Cumbria and the Lake District

the Lake Windermere guide

Easily the most popular of the lakes. Windermere was the original tourist destination in the Lake District.

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• The Lakes
  • Bassenthwaite
  • Buttermere
  • Coniston Water
  • Crummock Water
  • Derwentwater
  • Elterwater
  • Ennerdale Water
  • Grasmere
  • Haweswater
  • Loweswater
  • Rydal Water
  • Thirlmere
  • Ullswater
  • Wast Water
  • Windermere
• The Fells
  • Cat Bells
  • Coniston Old Man
  • Fairfield
  • Fleetwith Pike
  • Grasmoor
  • Great Gable
  • Harrison Stickle
  • Helvellyn
  • High Stile
  • Mellbreak
  • Pillar
  • Place Fell
  • Rosset Crag
  • Saddleback
  • Scafell Pike
  • Skiddaw
  • Yoke
• The Pennines
• The Eden Valley
• The Coast

Lake Windermere in the Lake District

Welcome to the EDGE Guide to Lake Windermere in Cumbria.

Waterhead, Lake Windermere.

Length: 10.5mls/17km.
Nearest towns.
Ambleside At the noth end of the lake.
Bowness and Windermere in the middle of the eastern shore.
Kendal E on the A5284 via the A591, 8mls/15km.
Ulverston S on the A590, 9mls/15km.
Grange over Sands S on the B5277 via the A590, 7mls/11km.

Location map

The biggest of the lakes and certainly the most popular with visitors who come to enjoy the lakes many activities and amenities.

In many places very lively and in others very peaceful, Windermere offers something for everyone.

As you would expect there is a ferry service running the length of the lake, also rowing and motor boats are available for hire at Bowness (the main town), towards the middle of the eastern shore.

Windermere lake side at Bowness on Windermere.

At the northern end of the lake is the charming town of Ambleside with all its varied amenities. At the south end is Lakeside, where there is a steam railway.

There are innumerable opportunities to enjoy yourself on and off the water; museums, castles, forts, walks etc.

Walks:

Much of the lake shore is open to the public and there are many footpaths into the hills from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the lake and the wonderful countryside roundabout.

Map

In the centre of the Lake District. Windermere could accurately be described as the Heart of the Lake District