Windermere is England’s largest and best known lake. Dotted with rocky inlets, grassy banks, woodland and all against the backdrop of the surrounding fells, its beauty draws visitors from far and wide. There are two settlements on Lake Windermere: Windermere town and Bowness-on-Windermere, both of which are very popular places to stay due to their proximity to the lake and their excellent hotels and transport links.
Orientation
Windermere town is located off the major A591 road, to the east of Lake Windermere. Its town centre is slightly inland, but it is just a short walk to the lake. It’s an important transport hub as most cities in the UK are linked to Windermere by train or coach.
Two miles south of Windermere lies Bowness, which enjoys a location close to the lake’s shores, and a 5 mile journey north along the A591 will take you to the popular town of Ambleside. Between Windermere and Ambleside lie some of the area’s prettiest villages, such as Hawkshead, Troutbeck and the Elterwater, with their stunning mountain scenery and traditional Lakeland pubs.
Hotels in Windermere can be found both in the town centre and in Bowness, and at various points in between, alongside the lake’s shores.
Attractions
Windermere has much to offer every visitor. Its proximity to the lake makes it a good base if you are interested in water-based activities, such as boating, water-skiing or kayaking. You can also take guided boat tours on various steamers and launches. Windermere is a good choice if you like history and culture too, as there are a number of museums, galleries and historic houses to visit close by.
The Lake District is renowned for its excellent walking opportunities. Even if you are not keen to tackle the heady heights of Helvellyn or Scafell Pike, there are some wonderful shorter circuit walks and viewpoints to be enjoyed by walkers of all abilities, including Orrest Head, which can be started from Windermere town and which offers some of the finest views of Lake Windermere and its surrounds.
There is an informative Visitor Centre situated on the banks of Lake Windermere at Brockhole, between Waterhead and Troutbeck Bridge. Head here to view the ‘Living Lakeland’ exhibition, which tells you everything you need to know about the history and evolution of the Lake District National Park. Most Windermere hotels are also very happy to provide you with leaflets, maps and suggested walking routes.
Villages
Just a short drive or bus ride out of Windermere will take you to some of the Lake District’s best loved villages. Be sure to visit Hawkshead, a quaint and picturesque village which is now best known as the setting for the film ‘Miss Potter’, starring Renee Zellwegger and Ewan McGregor. There are a number of pretty walks which begin in Hawkshead, including the climb up Latterbarrow, which affords panoramic vistas of Lake Windermere and the surrounding fells. The Langdales, Elterwater, Sawrey and Grasmere are just some of the other nearby villages whose beauty is quite breathtaking.
Eating, Drinking and Entertainment
Both Windermere and Bowness enjoy a wide choice of eating options, from traditional cafes which cater for hungry walkers, to elegant fine dining – and everything else in between. Most of the area’s best restaurants can be found at Windermere’s hotels, most notably at Miller Howe (half a mile west of town on Rayrigg Road) and Holbeck Ghyll (3 miles north of town on Holbeck Road). If you’re looking for something more casual, there are plenty of traditional Lakeland pubs to choose from, most of which serve lunch and dinner. One of the favourites is Hole in’t Wall in Bowness, the town’s oldest hostelry, located on Fallbarrow Road, behind Bowness church. It’s a cosy spot with open fires, which serves tasty and filling pub meals to go with the best-kept real ales.
Read more about things to do in Windemere or find out how to get to Windemere.