Holiday apartment in Windermere: discover the lake, paths and Lake District

Landscape and paths

A notable starting point is Orrest Head. The circular route there is 3.5 kilometres long and leads through Elleray Wood. Orrest Head reaches an elevation of 238 metres and offers a 360-degree view over Windermere and the Central Fells. A step-free route is marked by blue waymarkers. A linear path also runs along the western shore, measuring 4.5 kilometres in each direction. The first two kilometres of this path from Ferry House to Strawberry Gardens are classified as a route suitable for many visitors. Along the way, there are expansive views across the lake towards Bowness and further north to the Troutbeck Hills; there are also opportunities to rest and picnic.

Water

Windermere Lake Cruises offers self-drive electric boats and rowing boats for hire at the jetties at Bowness Beach, Bowness Dock, Waterhead and Lakeside. The boat services connect Ambleside, Bowness, Brockhole, Lakeside and the Windermere Jetty Museum. Those who want to combine water and walking can use the Walkers Ticket, which combines a boat cruise with a walking route. The Windermere Outdoor Adventure Centre offers kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, raft building and sailing, as well as equipment hire and lessons.

The Windermere Ferry provides another connection across the lake. It carries vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians between Ferry Nab in Bowness and Far Sawrey. The crossing takes around 10 minutes each way. The ferry is therefore just as much a part of the lake’s transport landscape as the boat services operated by Windermere Lake Cruises. In the past, Windermere was used as a transport route for stone, minerals, coal and woollen fabrics.

Culture and history

In the surrounding area, the Windermere Jetty Museum displays a collection of steam vessels connected with the history of the Lake District World Heritage Site. Also nearby, Wray Estate has signposted paths through parkland on the shores of Windermere and access to a pebble beach. A 45-minute guided tour there provides information about the history of the estate. The grounds also include a Gothic Revival-style boathouse and a miniature harbour.

Nearby, the gardens at Brockhole extend across terraces: from the formal planting area, they lead through flower beds and meadows to woodland and the shores of Windermere. A short circular route leads around the Brockhole grounds along the lakeshore. Bowness is also home to a church built in 1483, one of the oldest surviving churches in Cumbria.

Nature and culture for different days

Fell Foot provides opportunities for paddling, canoeing and boat hire on Windermere. The parkland and meadows at Fell Foot offer opportunities to spot otters, warblers and geese. The Boathouse Café at Fell Foot serves drinks, freshly prepared hot and cold meals, snacks, cakes and pastries.

The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction opened on 28 July 1991. It brings Beatrix Potter’s stories to life in a recreation of the Lake District landscape. The garden uses plants and scenes to recreate the world of Beatrix Potter. The Peter Rabbit Café offers a themed dining experience with brunch, lunch and afternoon tea and is open daily from 10:30 to 16:00. The Attraction is accessible via an uphill ramp from Crag Brow or via an uphill ramp from Rayrigg Road.

Other destinations

Other destinations in the surrounding area include Bowness-on-Solway, Keswick, Orton, Great Clifton, Crosby Garrett, Bassenthwaite, Longtown and Scotby. From here, you can continue on to the next place that complements your personal selection.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cumbria.