Bowness & Windermere

Bowness And Windermere

Whilst staying in one of our Lake District Cottages you will know doubt wish to explore our many towns and villages, where Bowness and Windermere offer much to see and do.

Bowness & Windermere The linked towns of Windermere and Bowness lie at the heart of the Lake District, having been an attraction for visitors since Victorian times. Windermere, the town, lies furthest from Windermere, the lake - confusing I know. Here was where the railway came, bringing in those earliest befrocked visitors, who all leapt of the train with bucket and spades, hampers and picnics, promptly rushing down to Bowness and the lake. Recently Windermere has been given a face lift with an attractive pedestrian centre, where you will find plenty of shops along with good pubs and restaurants Leaving Windermere you run straight into Bowness. The town lies on the east shore of Windermere - the lake - sorry to be pedantic - its main street climbing away from the bay up a steep hill. OK - lets sort out this lake business. Now the funny thing is that none of the lakes in Cumbria are called lakes - except of course Bassenthwaite, but that is up the north, so doesn't count. The rest either have the Norse word mere in their name, meaning water, or follow on with the more obvious Anglo Saxon Water, as in Coniston Water - clear, well that is until they become Tarns........ The Bowness settlement dates back to the 11th century when the Vikings first set up shop. I read this derives from the Norse bogi nes, a bow shaped promontory and not a nasal affliction. It is said that a chap called Vinandr, no doubt the head Norseman of old Bogi nes, looked out on the water and decided to name it after himself, Vinandr's Mere, hence todays Windermere. For centuries Bowness remained little more than a few cottages and fishermens huts. Then came the 19th century and that steam railway. Up went the guest houses and the shops, in moved the wealthy industrialists, building palatial homes and notably with one Mr Schneider, his own private pier and private steam yacht, The Esperance, which in turn connected him to his own private railway. The rest, as they, say is history and progress.The Esperance still survives, an elegant craft owned by the Windermere Steam Boat Museum.

Shopping - Dining - Entertainment

Shopping - Dining - Entertainment Today much of the action takes place down at the bottom end with shops, pubs and restaurants and the boat terminus. Here you can board one of the Steamers from old Mr Schneider’s pier, and cruise up and down the lake, calling at Ambleside in the north or Lakeside down at the southern tip. For those who wish to take to the water under their own steam you can hire row boats or little electric powerboats. Along the bay, on the Glebe, is the Marina with lots of boaty shops for cleats, rollicks, diving and sailing gear, also a few bars and cafes overlooking the water. As well as water activities there are a number of good attractions. The Windermere Steamboat Museum lies on the Rayrigg Road. Here you get a wonderful insight into a more genteel age of boating, and can book a trip on one of their fine restored steamboats. The Old Laundry is both a theatre and host to an exhibition dedicated to the characters of Beatrix Potter and is a great favourite with children. At the top end of the town is the Royalty Cinema. South, on the Newby Bridge Road, is the newly restored Blackwell Arts & Crafts House. This perfect example of the Arts & Crafts movement also houses a fine gallery of modern art. There are lots of shops, grocers, chemists and bakers and, in the Arcade, just off Ash Street, is an interesting chocolate shop. Back up at Windermere - the tow... I think you have got it by now - is Booths, an excellent local supermarket. Like most Lakeland towns there is a selection of outdoor clothing shops. Stuart's, at the top end, has been there forever and is stuffed full of kit, often at less than the going price in Ambleside. For a splash of fash’ there is Morse Point at the very bottom of the town, serving up Hugo Boss and the like. Lakeland is a local outlet specialising in leather clothes, belts and jumpers for both men and women. For dining out the fayre is varied from pizza to Chinese and to fair restaurants come and go. The Old Laundry has a very good cafe with nice filling crostini, good coffee and teas. The Stores Park Hotel lies just south of the town and has an excellent reputation for the finest cuisine, all set in a grand lakeside building. The Old Porthole Eating House, once hosted by the lovely Gianni Berton and remembered fondly by old Lakeland hands, it is now part of Lucy's empire, becoming a relaxed wine bar and bistro, where you get offered devilishly good cuisine and a heavenly wine list.

Out And About - Local Walks - Activities

Out And About - Local Walks - Activities The town is good to explore, a pleasing maze of little lanes in which you will find all of the cafes and shops, along with the post office, grand hotels and the oldest pub, The Hole Int’ Wall. The name comes from the days when ale was passed through a hole to the then adjoining blacksmith - clever eh. The church of St Martins is a handsome building and marks the area of the old part of Bowness. Head north toward Ambleside and you have the Brockhole National Park Visitor Centre, Here there are indoor exhibitions, the famous Thomas Mawson gardens and an exciting adventure playground ensures there is something for all the family, along with boat trips and hire rowing boats or canoes. For local walks, apart from a stroll along the bay, the nearest bit of countryside starts from up at Windermere, where a path opposite the railway entrance leads up onto Orrest Head. Here you will get some of the finest views of the lake and Cumbrian Mountains - do take your camera. You can carry on and come down into the Troutbeck Valley, returning by lane to the village, or step that bit further and find the excellent Queens Head Inn in Troutbeck village.

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