Boat Hire and Family Fun at The Boathouse Café, Esthwaite Water

Just five minutes from Hawkshead, The Boathouse Café at Esthwaite Water is a lovely base for a family day out, with plenty to do beyond a simple café stop. Walk the shores on the Beatrix Potter boardwalk trail, take a self-drive boat out onto the water, or try your hand at fishing from one of the dedicated angling spots.

Where is The Boathouse Café at Esthwaite Water?

The Boathouse Café is located on the western shore of Esthwaite Water near the village of Hawkshead.

Address: Ridding wood, Ambleside LA22 0QF
Click here for Google Maps location

Parking

Parking is available 100m beyond the entrance to the café. Parking fees apply: 2 hours – £5, 4 hours – £6, all day – £8.50

Opening Times

The Boathouse Café and Outdoor Restaurant are open daily from 9am to 4pm.

Boat Hire, Osprey Safari and on-site Tackle Shop operate under seasonal hours:

• Summer Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm
• Winter Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm

Ticket Prices

Access to the Boathouse Café and Outdoor Restaurant is free.

Self-drive boat hires are charged hourly, at a ‘per person’ rate. Note that children, including babies, are counted in the pricing.

• 1 person: £25
• 2 people: £30
• 3 people: £35
• 4 people: £40

During Osprey season (March-September), guided tours can be booked at a cost of £20 per hour.

Angling day permits are available year-round beginning at £15 a day.

Things to do

A trip to the Boathouse Café at Esthwaite Water makes for an easy and very rewarding outing for families. 

The main draw is the self-drive boat hire, which can be booked in person on the day, even during the peak summer season. The process is very efficient, and an hour on the water passes quickly. Even the smallest passengers can have a go at steering, which is a real highlight of the trip.

Back on land, the short Beatrix Potter-themed woodland boardwalk along the shore gives energetic youngsters somewhere to burn off some energy. It’s around a 10-minute walk each way, with information boards along the route featuring Beatrix Potter characters and facts about the creatures you might spot. Afterwards, return to the waterside café for a drink and sweet treat.

Day passes for angling can also be hired from their on-site Tackle Shop for those wanting to make a full day out of their visit. 

Osprey Safaris

Between March and September each year, the water’s resident ospreys return to their nest on the shore. Boat trips become ‘Osprey Safaris’ with visitors able to see the birds up-close. Guided safaris can be booked for those who are keen to learn more from one of the centre’s experts. 

The Café

With an indoor log burner for chilly days, and outdoor pontoon seating for when the sun is shining, a visit to the cafe here is part of the experience. They serve simple snacks (including warm pies and pasties) alongside coffees, ice creams and of course, cake.

Facilities

• Coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating
• Toilets
• Baby changing facilities
• Dogs allowed (including on self-hire boats)

The Lake District Kids Verdict

For those wanting to fill a few hours with something different, The Boathouse Café at Esthwaite Water offers one of the Lake District’s more memorable experiences and one which children will likely bring up for weeks to come.

It does however come at a cost for larger families, with boat hiring fees stacking up quickly for a relatively short amount of time on the water, making it one of the more expensive attractions in the area. Even so, for a unique family outing surrounded by stunning scenery, the memorable moments on the lake help to justify this.