (Windermere, Bowness, or Oxenholme station) in the late afternoon, and you've actually seen the Lake District, not just driven past it.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup (if booked) or meeting at Windermere, Bowness-on-Windermere, or Oxenholme train station, transport in a comfortable minivan with air-conditioning, WiFi and phone charging ports, a professional guide sharing facts and stories throughout the day, a one-hour cruise on Ullswater Lake, all entrance fees to attractions and viewpoints, regular photo and comfort stops, and return to your starting point in the late afternoon. Lunch is not included, though you'll stop in Grasmere where cafes and the famous gingerbread shop are available.

Options for this experience

4 options

Windermere Departure 9:35amGuide in English · Available from 28 Mar 2027The meeting point is at Windermere LA23 1AH, UK

Bowness Departure 9:43amGuide in English · Available from 28 Mar 2027The meeting point is Bowness Pier, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3HQ, UK

Ambleside Departure 9:54amGuide in English · Available from 28 Mar 2027The meeting point is 2 Kelsick Rd, Ambleside LA22 0BP, UK

Oxenholme Departure 9:10amGuide in English · Available from 28 Mar 2027The meeting point is Station Yd, Oxenholme, Kendal LA9 7HF, UK

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 28 Mar 2027

Book up to1h before

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by English Lakes Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see the Lake District's main lakes and valleys in a single day without driving yourself or arranging separate transport and entry fees: the fixed itinerary and small-group format mean you cover ten lakes, a boat cruise, and multiple viewpoints without feeling rushed or lost.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the tour?

A full day, typically 8–9 hours from pickup to return. Exact timing depends on which meeting point you choose.

Is the Ullswater boat cruise included?

Yes, a one-hour cruise on Ullswater is included in the tour price. You board at Glenridding and cruise the full length of the lake.

What's included in the price?

All entry fees to attractions, the Ullswater boat cruise, minivan transport, WiFi and phone charging, and a professional guide. Lunch and snacks are not included, though you'll stop at Grasmere where the gingerbread shop and cafes are nearby.

How many people travel on the tour?

Maximum 7 passengers per minivan, so groups stay small and you have room to move and ask questions.

Can I book pickup from my hotel?

Yes, if your hotel is in the central Lake District area. Otherwise, you can meet at Windermere village, Bowness-on-Windermere, or Oxenholme train station.

What should I bring?

Waterproof jacket with a hood (Lake District weather changes quickly), comfortable walking shoes (there's some uphill walking on uneven terrain), and a camera. The minivan has WiFi and charging ports.

Is there walking involved?

Yes, but it's light. You'll walk around Castlerigg Stone Circle (short loop), climb to viewpoints, and move between stops. Paths can be wet or uneven, so wear proper shoes.

Can children go on this tour?

Children must be at least 7 years old and accompanied by an adult. All passengers, including children, need a seat purchased for them.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour runs in all weather. Bring a waterproof coat. The minivan is comfortable and heated, and many of the best views are visible even on misty or rainy days.

Do I need to be fit?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Walking is optional at most stops, and you can stay in the minivan if you prefer. Castlerigg Stone Circle involves a short uphill walk, but it's not strenuous.