Ambleside recommendations please

[FloppyHoldsNoTruckWithFrontedA]

We're off to spend a shocking percentage of our annual income on accomodation in the Lake District (Ambleside) in half term week.
We're me, DH and two teenagers, one of whom is shattered by the A levels/not A levels experience of the past few months and has a "tight back" so may or may not want to climb mountains.

We dont enjoy super-expensive restaurants but will be in a hotel (there was no alternative everything is booked). And I get stressed if we eat somewhere too expensive - £150 for 4 would be my limit I think (with fish and chips the other nights)

The boys like swimming too.

The weather looks a bit more hopeful in half term week.

I'd be really glad of your recommendations. It's been a stressful 12 months (as for most people). I really want us to have a good holiday whether or not DS1 is up for mountain climbing. Plus this may be the last year he holidays with us.....

Lake District gyro planes was a massive treat for my kids last year… they both loved it and would recommend. IWe looked at body boarding too but weather wasn’t great, too windy . I e eaten At Lily’s bar and would go again. Keswick have a market on a Saturday that’s worth a mooch, and they have a great sweet shop.

We used to go every year when I was growing up! Love the Lakes! In ambleside the apple pie shop is yum! There is a lovely flat walk if you don’t want hills from Skelwith Bridge to Elterwater. It goes through wood near a river with a waterfall, then follows the river through fields and past the lake then onto elterwater village. Not too long, pancake flat so great for bad backs, and lovely lovely views. Cafe/shop called chesters at skelwith bridge and pub at Elterwater!

Also used to like the drive over the kirkwood pass (I think thats what it was called) to Ullswater. Aria falls along the edge of ullswater is very nice. I also really liked thirlmere between ambleside and keswick even though it’s a reservoir.

If your feeling super adventurous/like country lanes drive across the hardknott pass to wastwater. That is proper remote feeling!

Also gingerbread from grassmere!! Yum yum!

Ahh your making me want to go- wish I could find somewhere semi resonable / didnt have a tiny baby who wouldnt put up with a 5hr car ride 😂😂

My daughter was at uni there, Lucy4 was a decent vegetarian restaurant and Lucky Dragon for Chinese, there is also zefirelli's cinema.

The Lake District is really about walking. As others have mentioned Loughrigg starts at Ambleside and isn't too tough. Lovely views from the top. Or a walk to Stock Ghyll Force.

You can go on a boat trip on Windermere and I seem to remember you can rent boats in Fell Foot park.

There is a cinema in Ambleside with a Pizza restaurant attached which is really nice.

@Stickytreacle

My daughter was at uni there, Lucy4 was a decent vegetarian restaurant and Lucky Dragon for Chinese, there is also zefirelli's cinema.

Lucy4 doesn't exist anymore, sadly. The only "Lucy's" left is Lucy's on a Plate - there was a big thing with the owner committing hygiene offences, sadly.

It's now replaced with another Tapas bar (not vegetarian, but still good).

Dodds
Apple Pie Bakery
The lovely little independent bookshop opposite the Apple Pie Bakery (ish)

@bookish83

Dodds Apple Pie Bakery The lovely little independent bookshop opposite the Apple Pie Bakery (ish)

Freds! Yes, I love it in there, it's excellent.

Rattle Ghyll Deli is also very good. They're vegetarian but do lots of great little bits that are ideal for picnics.

You can hire ebikes from Biketreks in Grizedale

Lucys restaurant (Lucy’s on plate) for really great food homemade/fresh food .. tho is tiny and would def need booking.

There's so much to do!

Ambleside climbing wall
Stock Ghyll waterfalls walk
Ghyll scrambling (the climbing wall people offer this)
Walk up Wansfell and over to Troutbeck and back via Robin Lane
Kayaking on Windermere or Derwentwater
Bus to Grasmere (for gingerbread) and walk back via Loughrigg and/or Rydal Caves
Via ferrata at Honister slate mine
Climbing wall at Kong Adventure, Keswick
Open top bus to Keswick / down Borrowdale for lovely views
Steamer on Ullwater or launch on Derwentwater - both can be combined with good walks

Nice places to eat/drink
Zefferellis (pizza and cinema)
Doi Inthanon - devine Thai
Apple Pie Bakery (great for picnic foods)
Walnut fish bar or The Old Smithy (right across the road from each other)

This is lovely and making me feel really good.

Point taken re booking in advance - hmmm, that’s less relaxing......

We will be right in the middle of things at Waterhead - paying extra to be “where it’s at”.
The boys are thinking of bringing their bikes to go round the other side of the lake- does that sound doable?
Any ideas for beating the crowds with minimal driving?

I'd also recommend Zeffirellis/Fellinis. Last time we went they had a meal/cinema deal which was good value.

Beating the crowds with minimal driving?

Start out early.

It is worth travelling to places like Langdale and up to Keswick for Borrowdale and over the Honister Pass, and over the Kirkstone Pass to Ullswater because they are so very beautiful. South from Ambleside is, IMO, far less interesting, scenery-wise - the central and Northern areas have the big fells to be in amongst.

There is a very good bus network - you can get buses from Ambleside to Grasmere, Keswick, into Langdale.

Check out The Lake District Walker - they do ghyll scrambling, rock climbing and navigation courses as well as guided walks (the walks are fab). You can always hire a mountain guide to do a walk tailored for you too - a lot are self employed and haven’t had any work for months so you’d be putting some money in a local’s pocket who needs it. They are really knowledgeable about the local area, and come with all the right insurance and training.

Ok so from Ambleside there’s no real need to go south - more west/north/east?

That sounds good and a worthy cause Sweaty. Cancel the restaurant - chips ‘n’ scraps!

The Boulder Stones
Aira Force
Castlerigg
I'd say if you're going out set out early, Ambleside will be rammed. And yes, go north.

Thank you.
We’ll have the hotel itself of course.

@RandomMess

If you will driving past Lancaster on the M6 then the Castle Tour is really interesting. I reluctantly went with DH and enjoyed it very much and would go again. Will probably need to book in advance as they only do 2 or 3 per year.

It's several a day, nowadays, but prebooking is required (I've not been in since it was still a jail so don't know what the tour is like now)

www.lancastercastle.com/tours-visits/

Here you go - thelakedistrictwalker.co.uk/

The owner is local, and employs freelancers, so if there is something specific you’d like to do drop them an email. I’ve been on about 10 walks with them over the last couple of years - they are ace.

Foodwise - if you’re after fish and chips try the Keswickian in the centre of Keswick; it’s my second favourite chippy after Yorkshire Fisheries in Blackpool! The Walkers Bar at the Swan Hotel in Grasmere also does decent food at reasonable prices - I had their fisherman’s pie two nights on the trot...

Waterhead will be rammed over half term week.

If you want to beat the crowds you really want to be on the road by 8.30-9am and not much later. It gets so busy, especially if you head Windermere direction.

I used to commute in along the Coniston road every morning and my journey time often doubled in the summer months! The usual 15-20 minute drive from Coniston suddenly become 30-40 minutes as soon as June hit

Be prepared for traffic jams and set off early to get parking spaces.

Which hotel are you staying at OP? (You've got me googling weekend breaks in the lakes).

At the Waterhead - never been anywhere so fancy price-wise!

My top tip is the Mexican tapas bar es its amazing. Please book and go there. Dodds is fabulous too. Book it!!

That walk at Elterwater is well worth it. You can park in the national trust car park.

Personally I love the walk from ambleside to grasmere via rydal caves. I eat my sarnies at the caves then stop at badger bar for a drink then on to grasmere. Another drink or even lunch at tweedys bar (rather than sarnies). Bus back for us because the kids don't want to walk back. It costs a sodding fortune to get the bus. Get a pass if you're there for the week. If you have 4 of you You could get a taxi back, it's cheaper!

Must go to the grasmere gingerbread shop. Do not be fooled into buying fake grasmere gingerbread. It's so good. link here

Using your bus pass gets you to Keswick or over to buttermere for a very nice shorter walk round the lake and lunch at the Trout inn.

At Keswick I like to set out on the walk round derwentwater as far as brandle Howe. Ask at the launch office which stops are open and take a picture of the timetable. I like to go to the Lodore falls for a drink, eat sarnies on the way round, get the launch back rather than walk all the way round.

Depends on your timing but if you set out late you can make it back into Keswick for teatime for fish and chips at the keswickian (food of the gods) or a lamb shank somewhere like the kings head. You'd have to book in advance I guess given covid.

I like a potter around Keswick shopping at seasalt and joules and buying new walking gear and eating cake the kids love the fudge shop or getting ice cream.

The kong adventure climbing wall is well worth booking in advance at Keswick. They have crazy kong which is great for primary age dc.

Top Keswick tip. Park at the rugby club if you're just there for shopping. Cheaper than by the lake. But the lake is more convenient for walking.

I could bang on about Keswick for ages. And grasmere. I really enjoyed ambleside too for nice restaurants. Out towards the lake is a nice pub not that far from the yha i was staying in. Nice lawn garden to drink in. I will look it up.

Enjoy! You're so lucky!

If you want a pretty but flat(ish) walk, another vote for walking to Grasmere. You can walk from Waterhead, along the river and a pretty quiet back lane, then round Rydal Water (via the caves). Lunch or pint in Grasmere and get the bus back to Ambleside (or straight to Waterhead I think). Love the Lakes. Enjoy!