Company type | Private company |
---|---|
Industry | Passenger transportation Leisure cruises |
Predecessor | Bowness Bay Boating Company, Ambleside Motor Launch Company, Windermere Iron Steamboat Company, British Rail (Sealink) |
Headquarters | Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, United Kingdom |
Number of locations | 3 |
Area served | Windermere |
Services | Cruises and Self Drive Hire boats |
Number of employees | up to 150 |
Parent | Winander Leisure Limited |
Website | www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk |
Windermere Lake Cruises is a boat company which provides leisure trips on Windermere in the central part of the English Lake District. It is based in Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria.
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England, and has supported commercial traffic for many years. In the early 19th century sailing packets operated the length of the lake carrying both passengers and goods. The first steamship on the lake, and indeed on any lake in England, was the paddle steamer Lady of the Lake, launched in 1845 for the Windermere Steam Yacht Company. In 1847 a second company, the Windermere Iron Steamboat Company, put into service the Firefly, following that by the Dragonfly in 1850. After some years of competition, the two companies merged as the Windermere United Yacht Company in 1858. This company introduced the steamers Rothay (1867) and the Swan (1869). The Rothay was the last paddle steamer built for use on the lake, with all subsequent vessels being propeller driven. [1] [2] [3]
In 1869 the Furness Railway opened its branch from Ulverston to Lakeside station, intended as an interchange between train and steamer at the southern end of the lake. The railway company had already purchased shares in the Windermere United Yacht Company, and in 1872 it took full control. In 1871 the Furness Railway had purchased the steam barge Raven, which in addition to carrying cargo to houses, hotels and businesses around the lake, also served as an ice-breaker for the passenger steamers. Other vessels introduced after the Furness Railway took over the yacht company include the Cygnet (1879), Teal (1879), Tern (1891), Swift (1900) and Britannia (built in 1879 and acquired second-hand in 1909). The Rothay was scrapped in 1891 and the Britannia in 1919. [2] [3]
In 1923, with the grouping of the railways, the lake steamers came under the control of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). The LMS built two motor vessels for use on Windermere, the Teal (1936) and the Swan (1938). The Raven was sold out of service in 1927, and is now an exhibit at the Windermere Steamboat Museum, whilst the earlier Teal was scrapped in 1929 and the earlier Swan in 1938. [2] [3]
In 1948, the Windermere steamers came under the control of the British Transport Commission as part of the nationalisation of the British railways, passing to the British Railways Board or British Rail in 1963, along with all other railway related shipping services. In 1970 the British Rail shipping services were rebranded as Sealink, with the Windermere operation being known as Sealink Windermere. The Cygnet was scrapped in 1955. [2] [3]
In 1984, as part of the privatisation of the British railways, Sealink was sold to Sea Containers who resurrected the Windermere Iron Steamboat Company name for its Windermere operations. In 1993 the Windermere Iron Steamboat Company was bought by the local Bowness Bay Boating Company, who already operated a fleet of launches on the lake, and the merged operation renamed Windermere Lake Cruises. The Swift was scrapped in 1999, having been laid up since 1981, [2] [3] but a new Swift joined the fleet in 2020. [4]
The headquarters of Windermere Lake Cruises is near the ferry pier at Bowness-on-Windermere, whilst the boats are maintained on a slipway at Lakeside and a dry dock at Waterhead. The fleet of 17 passenger carrying vessels comprises four larger ships, usually referred to as steamers although all are now diesel/ diesel electric powered, and a number of smaller launches. There is also a large number of self drive hire boats. They operate a number of services, including:
Name | Route | Description |
---|---|---|
Yellow | Bowness-on-Windermere – Lakeside Station – Bowness-on-Windermere | All year service; most services operated by steamer [5] |
Red | Bowness-on-Windermere – Windermere Jetty - (Brockhole National Park Visitor Centre) – Ambleside – Bowness-on-Windermere | All year service; mixed steamer and launch service; only launches / Swift call at Brockhole. [6] Only launches call at Windermere Jetty |
Green | Ambleside – Brockhole National Park Visitor Centre – Wray Castle – Ambleside | Operates between March and October; launch service [7] |
Blue | Bowness-on-Windermere - 45 Minute Circular Tour of the Islands - Bowness-on-Windermere | All year service; operated by launch with 1 sailing per day with Swift (summer months only) |
Bike Boat | Brockhole National Park Visitor Centre – Bark Barn at Claife – Brockhole National Park Visitors Centre | Operates between May and September; uses launch adapted to carry cycles [8] |
Ferry | Bowness-on-Windermere – Ferry House at Far Sawrey – Bowness-on-Windermere | Operates between March and October; launch service [9] |
Ferry | Lakeside Station – Fell Foot Park – Lakeside Station | Operates between March and September; launch service [10] |
Self Drive | Bowness-on-Windermere / Ambleside Waterhead | Operating a selection of self drive electric motor launches and rowing boats most of the year. |
Name | Built | Description | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Tern | 1891 | Steam Yacht (later Motor Vessel) Tern was built in 1891 by Forrest & Son of Wyvenhoe in Essex. She was originally built as a steam powered yacht, but was converted to diesel power in 1956. She is 145 feet (44 m) in length, 18 feet (5.5 m) in beam, a draft of 9 feet (2.7 m) and a gross tonnage of 120. She has two 6 cylinder Cummins diesel engines, two auxiliary generators and a bow thruster, and has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 4 and up to 350 passengers, and is a member of the National Historic Fleet. [11] [12] | |
Teal | 1936 | Motor Vessel Teal was built in 1936 by Vickers of Barrow-in-Furness, and transported in sections by rail to Lakeside for assembly. She is 142 feet (43 m) in length, 25 feet (7.6 m) in beam, a draft of 9 feet (2.7 m) and a gross tonnage of 251. Over the winter of 2020/21 Teal had two new Volvo Penta engines installed, replacing the two 6 cylinder Kelvin diesel engines she carried since 1994. Teal also has two auxiliary generators and a bow thruster. Teal has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 6 (formerly 7) and up to 533 passengers, and is a member of the National Historic Fleet. [13] [14] | |
Swan | 1938 | Motor Vessel Swan was built in 1938 by Vickers of Barrow-in-Furness, and transported in sections by rail to Lakeside for assembly. She is 142 feet (43 m) in length, 25 feet (7.6 m) in beam, a draft of 9 feet (2.7 m) and a gross tonnage of 251. She has two 6 cylinder Cummins diesel engines two auxiliary generators, a bow thruster and has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 6 (formerly 7, changed in 2020) and up to 533 passengers, and is a member of the National Historic Fleet. [15] [16] | |
Swift | 2020 | Diesel Electric Vessel Swift has three decks and at full capacity can hold 300 passengers. This ship was completed in 2020 by Damen Group. The sections of boat were transported by road to Lakeside and assembled in the car park next to the slipway, before being transported down to the pier side and craned in the water on 11 December 2019. [17] The Swift is 34.4 metres long and uses 2 x Volvo Penta engines to power an electrical pod type propulsion system making it an extremely manoeuvrable vessel. It is crewed by a team of four. The ship is fully wheelchair accessible and had its first day in revenue earning service on 25 October 2020. [18] |
Name | Built | Description | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Muriel II | 1935 | Muriel II was built in 1935 by Borwicks of Windermere in Cumbria. She is 45 feet (14 m) in length, 10 feet (3.0 m) in beam, a draft of 3.3 feet (1.0 m) and has a gross tonnage of 8. She has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 57 passengers, and is registered by National Historic Ships. [19] [20] | |
Sunflower II | 1949 | Sunflower II was built in 1949 by Borwicks of Windermere in Cumbria. She is 45 feet (14 m) in length, 9.2 feet (2.8 m) in beam, a draft of 5 feet (1.5 m) and has a gross tonnage of 8. She has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 57 passengers, and is registered by National Historic Ships. [21] [22] [23] | |
Queen of the Lake | 1949 | Queen of the Lake was built in 1949 by Watercraft of Molesey in Surrey. She is 50 feet (15 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 13. She has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 84 passengers. [24] | |
Princess of the Lake | 1950 | Princess of the Lake was built in 1950 by Watercraft of Molesey in Surrey. She is 50 feet (15 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 13. She has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 84 passengers. [25] | |
Silverholme | 1969 | Silverholme was built in 1969. She is 53.1 feet (16.2 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 35.6. She has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 84 passengers. [26] | |
Miss Cumbria I-IV | 1974-1988 | The four vessels of the Miss Cumbria class were built in the Netherlands between 1974 and 1988. Each vessel is 65.9 feet (20.1 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 42.3. They have a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). They carry a crew of 2 and up to 128 passengers. Image shows Miss Cumbria III. [27] | |
Miss Lakeland I | 1985 | Miss Lakeland I was built in the Netherlands in 1985. She is 67 feet (20 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 46.6. She has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 173 passengers. [28] | |
Miss Westmorland | 1988 | Miss Westmorland was built in Bristol in 1988. She is 60 feet (18 m) in length and has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 128 passengers. [29] | |
Venture | 1966 | Venture was built on the shores of Windermere in 1966 by Youdell & Brockbank. She is 34.7 feet (10.6 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 46.3. Originally powered by a single diesel engine, over the winter of 2017/18, Venture was converted to a zero carbon emissions electric propulsion unit. [30] She has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 45 passengers. [31] | |
Miss Lakeland II | 1992 | Miss Lakeland II was built in the Netherlands in 1992. She is 66.6 feet (20.3 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 43.5. She has a maximum speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She carries a crew of 2 and up to 156 passengers. [32] |
A steamboat is a boat that is propelled primarily by steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S or PS ; however, these designations are most often used for steamships.
Windermere is a ribbon lake in Cumbria, England, and part of the Lake District. It is the largest lake in England by length, area, and volume, but considerably smaller than the largest Scottish lochs and Northern Irish loughs.
A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine that drives paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans.
Sealink was a ferry company based in the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1984, operating services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Isle of Wight and Ireland.
The MS Mount Washington is the flagship vessel of the Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation. Its home port is on Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia, New Hampshire, in the United States. The historic ship makes several ports of call around the lake during its scenic cruises in the spring, summer and fall months. Ice-Out is declared when the Mount Washington can get to all of its ports of call.
Lake Washington steamboats and ferries operated from about 1875 to 1951, transporting passengers, vehicles and freight across Lake Washington, a large lake to the east of Seattle, Washington. Before modern highways and bridges were built, the only means of crossing the lake, other than the traditional canoe or rowboat, was by steamboat, and, later, by ferry. While there was no easily navigable connection to Puget Sound, the Lake Washington Ship Canal now connects Lake Washington to Lake Union, and from there Puget Sound is reached by way of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.
Windermere Jetty: Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories is a museum on the eastern shore of Windermere between Bowness-on-Windermere and the town of Windermere in Cumbria, England. It reopened in March 2019 after 12 years' closure and redevelopment work.
The steam yacht Gondola is a rebuilt Victorian, screw-propelled, steam-powered passenger vessel on Coniston Water, England. Originally launched in 1859, she was built for the steamer service carrying passengers from the Furness Railway and from the Coniston Railway. She was in commercial service until 1936 when she was retired, being converted to a houseboat in 1946. In 1979, by now derelict, she was given a new hull, engine, boiler and most of the superstructure. She is back in service as a passenger boat, still powered by steam and now operated by the National Trust.
From 1886 to 1920, steamboats ran on the upper reaches of the Columbia and Kootenay in the Rocky Mountain Trench, in western North America. The circumstances of the rivers in the area, and the construction of transcontinental railways across the trench from east to west made steamboat navigation possible.
The Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft or Lake Zürich Navigation Company is a public Swiss company operating passenger ships and boats on Lake Zürich.
The MV Karina is a single screw passenger vessel, which formerly operated from Douglas, Isle of Man for the Laxey Towing Company. She operated on a selection of cruises along the Manx coast. She is registered on the National Register of Historic Vessels, certificate number 1893.
Lakeside railway station is on the heritage Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway in England. It was previously the terminus of the Furness Railway Ulverston to Lakeside Line, which was closed as part of the Beeching Axe in 1965. It serves the village of Lakeside in Cumbria, as well as the tourist attractions located there.
The MV Western Belle is a twin screw passenger vessel. She is owned by Ullswater 'Steamers', who refitted her and launched her on Ullswater in the autumn of 2010.
The MV Lady Wakefield is a twin screw passenger vessel, operating between Glenridding, Howtown and Pooley Bridge on Ullswater in the Lake District for Ullswater Navigation and Transit Co, marketed as Ullswater 'Steamers'.
The River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd (RDSC) and its predecessors, the Dartmouth Steam Packet Company and the Dartmouth and Torbay Steam Packet Company, were the major ferry and excursion boat operators on the River Dart in South Devon for 120 years, until the company's demise in 1976. The company was famous for its distinctive paddle steamers, which were a familiar sight on the river until the late 1960s.
MV Dartmouth Castle was a passenger ship operating on the River Dart for the Dartmouth Steam Railway. She is listed on the National Register of Historic Ships.
Lake steamers of North America include large, steam-powered non-government vessels with displacement hulls on American freshwater lakes excluding the Great Lakes. They may have served as passenger boats, freighters, mail-boats, log-boom vessels or a combination thereof. The construction of such vessels posed unique problems on water bodies located away from established dry-docks and marine railways, or connecting canals to such facilities.
The Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano or Lake Lugano Navigation Company (SNL) is a Swiss company operating passenger services on Lake Lugano. The company also operates bus routes in the same area, and is based at Cassarate in the city of Lugano. It was formerly known as the Società di Navigazione e Ferrovie per lago di Lugano and at one time also operated railways in the area.
SY Tern, now operating as MY Tern[a], is a passenger vessel on Windermere, England. Launched in 1891 she was built for the steamer service carrying passengers from the Furness Railway. She underwent several changes in owner as companies were merged throughout the twentieth century, and spent time as a sea cadet training ship during the Second World War. Refitted several times, her original steam engines have been replaced with diesel engines. Tern is the oldest vessel operating on Windermere, and is a member of the National Historic Fleet. She is currently operated by Windermere Lake Cruises as the flagship of their fleet.
The SS Raven, sometimes also referred to as the SY Raven, is a steam barge ordered by the Furness Railway for use on the lake of Windermere in the English Lake District, where she has spent her entire working life. She is a member of the National Historic Fleet, and is now preserved. She is the second oldest ship on Lloyd’s Register and the oldest with her original machinery.