Couperwife Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Me and Kev are going to Bowness on Windermere for a short holiday we enjoy walking, not bothered about a bit of rain, enjoy pubs does anyone suggest anything in particular that we should consider doing? we will have the car, so anywhere is accessible really. we are quite happy to chill out, but would like some ideas of "you really should go and see..." thank you cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Me and Kev are going to Bowness on Windermere for a short holiday we enjoy walking, not bothered about a bit of rain, enjoy pubs does anyone suggest anything in particular that we should consider doing? we will have the car, so anywhere is accessible really. we are quite happy to chill out, but would like some ideas of "you really should go and see..." thank you cathy x Hadrian's Wall and Vindolanda! We stayed on ullswater (camping) and we climbed one of the tallest peaks and went to see aira force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aimee Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 We stayed around there last week and the best thing we did was the summer buffet jazz cruise run by Windermere Lake Cruises. It sets off from Bowness (every Weds and Sat during the summer) at 7pm and returns at 9.30. It combines a cruise around the lake with a live jazz band and a two course buffet (main course with lots of meat and veggie options, dessert and tea/coffee). It's about £28 an adult but it was the highlight of our trip. A really chilled out evening and was quite fascinated to see what was going on in and around the lake at that time still (swimmers, water skiing, canoes ad that was with pretty rubbish weather) along with a great ambience. A really diverse range of people on board, all of who clearly had a good time. Another evening thing which we enjoyed was in Ambleside. Zeffirelli and Fellinis restaurants offer a two course meal with cinema ticket for about £17 and they do really high quality food. Enjoy your trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 We used to stay at the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere. There is a walk starting from the car park there (by the Bridge and also the Fish Inn) that goes along the lake and then up Haystacks and on to Great Gable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 When are you going? It's a tourist hot spot so it's really busy at the moment, but there are lots of shops and eateries in Bowness and Windermere. There are some really nice walks nearby too. This site details a couple of them (click where it says directory). I can highly recommend the Claife Heights and Sawrey / Tarns areas, they're really pretty with fabulous views. Grizedale Forest has a lot of way-marked trails, plus mountain bike hire and a nice cafe too. If you're after something a little more adventurous, you're not too far from Coniston Old Man, Langdale Pikes, Fairfield or Helvellyn. Apart from a boat trip on Windermere, there's the Aquarium of the Lakes near Newby Bridge, Beatrix Potter at Hawkshead, Wordsworth at Rydal. There's a beautiful garden at Holehird, just outside Windermere and I can highly recommend Holker Hall. If you've time, Low Sizergh Barn has a wonderful farm shop, cafe and farm walk too. To be honest, you'll be spoilt for choice - have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 The walk from Windermere (town), up to Orest Head is fabulous! Don't worry if you're not a walker, it,s tarmac for a good 2/3rds of the way up and the view at the top is just STUNNING, well worth doing and you'll be at the top easily within 30mins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 They have one of those panorama maps at the top so you can see what your looking at. PUBS Have lunch at the Watermill at Ings...about two miles out of Windermere on the Kendal road. Loads of different ales including the landlord's own microbrewery and nice food. http://www.watermillinn.co.uk/ Hawkshead brewery is at Staveley four and a half mile from Windermere. You can see the beer being made and they do food too....one of my favourite places http://www.hawksheadbrewery.co.uk/more_info_extra.asp?current_id=79 This http://www.windermere-way.co.uk/ is a great walk round the lake. Gummers Howe will give you a wonderful view over the lake and is fairly easy. It's one of my favourite picnic spots as it's deserted off season http://www.lake-district-guides.co.uk/walksvalley/walksvalley6b.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 We stay on the Sawrey side of Windermere most years (go over the chain ferry) and we love it. My absolute number 1 recommendation is Brantwood which is lovely (http://www.brantwood.org.uk/) - it was John Ruskin's house and is over by Coniston Water (opposite Coniston village). The house and garden are wonderful and it has the most wonderful restaurant/tea shop called Jumping Jenny's which serves super food and cakes (try the lemon tart). (The terrace overlooks the lake too, so it's great on a sunny day). There is also a craft/art gallery too. Grasmere and Hawkshead are good places to visit, the tarns above Sawrey are a lovely walk too... (I want to go there now....) Jill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
