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You are here: Home > Explore Cumbria > Windermere & Bowness
Just over a mile from England’s largest lake, Windermere, stands Windermere town. While not on the lake shores itself, it combines with the nearby lakeside town of Bowness-on-Windermere to form one urban area.
Windermere enjoys easy access to lake Windermere, whether by foot; car; bike; or bus. This stunning lake, surrounded by rolling hills, offers a serene escape for water activities, leisure boat rides, and lakeside strolls.
Windermere’s rich history is reflected in its historic roots and the growth spurred by the Victorian era. The arrival of the town’s train station in 1847 boosted tourism to the area; today, it is popular thanks to its location, and the abundance of places to eat, drink, and visit.
Indulge in the diverse offerings Windermere presents, from enjoying local...Read More
Just over a mile from England’s largest lake, Windermere, stands Windermere town. While not on the lake shores itself, it combines with the nearby lakeside town of Bowness-on-Windermere to form one urban area.
Windermere enjoys easy access to lake Windermere, whether by foot; car; bike; or bus. This stunning lake, surrounded by rolling hills, offers a serene escape for water activities, leisure boat rides, and lakeside strolls.
Windermere’s rich history is reflected in its historic roots and the growth spurred by the Victorian era. The arrival of the town’s train station in 1847 boosted tourism to the area; today, it is popular thanks to its location, and the abundance of places to eat, drink, and visit.
Indulge in the diverse offerings Windermere presents, from enjoying local food and drink in welcoming establishments to discovering local attractions and experiences. There are excellent accommodation options nearby as well, whether you’re looking for a cosy inn or a luxurious spa hotel.
Built in 1483, this is one of the earliest surviving churches in Cumbria. Its spacious interior with hand-painted biblical texts on the walls and roof beams immediately captures attention. The magnificent east window contains remnants of stained glass from Cartmel Priory (brought here after the Dissolution of the Monasteries) and is believed to be among the oldest surviving traces of stained glass in Britain.
Step into the world of Beatrix Potter in this 17th century farmhouse, which provided the inspiration for 13 of her books including The Tale of Tom Kitten and The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck. It remains much the same as when she lived here, with many of her paintings, furniture and china on view.
The short walk to Orrest Head is well worth the uphill effort, for at the top is an outstanding panoramic view of the lake and surrounding mountains. There are a number of ways of getting to the top all passing through Elleray Woods, noted for its varied bird and insect life (booklet available from the Tourist Information Centre in Windermere).
The gardens at Brockhole, stretching down to the shores of Windermere, were laid out by Thomas Mawson, the internationally acclaimed landscape gardener from Windermere. A wide variety of interesting trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants can be seen against the dramatic backdrop of the lake.
An attractive walk that starts at Ilkley in West Yorkshire and finishes in Bowness-on-Windermere following ancient trackways and riverside paths and passing through many interesting villages on its 80 mile (129 km) route and taking in the best of the natural enviroment along the way.
This 17-acre hillside garden, managed by the Lakeland Horticultural Society since 1971, has been transformed from an abandoned rock garden into a ‘garden for all seasons', with specimen trees, a walled garden with herbaceous borders and displays of alpine plants.
An imposing mock Gothic castle built by James Dawson in the 1840s. Beatrix Potter stayed here in 1882 while on holiday with her parents.
William Wordsworth came here in 1779. His adolescent experience of the natural world had a lasting effect, and was recalled in his poetry of later years.
Beatrix Potter’s traditional Lakeland farm at Hill Top was a special place for Beatrix, and was the inspiration for the setting in many of her books.
In earlier times it was the custom to call for a rowing boat when one was required. One stormy night, a call was answered by a ferryman who rowed across the lake to Bowness only to return in a state of shock. The next morning he developed a rapid fever and died. Thereafter, on stormy nights whenever there were strange calls for a boat from Ferry Nab, no-one would dare go. Eventually a priest exorcised the Crier of Claife to a quarry on Claife Heights, but occasionally the ghostly calls for a boat can still be heard.
Read LessWe're looking forward to welcoming Zac Thompson to The Swan on the 23rd May for a spring time…
Experience the adventure. Glamping is one of the best ways to stay close to nature without…
The sport of rock climbing was essentially born here, and the Lake District has a rich heritage of…
The River Room Brasserie restaurant at The Swan Hotel offers a sophisticated dining experience for…
Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house is a rare architectural gem in the heart of the Lake District…
Nestled between Windermere and Ambleside, Broadoaks Country House Hotel is a hidden gem in the…
Whether you would like to rent an Electric Bike or join a Bike Tour or Holiday, we organise…
Join us for our children's Easter Sunday party at The Swan Hotel! Taking place on Sunday 20th…
A 2-hour session with a foraging expert, including ID work, finding and tasting wild ingredients,…
Memories have never been easier! Freedom Boat Club takes care of everything – maintenance,…
Pay & Display car park (NT members free)with 24 spaces. A narrow, single track lane leads to this…
A family friendly ride from Windermere to Staveley on quiet roads with stunning views to the…
Walking holidays in extraordinary Lake District properties. Inspired by the traditional ‘alpine way…
Green Man Survival provides survival and bushcraft training and experiences in the Lake District…
Charter a skippered yacht for a two hour sailing experience for up to four people.
They're back! The long-awaited return of Voulez Vous ABBA Tribute is finally here. With a legacy of…
Our pub is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a day exploring the Lake District. We offer…
Join us as we welcome Leon Knight to The Swan for a special performance from 6pm – 8pm on the 30th…
Our modern, fully furnished and equipped caravan holiday homes are situated in a quiet area,…
Paddle Windermere to a remote shore, light fire and cook on open fire. We are an inclusive company…
One of the premier bars and restaurants in Windermere, located in the heart of the Lake District…
Join Green Man Survival for our most in depth and demanding survival challenge. You will spend 72…
The Spa at Low Wood Bay will take you on a journey of indoor and outdoor thermal spaces, exquisite…
The cycle track sandwiched between the lake edge and the steep flanks of Claife Heights gives a…
We're looking forward to welcoming Zac Thompson to The Swan on the 23rd May for a spring time…
Experience the adventure. Glamping is one of the best ways to stay close to nature without…
The sport of rock climbing was essentially born here, and the Lake District has a rich heritage of…
The River Room Brasserie restaurant at The Swan Hotel offers a sophisticated dining experience for…
Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house is a rare architectural gem in the heart of the Lake District…
Nestled between Windermere and Ambleside, Broadoaks Country House Hotel is a hidden gem in the…
The River Room Brasserie restaurant at The Swan Hotel offers a sophisticated dining experience for…
Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house is a rare architectural gem in the heart of the Lake District…
Nestled between Windermere and Ambleside, Broadoaks Country House Hotel is a hidden gem in the…
Whether you would like to rent an Electric Bike or join a Bike Tour or Holiday, we organise…
Join us for our children's Easter Sunday party at The Swan Hotel! Taking place on Sunday 20th…
A 2-hour session with a foraging expert, including ID work, finding and tasting wild ingredients,…
Memories have never been easier! Freedom Boat Club takes care of everything – maintenance,…
Pay & Display car park (NT members free)with 24 spaces. A narrow, single track lane leads to this…
A family friendly ride from Windermere to Staveley on quiet roads with stunning views to the…
Walking holidays in extraordinary Lake District properties. Inspired by the traditional ‘alpine way…
Green Man Survival provides survival and bushcraft training and experiences in the Lake District…
Charter a skippered yacht for a two hour sailing experience for up to four people.
They're back! The long-awaited return of Voulez Vous ABBA Tribute is finally here. With a legacy of…
Our pub is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a day exploring the Lake District. We offer…
Join us as we welcome Leon Knight to The Swan for a special performance from 6pm – 8pm on the 30th…
Our modern, fully furnished and equipped caravan holiday homes are situated in a quiet area,…
Paddle Windermere to a remote shore, light fire and cook on open fire. We are an inclusive company…
One of the premier bars and restaurants in Windermere, located in the heart of the Lake District…
Join Green Man Survival for our most in depth and demanding survival challenge. You will spend 72…
The Spa at Low Wood Bay will take you on a journey of indoor and outdoor thermal spaces, exquisite…
The cycle track sandwiched between the lake edge and the steep flanks of Claife Heights gives a…
We're looking forward to welcoming Zac Thompson to The Swan on the 23rd May for a spring time…
Experience the adventure. Glamping is one of the best ways to stay close to nature without…
The sport of rock climbing was essentially born here, and the Lake District has a rich heritage of…
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
Number of results: 268
, currently showing 61 to 80.
Windermere
If you can't decide which one of our kick ass experiences to choose, don't, and just do them all! This experience includes fire lighting using natural materials and sparks along with how to build a shelter with materials provided by nature in our…
Bowness-on-Windermere
Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house is a rare architectural gem in the heart of the Lake District and offers a perfectly preserved snapshot of early 20th-century living.
Windermere
Join Green Man Survival for our most in depth and demanding survival challenge. You will spend 72 hours surviving in our private woodland learning a wealth of skills and knowledge that will enable you to thrive in this stunning habitat.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Set within the contemporary country house hotel Linthwaite House, Henrock opened its doors in October 2019.
Henrock is an informal restaurant that serves an à la carte menu using local, seasonal ingredients, inspired by flavours and techniques…
Bowness-on-Windermere
The Arts Bar is a celebration of great food and perfectly crafted drinks in a building famed for creativity. If you are looking for somewhere cosy, quirky, characterful & unique then look no further.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Windermere Ferry takes people, vehicles, horses and cycles across the lake. It links the busy eastern shore of the lake and the peaceful countryside between Windermere and Coniston on the west, where there are many attractions and facilities for…
Windermere
The Spa at Low Wood Bay will take you on a journey of indoor and outdoor thermal spaces, exquisite lunch or afternoon tea options and a hand-selected spa treatment; enjoy unpretentious luxury in a unique setting.
Windermere
The Lake Edge Restaurant at Storrs Hall offers a seasonal fixed price menu, as a distinctly different choice to The Bistro. There is a choice of dishes for each course of this 3 course dinner menu.
Rayrigg Rd, Windermere
Join us for an action-packed weekend of STEAM fun, with hands-on activities, mind-blowing science shows, and interactive educational workshops suitable for all ages!
This year's Windermere Science Festival brings together leading scientists and…
Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere
Afternoon Tea at The Belsfield is a quintessentially English experience, offering delicious Afternoon Tea with amazing views of Lake Windermere. The Belsfield is situated in 6-acres of gardens overlooking Lake Windermere and the Cumbrian hills…
Newby Bridge
A new home interiors and renovation event that showcases the huge range of expert, independent businesses and artisan craftsmanship within Cumbria will launch next Spring. Media stars and upholsterers, Vicky Grubb and Ray Clarke, (BBC's Money for…
Newby Bridge
Join us for our children's Easter Sunday party at The Swan Hotel!
Taking place on Sunday 20th April from 3pm – 5pm with pizza, chips and live entertainment. Tickets are just £12 per child – Supervising adults go free.
Please note the pizza and…
Lakeside
A spectacularly located site on the quieter western shores of Windermere, England’s largest lake and with stunning views our Lakeside site has it all in spades. Each of our yurts here have stunning lake views and are a hop, skip and a splosh away…
Bowness-on-Windermere
Memories have never been easier! Freedom Boat Club takes care of everything – maintenance, cleaning, repairs and storage. All you have to do is book your boat, relax and revel in time spent with family and friends. We’ve taken every step to make…
Ambleside, Windermere
British and continental menu served up in contemporary, colourful, and classy surroundings.
Bowness on Windermere
Wednesday 5 March
At last, an Irish music show that has come out of Ireland without the clichés that usually follow! There are no flat caps or twee costumes here. Instead, you get incredibly talented musicians and dancers who simply want to bring…
Hawkshead, Lake Windermere
Get behind the wheel with this brilliant 4x4 experience with Graythwaite Adventure. With careful planning and consideration for the natural landscape, we’ve designed the Lake District’s only off-road course with BORDA (British Off Road Driving…
Lake Road, Windermere
Experience the adventure. Glamping is one of the best ways to stay close to nature without sacrificing those all-important home comforts.
Windermere
Delightful recently refurbished cottages in a quiet location, yet a stroll from Windermere & Bowness. Abbey Coach House Cottages are set within extensive gardens & ideally based for exploring the Lakes. Pets welcome & bike storage available
Windermere
Join us on our unique minibus tours and discover spectacular scenery, breathtaking views and fascinating Lake District stories. Daily guided tours for scenery, Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth and out to Haworth and the Brontë sisters.
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