Fares for pedestrians and cyclists using Windermere Ferry have been frozen in a review of ticket prices.
The fares for some vehicles – including cars and motorcycles – will be increasing, for the first time in four years, from 29 April.
The fares review has taken into account significant increases in costs associated with operating the ferry, which carries cars, bicycles and foot passengers across Windermere lake from Ferry Nab in Bowness to Far Sawrey.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council, which operates the Windermere Ferry, said: “All organisations must review the price of their fares on a regular basis and while we do all we can to keep our costs down, and the cost to our customers as low as possible, increases in fares are something that despite our best efforts we can't always avoid.
“We have frozen our fares for pedestrians and cyclists following the latest review, but significant increases to our overheads in recent months means we have no choice other than to increase some of our rates for 2023. The last increase in fares was in 2019.’’
The new fares will come into force from Saturday, 29 April 2023.
Windermere Ferry Single Crossing charges:
- Pedestrian - Current fare, £1. New fare from 29 April £1.
- Pedal cycle (including cyclist) - Current fare, £2. New fare from 29 April, £2.
- Moped, motorcycle, horse - Current fare, £2. New fare from 29 April, £2.50.
- Vehicles up to 6m length - Current fare, £5. New fare from 29 April, £6.
- Vehicles over 6m length - Current fare, £10. New fare from 29 April, £11.
- Vehicle and trailer (over 6m length) - Current fare £10. New fare from 29 April, £11.
- Blue Badge holders - Current fare, free. New fare from 29 April, free.
For regular travellers the council continues to offer a number of heavily discounted annual contracts or bulk purchase of tickets for the ferry.
An annual contract for a pedestrian or cyclist is £30, or a book of 20 tickets is £5 for a pedestrian or £10 for cyclists.
A full review of all contract and discount offers will be conducted over the next 12 months.
Feedback on the ferry service is considered by the Windermere Ferry Steering Group, which is made up of local businesses, residents and customers.