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Original poster

Windermere in October? For someone that has never been to the lake district?

69 replies

Wiifitmama · 21/08/2020 19:44

My dh and I are supposed to be in Budapest mid October for his 50th birthday which of course is not happening now. So we are looking for somewhere in the UK to go. We live in central London with no car. We have done lots of the seaside places so don't really want to do that again. Or a city. We have never been to the Lake District before but love lakes and mountains holidays in Austria so thought we might like it.

We are looking at Bowness on Windermere as the destination. Train from London. We will not have a car when we are there so would need to walk, take the ferries on the lake, etc. We are planning 4 nights, no kids. Are we mad? Will it just pour down the whole time? Is there enough for us to do?

Any thoughts before we book?

OP posts:
shinynewapple2020 · 22/08/2020 16:30

@Wiifitmama

Thanks for the replies!

Ok, here is what I thought we could do, but correct me if I am wrong! We would only be there 3 full days, plus parts of two travel days. We would walk around both Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere. Remember we are Londoners so little towns/villages are quaint to us! Walk around the lake. Take the ferry to Lakeside and take the steam railway. Maybe the Lakeside aquarium while there? Hawkshead by ferry? Eat nice dinners, stop for coffees.

We don't mind taking a taxi if there is somewhere else really good to go. My dh would love a distillery tour or something like that. Not keen on buses.

How does this sound?

I think this plan sounds fine.

Weather in the Lake District is very unpredictable - it if you are lucky October can be lovely .

We are also planning a break to the Lake District in October.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo · 22/08/2020 16:41

Buses are really good and accessible. They even have bike racks.

Personnaly I wouldn't stay in Bowness itself, its expensive and gets very busy plus its the Blackpool of the lakes. 🙄

Ambleside is nicer, a little further out but easy to travel into Windermere / Bowness either on bus or ferry. Its also a town so plenty of places to eat etc. You also have lots of walks round there up to waterfalls etc which Bowness doesn't have.

Gymntonic · 22/08/2020 16:58

I wouldn't recommend Bowness either. It's not especially quaint and quite trashy really. Your problem will be getting to the nicest bits without a car - you might want to think about joining a minibus tour- but Ambleside is a better place to stay.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
Purpleice · 22/08/2020 17:03

Ambleside would be possibly better. We had our first holiday, without a car, in the peak district. It was lovely. There’s a gorgeous cafe in Ambleside, by the lakeshore. It does the best cream scones.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo · 22/08/2020 17:08

Gym lack of car isn't an issue. I live locally to the lakes and get around absolutely fine using the bus service.

The issue with Bowness is people tend to rock off the train at Windermere and that's where they all head to. Plus the hens and stags are becoming a real problem in that area.

Ferries etc are all available in Ambleside but it's a much quieter location. Also easy to walk into Grasmere etc from there.

rockofages · 22/08/2020 17:09

I recommend staying at The Lakeside Hotel in Newby Brudge as a treat for a special birthday. If the weather is awful it has a pool and spa but it is fab sitting in the library or conservatory with a book and drink. The Haverthwaite railway and Lakesdide aquarium are literally across the car park and the ferry landing stage too. I would also take a taxi to Blackwell Manir - a beautiful arts and crafts house a short trip away. The food is fabulous and the staff really friendly. You could get the ferry to Bowness and/or Windermere. Enjoy

Katinthedoghouse · 22/08/2020 17:16

Could very well be perfect weather for you in October - it’s always rainy in August !

Neither Bo’ness or Windermere would be my ideal towns to stay in, but they appear very popular and suit a certain demographic.

Taxis are easily obtainable. I would suggest you befriend a local one on your arrival if you do decide to explore further afield.

There is a distillery over the other side of Keswick but that will involve a taxi journey of about an hour. I’ve never been and have no idea if it’s open but that might be something nice to do for a special birthday ?

Lots of nice places to visit on the ferry, champagne afternoon tea at the lakes hotel down near Newby bridge, and lots of pretty coffee shops, proper puns and restaurants in ambleside.

Plenty of really nice places to eat if you want to splash out too.

You will have a lovely time

lazylinguist · 22/08/2020 17:32

Could very well be perfect weather for you in October - it’s always rainy in August!

Yup. Pissing it down. And windy.

Gymntonic · 22/08/2020 17:50

@WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo agree but op has said she's not keen on buses. However you do it, definitely don't spend the whole break in Bowness!

BurtonHouse · 22/08/2020 19:07

There's just as much chance of good weather is October as July or August - very unpredictable all year round.
But autumn is a beautiful time of year in Cumbria.
I vividly remember being totally gobsmacked at the scenery and all round gorgeousness of the place when I first went at the age of 28.
I second those saying give Bowness the serve and try Ambleside or Grasmere. Ambleside has rather more going on in the way of pubs, restaurants etc.

rookiemere · 22/08/2020 20:11

I do think people are being oddly sniffy about Bowness.

It is unashamedly touristy, but as you're only going for a few days that's not a bad thing. Sometimes it can be a bit overly busy with foreign visitors- some nationalities have a bizarre Beatrix Potter fixation- but this year it should be a bit quieter.

I prefer Bowness to Ambleside because of the view of the lake and also the walking access to the river cruises. Also I love the quaint little shopping street.

Once you've been once to the Lake District, I'm sure you'll come back and explore the other parts - I'm a bit of a Keswick convert - but Bowness is much more of a visitor's haven.

VacMan · 22/08/2020 20:39

I do think people are being oddly sniffy about Bowness.

I agree. I've been going for 20+ years and I still enjoy it.

kerosene20 · 22/08/2020 20:53

I would avoid the aquarium OP. It’s pretty tiny and grim. Ambleside is a lovely town and easily walkable from the boat.

lampshadery · 23/08/2020 10:04

@rookiemere I agree, I think it's much nicer and more easily-navigated than Ambleside.

Parky04 · 23/08/2020 10:11

In the lakes at the moment. The weather is rubbish but still loving it. Off to Buttermere today. One of our favourite lakes. Although we have a car there are plenty of buses to get you around.

Fuckingfuckssake · 23/08/2020 10:16

@rockofages

I recommend staying at The Lakeside Hotel in Newby Brudge as a treat for a special birthday. If the weather is awful it has a pool and spa but it is fab sitting in the library or conservatory with a book and drink. The Haverthwaite railway and Lakesdide aquarium are literally across the car park and the ferry landing stage too. I would also take a taxi to Blackwell Manir - a beautiful arts and crafts house a short trip away. The food is fabulous and the staff really friendly. You could get the ferry to Bowness and/or Windermere. Enjoy
Do you mean The Swan?
Fuckingfuckssake · 23/08/2020 10:17

Ignore that Rockofages, I know exactly where you mean now.

sadonfriday · 23/08/2020 10:18

You’ll be fine, plenty to potter about doing, bring your waterproofs, it will be lovely. From a Local

SurreyHillsGirl · 23/08/2020 10:27

Honestly, Windemere is fine but there are so many more beautiful towns and villages in the Lakes than Windemere,....I'd head to the Buttermere/Crummock Water/Loweswater area and Eskdale and Dunnerdale are lovely too. Ullswater is beautiful (where we got married Smile ) The Lakes are incredibly beautiful, have a great trip.

TheCumbrian · 23/08/2020 10:32

Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere are two different places and it's about a 30 min walk in between the two.

Windermere is tiny, it might officially be a town but really it's a large village and it's definitely not somewhere you could easily waste 3 days in unless you really really like kitchen equipment. Theres no lake there either, that's in Bowness on Windermere.

Bowness on Windermere is much busier, on the Lake shore and there's a bit more to do, but it is increasingly becoming a bit of a party town.

Ambleside probably has the nicer choice of eating establishments and the two private cinemas.

Public transport is a bit rubbish but there are plenty of private hire minibus tour operators that will take you where you want to go for the day. The 555 bus runs every hour from Windermere to either Grasmere/Keswick or back towards Kendal/Lancaster. It's open top at the moment but they usually start to wind that down after October half term.

If you are getting a hotel slightly further out it's worth pre booking a taxi from Windermere station as they are surprisingly sparse.

Weather can be lovely in October. Be aware though that after October half term many of the services start to offer reduced opening hours etc.

nc600 · 23/08/2020 10:47

You'll have plenty to do but I would 100% book a tour somewhere deeper into the Lakes as you have no car. The scenery is awesome and as you've never been it'll be worth it.

www.mountain-goat.com/PrivateTours

fivedogstofeed · 23/08/2020 11:36

I've stayed in Bowness and you would be fine without a car for a few days. We had a car but quite often didn't use it.
You can walk between Windermere and Bowness and ferry or bus to Ambleside, boat to Wray Castle or Newby Bridge.
If you're prepared for walking you'll be absolutely fine!

Toddlerteaplease · 23/08/2020 12:23

The coffin route from Grasmere to Ambleside is lovely. And Rydal hall tea room is a great stop off point.

Original poster
Wiifitmama · 23/08/2020 14:12

Thanks again. I am reading and taking note. Those of you saying “party town”, surely that won’t be the case now with the restrictions on place? We are coming before October half term So hopefully things won’t have shut down yet.

OP posts:
vanillandhoney · 23/08/2020 14:24

@Wiifitmama

Thanks again. I am reading and taking note. Those of you saying “party town”, surely that won’t be the case now with the restrictions on place? We are coming before October half term So hopefully things won’t have shut down yet.
The Lake District is very, very busy at the moment. My parents are in Ambleside and it's heaving - places will have restrictions but the streets are very busy.

It's worth noting (like a PP said) that Windermere and Bowness on Windermere are totally different places. Bowness is on the lake and is the tourist/party town, Windermere itself is much quieter and more of a place for locals, though it does get busy in peak season.