10 Fun things to do in Windermere

Whether you are planning a weekend break in Windermere, a romantic weekend in Bowness or a family holiday, you will find plenty of things to see and do.

1. The World in Miniature Museum

The World in Miniature Museum attracts visitors, young and old from all over the Lake District and beyond. Visitors can browse through more than 50 rooms in the museum and explore the library, dining room and theatre. Home to the world´s smallest teddy bear and also boasting a magical wizard´s tower, this attraction has gained in popularity over the past few years. The museum is situated in Carlisle and for visitors from outside the Lake District, take junction 44 from the M6 motorway and the museum is signposted 1 mile down the A689.


2. Greystoke Castle Estate

This estate is located 7 miles north of Ullswater and the centre offers fabulous family activities for children over 12 years of age, from quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, archery and fishing. The centre also offers development training for kids to improve their motivation and self-confidence. It is advisable to book in advance if you plan to visit Greystoke Castle.

3. Brockhole Visitor Centre

This is one of the most popular attractions in the Lake District, and is situated between Windermere and Ambleside, just off the A591. This is the perfect place for a family day out, and the kids will love the adventure playground with a wealth of open spaces to run around, and a picnic area. Older visitors can also enjoy walks to the lakeshore from the visitor centre and the complex is set in 30 acres of countryside. The under-7s can learn all about wildlife in the Lake District and this attraction is great for all age groups.

4. Equestrian and Outdoor Lake District activities

For lovers of the great outdoors, they will be spoilt for choice in the Lake District. Recommended trips include Rookin House, located at Troutbeck just 4 miles from Ullswater, which offers a wide range of activities for adults and kids, including horse riding, quad biking and go-karting.

5. The Cumberland Pencil Museum

This attraction is a lot more fun than it sounds (honest) and is situated at Keswick, the home of the very first pencil. You can see a recreation of Seathwaite Mine, where graphite was first discovered, and the kids will be fascinated by pencil-making history. The world´s largest pencil is also housed here and children can take express themselves in the ´Drawing Zone´ of the museum.

6. Outdoor activities in the Lake District

Whether you are planning a romantic weekend in a Windermere boutique hotel, or you want to book a full-on family activity holiday in the Lake District, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to places to stay and things to do. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and lakes around Windermere and Bowness and take a steamer trip across the lake or hire a rowing boat to view the fens and mountains from the water. Dodd Wood and Warriners Wood are also worth visiting, plus the Cumbrian coastal town of Whitehaven and the cultural capital of Carlisle.

7. Go Ape at Grizedale

Grizedale Go Ape is one of the most popular attractions in the Lake District, where kids can literally ´go ape´ and swing like monkeys across rope bridges. The Tarzan swing and slides prove particularly popular and this is not an attraction for the faint-hearted. Grizedale is situated about 12 miles from Windermere, and you can also reach the centre by following the A590 from Barrow.

8. Ostrich World

Located at the beautiful village of Langwathby, five miles east of Penrith, Ostrich World is a great place to take the family. Don´t be fooled by the name, as there are a vast range of animals housed here, including rare breeds of cattle and pigs and the famous black African ostriches. There is also a giant maze, play areas, picnic areas and a fascinating arts and crafts centre for all ages.

9. The World of Beatrix Potter Centre

The world famous ´World of Beatrix Potter´ Attraction is a fabulous place for kids to fuel their imaginations and they can lose themselves in the Tale of Peter Rabbit, and the incredible and magical recreation of Jemima Puddle duck and other famous Beatrix Potter characters. The tales of Beatrix Potter are transformed into life in amazing 3D effect and there are plenty of games and activities to keep the whole family happy.

10. Honister Slate Mine

A visit to Honister Slate Mine will transport you back in time to the days when slate and lead mining was the main industry in the Lake District. This is the last working slate mine in the UK and all the family can enjoy the guided mine tour and the other fascinating attractions in the visitor centre. The mine shows how Victorian miners worked and shows some of the original tools and equipment used to extract the slate from underground. To get to Honister Slate Mine, take the B5289 after Keswick for approximately 10 miles.

Make the most of the Lake District by booking a suite at a boutique hotel in Windermere or Bowness, and you can enjoy the best of Cumbria. If you plan to explore the Lake District, there is no better place to base yourself than Windermere or Bowness, where you can enjoy a host of great attractions, restaurants, boutique hotels and things to do.

All about Windermere

Windermere is 10.5 miles long and ranges from a quarter of a mile to one mile wide at its widest point. At the northern point of Windermere is Waterhead, just a mile from Ambleside, and Bowness-on-Windermere is situated near the middle of the lake shoreline. The southerly end of Windermere brings you to Newby Bridge.

Windermere first became popular with tourists in 1847 when the Kendal to Windermere railway line was constructed. The railway enabled wealthy Victorian visitors to travel to the heart of the Lake District with ease, and the network has now grown so much that trains are available direct from Manchester Airport to Windermere.

The busy West Coast Mainline can be joined from Oxenholme. The link from Manchester Airport has bought thousands of visitors to the Lake District from outside the UK and has put Windermere and Bowness on the map internationally.

One of the best things about Windermere and Bowness for visitors from overseas is the vast range of things to see and do around the region. Windermere and Bowness also offers visitors a fantastic choice of accommodation including superb boutique hotels with spa baths and hot tubs, which are ideal for a romantic weekend.

Windermere town is actually located on the east bank of the lake and is just over a mile from the lake itself. The population of Windermere is approximately 8,300, and this is one of the larger towns in the South Lakes. The town has many independent shops and businesses, plus a large Lakeland Limited store next to the train station.

A range of boutique hotels have opened up in Windermere and Bowness and there is now a much wider choice of accommodation than there was 10 years ago, when the majority of guesthouses comprised of basic B & B-style rooms. Romantic weekends in the Lake District have increased in popularity and the Lake District has now evolved into a quality destination for young and old.

Whatever floats your boat, you will find it in the Lake District, and whether you are looking for a quiet luxury hotel in Windermere, a campsite in Coniston or a guesthouse in Grasmere, you will find it. Take your time to explore Windermere, and enjoy lake cruises, fishing, water sports or stroll around the fens and woods nearby.

The scenery and landscapes around Bowness-on-Windermere are stunning, and this busy town offers visitors a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants and also the world famous Beatrix Potter Visitor Centre, which has increased in popularity since the release of the film, Miss Potter, starring Ewan McGregor and Rene Zellweger.

William Wordsworth and the Lake District

Once described by the famous poet and resident of the Lake District, William Wordsworth, as the ´loveliest spot ever known to man´ this little piece of Cumbrian paradise is one of the most scenic regions in the UK.

The diverse and ever-changing landscapes include wild fens, rugged mountains, green pastures and of course, the famous lakes. Attracting thousands of tourists every year, the Lake District, and particularly Windermere and Bowness now boast some of the best boutique hotels and romantic themed hotels in England, and many have private hot tubs and spa baths to make your stay extra special.

The Lake District is situated in the north west of England in the county of Cumbria, and is easily accessible from London, which is 280 miles away, and the nearer large cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. The region got its name from the 15 main lakes dotted around the area, and a host of smaller ones. The Lake District is the largest of 14 National Parks in England, and is made up of 880 square miles of diverse countryside.

Dove Cottage was the home of William Wordsworth's from 1799 to 1808, the years of his supreme work as a poet. The cottage is located in the hamlet of Town End, Grasmere, a place and a landscape at the centre of the English Lake District where the poet lived, wrote and found inspiration, and is now one of the most visited attractions in the region.

Most of the Lake District is either privately owned or looked after by the National Trust, which makes sure the area is looked after and preserved as much as possible. With over 1800 miles of public footpaths, the Lake District is a naturalist´s paradise, and there are plenty of things to see and do for all ages.

William Wordsworth lies buried in Grasmere Church, and spent many years living and working in the Lake District, where he found much of his inspiration. The famous poet made sure the Lake District was recorded in words, and the region of Ullswater inspired him to write ´a host of golden daffodils.´

The Wordsworth Family moved into Rydal Mount in 1813 and rented the house continually for 46 years until the death of Mary Wordsworth in 1859. Rydal Mount was the largest house the Wordsworth family lived in and became a much-loved family home.

Visitors to the Lake District can visit Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage, Grasmere, and both are within easy reach of Windermere and Bowness, where there are hundreds of attractions, fabulous spa boutique hotels, superb restaurants, bars and cafés and a wealth of things to see and do.

Whether you want to tour the Wordsworth houses in the Lake District, visit one of the residences of Beatrix Potter at Hill Top, hire a boat on Lake Windermere or make the most of the superb walking routes around the fens, this region offers something for everyone.

Scafell Pike in the Lake District

Situated in the western part of the Lake District, Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England, and attracts thousands of climbers and walkers every year.

Set amid breathtaking scenery, Scafell Pike is 3,210 feet high, and is generally thought to be a harder walk than the slightly higher, and more well-known, Snowdon in Wales. Scafell is a popular climb among visitors to the Lake District, but is probably less climbed than Helvellyn in the eastern part of the Lake District.

If you are planning to stay in a Windermere or Bowness hotel, you can get close to Scafell Pike by hire car or public transport, although the mountain lies in one of the least accessible parts of the region and all the routes to it cross rough and stony ground. If you are attempting to tackle Scafell Pike for the first time, make sure you have all the necessary equipment and keep an eye on the weather forecast.

Scafell Pike from Borrowdale

If you are attempting to approach Scafell from Borrowdale to the north, it is easily accessible from the Keswick area. The path through Esk Hause is probably the easiest, and this well market path goes from Seahtwaite, which is the last point you can drive to up Borrowdale. The path then continues to Stockley Bridge, where the left fork is taken and leads to Esk Hause. From here the path is easy to follow and heads up to the right and then bends left and crosses a stony plateau. The route then becomes rougher, the closer you get to the top via a steep ascent.

Alternatively, take the corridor route, which starts out the same, but take the right fork from Stockley Bridge instead of the left. This will take you up to Sty Head Pass between Borrowdale and Wasdale Head. Turn left at the pass and a path then leads away to the right across steep ground. The path then runs between the crags and the gully of Piers Ghyl, before climbing up to Lingmell Col, where a stony path leads to Scafell Pike up to the left.

Langdale and Windermere to Scafell Pike

If you are planning to set off from Langdale, which be easily reached from Windermere and Ambleside, an easy but long route heads along the valley of Mickleden to Rossett Gill path. Climbing Rossett Gill is not hard but the surface is loose and rough and is not one of the more popular routes. After Rossett Gill, a wider and busier path leads through some stunning high country to the shelter below Esk Hause, where the main route from Borrowdale is joined.

From Eskdale to the south a much less used route ventures into the remote country of Upper Eskdale to reach Samsons Stones - several huge boulders scattered on the valley floor beneath Scafell's Cam Spout Crag. The path ascends the steep mountainside to Mickledore which is the ridge separating Scafell Pike from Scafell. From Mickledore the route to the Pike turns roughly north up more rough ground to the summit.

There is no walkers route directly up to the neighboring peak of Scafell from Mickledore. The Eskdale route does not have any technical difficulties but is not for totally inexperienced walkers doing their first outing in the Fells. This side of the mountain is much more remote and you will encounter far fewer people. It is my favorite route to Scafell Pike.

Wasdale Head to Scafell Pike

Two routes ascent Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head. The most direct route leaves Wasdale Head from near the campsite and ascends Brown Tongue to the amphitheatre of Hollowstones below Scafell Crag and Pikes Crag. Walkers can head to Lingmell Col from here and join the last part of the corridor route from Borrowdale.

Alternatively you can walk up to Mickledore and bear left past Pulpit Rock to the summit, which will make up for the trudge up Brown Tongue, which is not one of the most popular sections of the climb. Many walkers prefer the route from Wasdale which goes via the Sty Head Path and joins the corridor route from Borrowdale, which reaches Lingmell Col by a longer but more scenic path.

Scafell Pike and the weather

If you are planning a walk up Scafell Pike, don´t be fooled by the modest altitude of the mountain. Just to the western side of Scafell Pike is Sprinkling Tarn, which his aptly named as it has the honour of being the wettest place in England. The rain, combined with the west and south west winds, can make the weather a challenge on its own. All things considered, the weather should not put you off, and can even add to the fun, but make sure you keep warm and dry to make the most of your time on Scafell Pike.

If you are looking to combine a climb up Scafell Pike with a romantic weekend in Windermere or Bowness, check out the fabulous themed boutique hotels in the district with private hot tubs, spas and luxury suites. There is nothing quite like spending an energetic day walking the fens of the Lake District, and then returning to a sumptuous boutique hotel suite in Windermere or Bowness and relaxing in a private spa bath or hot tub before dinner.

Family fun and romantic breaks in the Lake District

Of all the places to visit for a family holiday in the UK, the Lake District rates as one of the best, and offers family fun, romantic breaks for couples and attractions for all ages.

Tourism chiefs predict thousands more UK families to stay in Britain next year as a result of the recession and the poor Sterling/Euro exchange rate. Families who want more for their money and also a great British holiday, there is no better place to visit than the Lake District.

For the past 20 years more and more families and couples have been going abroad to Europe for their summer holidays and the UK market has continued to decrease. The UK seaside towns used to be thriving, including Whitehaven and resorts in the south west such as Devon and Cornwall, but increasingly, UK holiday resorts were only finding themselves busy during the summer months and virtual ghost towns at other times of the year.

The Lake District however has seen a surge in visitor numbers over the past few years, and the region offers everything for the family and for couples, including hundreds of attractions, superb luxury hotels, guesthouses and spa hotels, plus hot tub hotels and excellent accommodation for all age groups.

Family hotels and romantic hotels in the Lake District

What the UK and the Lake District lacks in winter sunshine, it more than makes up for with the vast range of activities and good old-fashioned fun to be had. Whether you are a lover of the great outdoors, and enjoy walking the fens, sailing across Windermere, or hauling your way around an adventure playground, you will not be disappointed in the Lake District.

If, however you are planning a romantic break in the Lake District without the kids, you can take advantage of the superb themed boutique hotels in Bowness and Windermere, and add some sparkle to your stay with a private spa bath or hot tub suite.

In addition to the many walking trails in the Lake District, other activities within easy reach of Windermere and Bowness include: Muncaster Castle, the World Owl Trust, Ravenglass Steam Railway, the Lake District Coast Aquarium, Puzzling Place and the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick, the Beatrix Potter Attraction at Bowness and the cycling tours around Grizedale Forest. Also, take a boat trip on Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater or Derwentwater, which will give you a superb view of your surroundings from the water.

If you organise your stay before you arrive, you can avoid all the stress of thinking what to do and where to go when you get to the Lake District, giving you much more time to enjoy yourself. If you like to be organised and are visiting with the family, work out an itinerary for each day of your stay, and pre-book tickets where applicable (some attractions get very busy in summer, particularly the Beatrix Potter Attraction at Bowness), and tickets can usually be pre-booked. Sailing, walking, museum trips and cycling in the Lake District are also popular so plan your routes before you travel.

Quiet and romantic breaks in the Lake District

If you are planning a quiet and romantic break in the Lake District with your partner, you may want to take each day as it comes, and there are plenty of romantic hotels in the Lake District that can cater to your every need, without you even having to leave your room. Check out the romantic themed boutique hotels in Bowness and Windermere with private spa bath, hot tubs and a range of extras to make sure your stay in the Lake District is extra special.

The poor Euro exchange rate is not the only reason families are increasingly visiting the Lake District. Some boutique hotels in Windermere and Bowness are eco-friendly, and organic hotels are on the increase. The awareness of climate change and also the impact that flying has on the environment, is something that is making people think twice about flying abroad.

Once holidaymakers realise what good they are doing for their children's future, money saved and most importantly, how much fun can be had on a holiday in the Lake District and other parts of the UK, the tourism industry will flourish once again.

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