Where is windermere lake district

Find out more about the exciting events happening both on and off the water. Find out more about our all-in-on packages, many have been designed with educational groups in mind. Hire an electric motorboat for 1 or 2 hours from Bowness or Ambleside and explore Lake Windermere at your own pace.

Steamers and launches operate from Bowness Bay to Waterhead at Ambleside, and Lakeside at the southern end. The only car ferry takes around 10 minutes to cross the centre of Windermere lake. The lake is today one of the prime destinations for water sports in the Lake District. Several marinas and Sailing and Windsurfing Centres are to be found on the shores. You will also find a large selection of Adventure Activity companies, guides and instructors for all abilities based around the lake.

Details of these can be found in our Activities Section. Wherever you choose to stay you will find a great selection of excellent attractions to visit nearby. And for the adventurous, the outdoor activity industry in the Windermere lake area offers almost every imaginable opportunity. Bowness-on-Windermere is on the east shore and the busiest tourist destination in the Lake District.

Ambleside , at the northern tip of the lake, is also very popular with visitors. Newby Bridge at the south end of the lake is slightly less well known and consequently a little quieter. However it also has plenty of accommodation and attractions. It is connected to the lake cruises route via a short journey on the steam railway. These all have their own smaller lakes of the same names.

Hawkshead , Sawrey and Troutbeck and the majestic Langdales are all close by. Windermere's Visitor Information Service. Top Attractions in Windermere. We look forward to welcoming you to the Lake District. View all. Mountain Goat View Detail. Windermere Lake Cruises View Detail. World of Beatrix Potter View Detail. Visitor Experiences What visitors are saying about Windermere.

Stunning We have visited Lake Windermere numerous times and it never fails to impress. Julie T - Heywood, United Kingdom. Memories forever Such a wonderful, tranquil. Charliee Dee - Stafford, United Kingdom. Beautiful Views Lots to do for all ages. Teresa R - Norwich, United Kingdom. Natural, scenic, attraction Travelled to this place on a weekend as an alternative to the scotland, and found a peaceful, natural, scenic attraction.

Mukundsaarang - Chennai , India. Accommodation Luxury accommodation to suit everyone. Our gallery See all activities. Instagram Feed Follow us on Instagram for more Information. Windermere Info. The lake has three principal towns on its east bank, the twin towns of Bowness and Windermere , and Ambleside which lies further to the north. Bowness has its origins in the 11th century, when the area was colonised by the invading Vikings, the name is said to derive from the Old Norse 'bogi nes' meaning 'promontory shaped like a bow'.

The town has now merged with Windermere town, originaly the hamlet of Birthwaite, which owes its development to the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere railway, the establishment of which was staunchly opposed by the poet William Wordsworth, concerned that the influx of visitors would spoil the natural appeal of the lake.

Ambleside is a major Lake District resort and it is a convenient base for a holiday in the area. Lying five miles north-west of the town of Windermere, Ambleside has been a settlement since pre-Roman times, although the present town largely grew up in the Victorian era.

Orrest Head , above the town is considered by many to be the best viewpoint over Windermere. At feet, some stunning views over the surrounding area may be had from its summit. The surrounding scenery becomes progressively higher and more rugged to the north, and the lush wooded hills which surround the southern section, magnificent when clad in Autumn colours, give way to the rugged grandeur of the often cloud capped Langdale Pikes , which are clearly visible from the mid and north sections of the lake.

The name Windermere has it's origins in the tenth century when a Norse chief called Vinand bestowed upon the lake its name of 'Vinand's Mere. The lake is dotted with wooded islands, in all eighteen of them, the largest of which is the 40 acre Belle Isle , which lies just opposite Bowness and was once owned by the Curwen family, friends of Wordsworth. Formerly known as Long Holme, the island was renamed in the late eighteenth century in honour of Isabella Curwen, whose husband then purchased the island.