Lake District Towns

One of the most famous lakes in the Lake District, Windermere attracts more visitors than any other town in the region.
Return to Staveley and the A591, turning right for Windermere, which before the arrival of the railway in 1847 was the hamlet of Birthwaite, situated a mile from the lake anciently known as Vinard's Mere. A railway service still operates, though part of the station site is now occupied by a supermarket, with a cafe. There is also a large retail outlet of Lakeland Plastics, with a cafe and car park.

Windermere is very much a Victorian town, with a variety of shops. Continue down Lake Road to Bowness and park in one of the large parking areas by Bowness Bay. Bowness on Windermere is a town around which to saunter. The promenade at Bowness Bay has a gala atmosphere as boats come and go at the various piers, waves lap against shingle, gulls squawk and the majority of swans seem to spend most of the day out of the water, waddling about begging for food. The 'steamers' Swan, Teal and Tern are operated by Windermere Lake Cruises. Their service runs between Lakeside, Bowness and Waterhead (for Ambleside). Windermere Lake Cruises also organizes winter sailings. 'Freedom' day tickets are available.

ST MARTINS CHURCH WINDERMERE

The most historic building, St Martin's Church, has an east window which consists of 15th century glass said to have been brought from Cartmel Priory Belsfield, at one time the home of the Furness industrialist H.W. Schneider, is now a hotel. Schneider's iron hulled boat, Esperance, can be seen, with much else, at the Windermere Steamboats & Museum, which has a pleasant setting on the lakeside half a mile north of Bowness. The museum has the world's finest collection of steamboats, many afloat, some under cover. Of special interest is Dolly, which is the world's oldest mechanically powered boat it was launched in 1850, sank nine years later, and was recovered in 1962.

Weather permitting, steam launch trips are organized on Windermere, and visitors can make the most of the lake by staying locally in one of the many hotels, guesthouses and B & B´s in Bowness.Occupying a central position at Bowness is The World of Beatrix Potter - An exhibition creates the atmosphere of walking through her books and meeting her characters. A tearoom has been added.

BLACKWELL THE LAKE DISTRICT

There are plenty of places to visit in the Lake District, just a short drive from Bowness and Windermere, including Blackwell.
From Bowness, follow the A5074 (which begins opposite the church) to the signposted turning for Blackwell (open mid Feb Dec, 10.30am- 5pm, reduced hours in winter), the Arts and Crafts house designed by M.H. Baillie Scott for a wealthy Manchester brewery owner. Built between 1897 and 1900, Baillie Scott's experiment in light, space and texture has been sympathetically renovated.

LYTH VALLEY LAKE DISTRICT

Return to the A5074 now and proceed through the Lyth Valley, lyth being a Norse word referring to the long slope leading up to the limestone plateau of Whitbarrow. Although it has an A classification, the road has an easygoing manner and offers long views over Windermere.

A few minutes' further south lies Winster, with a much photographed, white walled post office in a house dated 1600. Its environs are a riot of flowers in summer. Just beyond Winster, the name of a roadside hotel, Damson Dene, draws attention to a famous product of the Lyth Valley, the damsons, which have a nutty flavor. Ripe by September, some are eaten immediately; others are preserved as jam and yet more go to make gin.

In May its worth driving down the valley and back again to see the glory of damson blossom, which in a good year gives an impression of a light fall of snow. Take your time to explore the spectacular countryside around the towns.

Near Damson Dene, an unclassified road on the right leads to Bowland Bridge. Continue up the hill beyond the bridge, where a signpost indicating Cartmel Fell Church is seen. In summer, the church is hidden behind the trees. The building dates back to the early 16th century, when it was a chapel in the parish of Cartmel, a village about 7 miles away.

Return to Damson Dene and take the road that goes straight to Crosthwaite on the northern side of the Lyth Valley. There is no Lyth Beck, just two little rivers, one called Pool and the other Gilpin. This part of the Lake District is in delightful contrast with the austere fell country. There are relatively small fields, lots of trees and some hedges as well as walls.

ULLSWATER AND KIRKSTONE PASS

Offering incredible landscapes, Ullswater and Kirkstone Pass are among the most popular regions for walkers and hikers in the Lake District.Ullswater stretches from craggy volcanic fells to an altogether softer landscape resting on friable Skiddaw slate. The fells assembled around the upper reach appear to leap straight from the water, like mountains from a Norwegian fjord. There was once a passion, on the part of those with taste and leisure, to shatter the silence and listen to the echoes. The Duke of Portland mounted some brass guns on a boat. One who heard about it suggested that the Duke might 'let a few French horns and clarionets be introduced.' Unlike other lakes, Ullswater has two bends, giving it a shape rather like a dog's leg. The name is Norse, meaning Ulfr's lake although which Ulfr gave his name to the lake is hard to say, as the name was common among the Norse settlers.

KIRKSTONE PASS LAKE DISTRICT

If you are looking to explore the true beauty of the Lake District, take a stroll around Kirkstone Pass.The area takes its name from a large pointed rock, said to resemble a kirk. The road is the A592. It crests at 1,489ft (454m), but is kept er open throughout the winter when some other high Lakeland passes are left to the snow dogs. Early tourists who wrote about their experiences on Kirkstone Pass chilled their hearers.

On the route described here, Kirkstone is crossed twice, the second time being from south to north, when the views across the fells are most dramatic.

PENRITH CUMBRIA

Penrith offers visitors some of the most fascinating museums, monuments and Lake District history in the region.Lying just off the M6, Penrith has about it a ruddy tinge from red sandstone. The town name relates to a crossing point of the Eamont, the outflow of Ullswater. The market tradition which began in the 13th century had a modern expression in the recent creation of an auction mart near the big M6 roundabout. The l4th century Castle is a picturesque stump, with grassed over moat, in a park near the railway station. No charge is made for a visit.

Georgian St Andrew's Church dates from 1722. In the churchyard are up reared stones known as the Giant's Grave and associated in legend with an ancient Cumbrian king. The Romans had an important fort at Brougham, a mile or so down the road towards Appleby. Brougham Castle (English Heritage) is the former home of the Clifford family. Just off the A6 south of Penrith is the Estate of the Lowthers, Earls of Lonsdale, whose family name was bestowed on the River Lowther.

Rheged The Village in the Hill reached from the M6 at Junction 40, using the Keswick Road, is named after Cumbria’s Celtic Kingdom. Europe's largest grass covered building contains a cinema, artist’s exhibitions, shops and several places to eat. The Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre has a wide collection of hawks, eagles, owls and falcons and offers daily falconry displays.

DALEMAIN LAKE DISTRICT

Leave town by the Keswick road (A66) and at a roundabout bear left (A592) for Pooley Bridge and Ullswater. The mansion seen to the right of the road, 3 miles (5km) from Penrith, is Dalemain , home of the Hasell family since 1679. Dalemain is really three houses in one: it is Georgian in outward appearance, the facade hides an Elizabethan house, and at the core of the building is a Norman pele tower. A herd of fallow deer occupies a walled park behind the house.

Where the A592comes in sight of the lake, bear left for Pooley Bridge, which has a backdrop of a wooded hill called Dunmallet (dun indicating a hill fort). A fastflowing river, the Eamont, is In a tributary of the Eden (car park by the river, near the narrow road bridge).