Windermere and Lake District Walks

Windermere is one of the best places in the Lake District to enjoy walking, climbing and hiking, plus a range of boating activities and water sports on the famous lake. Whatever you want to do in the Lake District you will find it within easy reach of Windermere, and a range of award-winning attractions keep visitors flocking back to Cumbria.

Windermere and Bowness accommodation is also among the finest in the Lake District, and a range of superb boutique hotels have sprung up in this beautiful area of Cumbria. If you are looking for a themed hotel or a luxury hotel for a romantic weekend, look no further than Bowness or Windermere.

The best way to explore the Lake District is on foot, and there are a wide range of routes, which vary in degrees of difficulty and terrain. The Lake District boasts a diverse range of countryside, terrain and mountains to offer visitors some of the most scenic walks in England.

With over 14 million visitors a year, the Lake District National Park covers 885 square miles and is home to the longest lake and the highest mountain in England – namely Windermere and Scafell Pike. A vast number of scenic lakes and rivers keep visitors flocking to the Lake District, and over 43,000 people live within its boundaries.

The region also offers visitors a rich cultural history and there are plenty of attractions, including the Honister Slate Mine, which take people back in time to the days of great industry in the Lake District. Once known for its lead and slate mining, the Lake District first became famous for tourism in Victorian times, when wealthy city aristocrats used to visit and enjoy the clear, country air.

If you are planning to travel around the Lake District, the best way to get from one region to another is by public transport or hire car, but once you are there, you should explore the superb inner areas of the National Park on foot, to make the most of your visit. To get away from your normal routine, there is no better place to enjoy the great outdoors than the Lake District, where you can climb the mountains, cycle around the fenland routes and explore the beautiful towns and villages which make this region so special. Not forgetting the lakes of course, where you can enjoy a boating trip or even sail under your own steam and hire a rowing boat.

One of the best places to visit is the Ashgill Falls, which is a huge, magnificent waterfall which is surrounded by woodland, flora and fauna, and which fills the forest with noise as the water roars down the fall. Visitors can walk from the village of Garrigill to the Ashgill Falls and you can even go right behind the falls and stand underneath the water (without getting too wet).

A direct train from Manchester Airport to Windermere has made the Lake District much more accessible for visitors from overseas, and for visitors from other parts of the UK, public transport links are good if you want to leave your car at home. One of the best places to base yourself in the Lake District is Windermere or Bowness where the range of boutique hotels, organic hotels, themed hotels and spa hotels is fantastic, and a vast range of accommodation provides the perfect place for a romantic weekend.

Great places to go in the Lake District

With 14 national parks, the UK offers visitors some of the best areas of outstanding beauty in Europe, and one of the most popular is the Lake District in Cumbria.

Situated in the north-west of England, the Lake District boasts some of the finest scenery in the UK, with mountains, lakes, fens and open countryside, not to mention a wealth of superb spa hotels, hot tub hotels and themed boutique hotels around Windermere and Bowness.

Visitors to the Lake District can sail along Windermere, England´s longest lake at 10.5 miles, climb Scafell Pike, one of the UK´s highest mountains, or take a trip to one of the hundreds of attractions, including The Beatrix Potter Attraction at Bowness, and the Lakeland Aquarium, Windermere.

Whether you enjoy outdoor adventure or you are planning a romantic weekend in a boutique hotel, you will be spoilt for choice in Windermere and Bowness. With over 2,187 miles of rights of way in the Lake District, visitors can discover the region on horseback, on foot or on a bike, to make the most of the stunning scenery, the lakes and the vast range of great places to eat and drink.

It is well worth visiting the fabulous villages and towns in the Lake District, and if you decide to stay in a Windermere or Bowness boutique hotel, you will be within easy distance of all the major attractions. If you are planning a weekend break in the Lake District, you may find yourself returning every year to explore another part of this glorious region.

If you are visiting the Lake District for the first time, there are some places you should definitely visit:

1. Windermere is the longest of all lakes in England, at 10.5 miles and is surrounded by some of the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes in Britain. The best way to explore Windermere is by taking one of the many steamer trips around the lake or by hiring a boat. If you want to visit Orrest Head, Gummers How and the villages of Ambleside and Bowness, you can combine walking with public transport or hire a car.

2. Derwentwater is 3 miles long and has several small islands which can all be explored. The best way to reach them is by hiring a small motor boat or rowing boat for an afternoon or morning. To explore the area around the shores of the lake, visitors can hop on and off ferries which criss-cross Derwentwater during the summer. To the west you can visit the fells of Cat Bells and take your time to explore Friar´s Crag to the east which offers stunning views over Derwentwater.

3. Keswick is a traditional small market town on the north shore of Derwentwater, and is located in one of England´s most beautiful lakeside settings. Windermere or Keswick are the perfect base for visitors who want to explore the whole of the Lake District, and there are plenty of things to see and do around both towns. Situated near Keswick are three museums where you can learn more about the history of the region, and an indoor pool and climbing centre also attract plenty of more adventurous visitors.

4. Grasmere is close to the banks of Lake Grasmere and rowing boats can be hired for visitors wanting to explore this beautiful waterway. The village is full of quaint pubs, cosy cafés and some excellent restaurants to keep visitors fed and watered during their stay. The grave of world famous poet, William Wordsworth is also situated at the church in Grasmere. The area has many public footpaths so visitors can make the most of their visit.

5. Weekend breaks in the Lake District have increased in popularity since the first boutique hotels appeared in Windermere and Bowness, and there are now plenty of superb romantic hotels and guesthouses to stay. Whether you are planning a romantic weekend, a family holiday or a few days away from the stress of working life, there is no better place to stay in the Lake District than a spa hotel or a hot tub hotel in Windermere or Bowness. After a busy day walking on the fens or boating around Windermere, imagine returning to your luxury hotel suite for a relaxing soak in a hot tub or spa bath, followed by dinner in one of the Lake District´s superb restaurants.

6. Some of the best outdoor activities in the Lake District include a steam railway, the Lakeland Aquarium at Windermere, the Beatrix Potter Attraction at Bowness, Hilltop Farm at Hawkshead, which was once home to Beatrix Potter and a host of riding centres and cycling routes. If you are planning a winter break in the Lakes District there are plenty of things to see and do whatever the weather. You can hike, bike and sail year-round and take advantage of some of the great walking trails which are suitable for all ages and all levels of fitness.

7. Lakes in the Lake District are the main attraction of the area, and there are over 100 lakes in the region, ranging in length and depth. Some of the most famous lakes include: Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston and Bassenthwaite. Interestingly, Bassenthwaite Lake is the only body of water in the Lake District which includes the name ´lake´ as all the others are known as ´water´, ´mere´ or tarn.

8. Winter breaks in the Lake District are attracting more visitors than ever, as there are fewer tourists around, and many of the attractions are staying open longer. Winter breaks and Christmas breaks in the Lake District continue to increase in popularity, and for visitors who want to get away from it all and enjoy a romantic weekend or a week´s winter holiday, there is no better place to visit in England than the Lake District.

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