What if the weather is bad

By booking on our tours, you are guaranteed a seat.  However, we are unable to reserve specific seats on the tours.  Our seats are not numbered, and we operate a first come, first served policy for choice on seating. 

Our tours include 50 - 100 metres to any viewpoint but no not include strenuous walks. Walking is optional and you can choose to wait on or nearby the minibus. We can cater for foldable wheelchairs and/or walkers, with advance notice. There are 3 large steps onto our minibuses. Our full accessibility statement can be found here. 

During the summer months, we would recommend booking as early as possible.  

We operate a minimum numbers policy on all our scheduled tours, if the tour does not meet the minimum requirement, we will be in contact to offer an alternative or a full refund. If there are adverse weather conditions which make the tour unsafe to travel then we would also cancel. 

If you booked our 'flexible' tour, you may cancel 24 hours prior to departure and receive a full refund. After 24 hours no refund will be issued.

If you booked our 'saver' tour, this is non-refundable and cannot be transferred or exchange. This product can only be purchased online, 7 days or more before the activity date. 

For full terms and conditions please see here. Please call the office as soon as you know you wish to cancel. 

We do not accept cash payments to our driver-guides, all seats must be paid in advance at our office at Windermere Information Centre, by phone or on our website.

Prepayment is required for all our scheduled tours. We accept all major credit and debit cards. If you book at the tourist information centre, we can accept cash. 

The best way to book is through our secure website, available 24 hours. Alternatively, please call the Mountain Goat team on +4415394 45161 or message via WhatsApp on +44 7827224291

Unfortunately, we don't allow children under 5 years old on our scheduled tours, but you can book a private tour instead. 

Yes, there is a discount for seniors (over 60 years) and students with a valid NUS card.

We pick up from several locations across the Northwest, depending on where your tour is starting from. Please see below our main pick-up locations with a handy map. We also collect from hotels & B&B's in Windermere, Bowness & Ambleside. 

Windermere Information Centre

Bowness Bay Pier

Ambleside, Kelsick Road

Ambleside, Waterhead Pier

Keswick, Central Car Park

Oxenholme Railway Station*

York, Duncombe Place

Manchester, Chorlton Street

Liverpool, World Museum

Chester Railway Station 

*If you are returning to Oxenholme for a train, we recommend booking a train that departs after 18:00 (Ten Lakes, High Adventure and Beatrix Potter tour) to ensure you are dropped off in good time.

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Full day tours stop half way for lunch at a local village, café or pub.

Depending on the tour, there are regular stops throughout the day.

Depending on the tour and the itinerary the length of stop will vary. There are frequent stops; some will be a quick photo stop other will be to explore an area, attraction to village. Lunch stops are usually an hour.

The maximum group size would be 16 people on a Minibus.

The main pickup points are Windermere Tourist Information Centre, Bowness Bay Pier and Ambleside Bus Stop. We also have tours departing from Keswick, York, Manchester, Liverpool & Chester.

For full details see out How To Find Us page

If arriving at the Windermere Information Centre, please make yourself known to a member of staff. 

If at a pickup location, please be punctual and look out for the bus. Our drivers have several pickups in the morning, so if they are late don't worry. Wait 5-10 minutes then give us a call and contact the driver-guide. 

It is not necessary or essential to print your ticket, each driver will have a list of expected passengers.  Knowing your reference number may be beneficial.

Due to the nature of our tours, we cannot wait for customers who arrive at their tour start point late.

This would impact the collection of the other passengers and cause a delay for the entire tour.  It would be considerate to arrive at the pickup point earlier then required. If you expect to be very late, please call the Mountain Goat Team.

If you are travelling to Windermere by train, and are changing at Oxenholme, the Lake District, we recommend you allow plenty of time to make this connection.

Please dress according to the season, but as it is England, please bring a raincoat just encase.  Wearing sensible walking shoes such as trainers or walking boots would be beneficial and don’t forget to bring a camera to snap your memories!

Due to the size of our vehicles, we are only able to carry small day sized backpacks. Larger luggage maybe carried on-board with prior arrangement, but please note this may not be possible on some services/tours, please check at time of booking.

Windermere Information, our official start points in the Lake District and luggage storage is available, in large secure lockers for the day.

Many Hotels and Guest Houses also offer their customers luggage storage facilities, please note charges may apply at those third parties.

Our tours are designed as scenic mini-bus tours. We take you to as close to the scenery as possible. Depending on the tour there is opportunity to walk short distances, but all walking is optional. Walking is to a place of interest or to board a cruise for example.

We only allow assistance dogs on our tours, please inform us at the time of booking. We allow dogs on our private hires and private tours & on our Cross Lakes Experience accepts dogs for an additional charge.

Please contact us if this is the case. Although we cannot reserve seats, we have a courtesy seating policy allocated to several seats. We can inform your driver to advise customers boarding the bus.