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Windermere &
Bowness-on-Windermere
can be found roughly at the midpoint on the east side of
the longest lake in England "Lake Windermere" [10.5 miles/17km].
Windermere is situated above and away from the lake of about
1 mile/1.5km while Bowness-on-Windermere being the main
tourist centre on the lake.
It may seem odd that Windermere, rather than Bowness at
the water's edge, takes it name from the lake. The reason
behind this was simply to provide the railway station with
a more appealing name. Until the opening of the line in
1847 Windermere was known as Birthwaite. Windermere is as
far into the heart of the Lake District as the railway was
ever driven.
With the railway,
Windermere developed quickly around the station, with hotels,
boarding houses and shops eventually spreading down the
hill to merge with Bowness.
Swans and ducks can be fed at the lakeshore around the Glebe
[Bowness-on- Windermere] with boats for hire around the
pier. Windermere
Steamers the Teal, Tern [100yrs old] and Swan offer
a regular service between Ambleside
[Waterhead] and Lakeside [Haverthwaite
Railway]. A short distance away you will find the ferry
that carries passengers and cars across the lake to Sawrey
and beyond to Hawkshead.
Just south of the ferry a marina can be found with all the
facilities you would expect from a modern marina. Back at
the Glebe you will find tennis courts and pitch and put
golf.
Some of the finest
hotels and accommodation can be found in and round Windermere
and Bowness-on-Windermere. A number of taxi's and buses
also operate around the towns and from the railway station.
You will find excellent array of eateries from bistros,
cafes, pizza parlours, Indian restaurants, Chinese, fish
and chips takeaways. Also there are plenty of shops, ranging
from crafts, gifts, clothing, outdoor shops, supermarket
[Booths]. There are a number drinking establishments from
the quite to the more lively ones.
A footpath next to the Windermere Hotel opposite the railway
station takes you through the woods to the top of Orrest
Head with one of the finest views in the Lakes.
An excellent and fascinating collection of craft, mainly
steam-powered launches from the Victorian and Edwardian
times can be found at the Windermere
Steamboat Museum. Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck and
a number of other characters come to life at the World
of Beatrix Potter Attraction with the latest technology.
A short journey from Windermere on the road to Ambleside
brings you to Brockhole
the National Park Visitor Centre. Here you can learn
about the Lake District and the effort to preserve the beauty
of the Lakes. During the summer, you will find a regular
programme of events for all ages.
You can see why Windermere is the main centre of attraction
for most visitors.
Clicking on the various
Level Maps below will show different map views of Ambleside
and District. Maps Courtesy of Multi
Map.
Windermere & Bowness-on-Windermere - Quick Links |
