If the ferry is not operating, the alternative is a road journey of approximately 15 miles (24 km) around either the head or foot of the lake.Anyone crossing the lake from east to west on the Windermere Ferry thus travels from the historic county of Westmorland to that of Lancashire.During this period there was one recorded disaster, in 1635, when the ferry capsized and forty-seven people perished.[2][3] The current ferry boat, named Mallard, was built in 1990 and can carry up to 18 cars and over 100 passengers.The previous refit in 2014 cost £300,000 and involved rebuilding the engines and servicing all hydraulic, mechanical and electrical systems on the ferry, together with a full repaint.
A steam ferry on the route in the late 19th century
