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.....

Nice, looks lovely. There's a pub down there with a beer garden right on the lake - think it's called the Wateredge Inn? It's lovely for a drink if it's sunny.

Does it have to be Ambleside?
I find it rather gloomy there
What about bow Ness/ windermere
We stayed at lindeth Howe, the Beatrix potter hotel last Feb and it was lovely
Breakfasts to die for
And do eat out at the village inn
Was there in April
This was ham hock and I couldn’t eat it all
Home made baked beans, ham was fab and that was when we still hadvto eat outdoors
Was about £17

Haven't read the full thread bu there's my recommendations-

Delicious cake and coffee / brunch / dinner at Chesters at Skellith Bridge

Grassmere for a potter and gingerbread

The Great North Pie company in Ambleside for THE BEST pie mash and gravy- they won pie of the year and do take away or small eat in area

The ulswater steamer to aira force waterfall

Get the boat from Ambleside to brockhole to avoid driving.

Book everything now, don't wait!

There’s not much in Waterhead tbh. Although I do like the roman fort.

Bit offended about the don’t go down south advice. I live in Cartmel and it’s lovely 😀

@Annoy

There’s not much in Waterhead tbh. Although I do like the roman fort.

Bit offended about the don’t go down south advice. I live in Cartmel and it’s lovely 😀

Lol, sorry! Yes it IS lovely, for itself, and Cartmel leads for food, but if you are on holiday to see the Lake District....

"There’s not much in Waterhead tbh"

good! might be a bit less overrun.

such ashame to have to book in advance as our lives are very "booked in advance" but hey ho I'm glad to have some first world problems as they beat the alternative.....

@FloppyHoldsNoTruckWithFrontedA

"There’s not much in Waterhead tbh"

good! might be a bit less overrun.

such ashame to have to book in advance as our lives are very "booked in advance" but hey ho I'm glad to have some first world problems as they beat the alternative.....

Hmm, I wouldn't be so sure of that

Lots of people go there because it's pretty - and there's a lovely café overlooking the lake and some nice pubs too.

By "not much in Waterhead' pp are more referring to shops and activities. There's the steamer across Windermere but otherwise you'll need to walk into Ambleside to do much of anything. It is a lovely place though and the views are great.

But yes, you really will need to book things way in advance. Restaurants are still on limited seating so things are booking up weeks in advance - if you want a meal out or to go an activity, then you really need to be booking now if possible.

There's a takeaway pizza place called the sourdough pizza company in Ambleside that makes literally the most delicious pizzas I've ever tasted!

I third the recommendation of Doi Intanon for Thai food!

Grasmere is lovely and worth a visit for the gingerbread alone (you can also walk up to Easdale tarn pretty easily).

From Waterhead it's an easy 15 minute walk into Ambleside so I wouldn't bother driving. The Youth Hostel bar at Waterhead is a really nice place for a drink and piece of cake, and you can hire kayaks from a place in the car park.

oh bugger I'd better print this out and get booking.

Thank you everyone, it's been really cheering.

@FloppyHoldsNoTruckWithFrontedA

"There’s not much in Waterhead tbh"

good! might be a bit less overrun.

such ashame to have to book in advance as our lives are very "booked in advance" but hey ho I'm glad to have some first world problems as they beat the alternative.....

It’s still pretty busy as has a big carpark, pubs and boats. But not much else.

I've booked a nice sounding Japanese place to get takeaway from and there is a Booths supermarket in Windermere which is nice. I was also looking at the sourdough pizza as they sound lovely only downside is you can only book by telephone.

The youth hostel at Waterhead (a nice evening stroll from Ambleside) is really good. Decent food at a fair price and an amazing view whether you eat indoors or out.

Are you thinking of booking a Windermere Lake Cruise? To go to Bow was maybe?

If so, book now. We're going this weekend & when we went to book a trip from Lakeside to Bowness lots of times were already sold out.

Bowness. Grrr.

Thank you coffee. All booked for Tuesday. And yes times were sold out....I gave up on Monday.

Doi Intanon still closed according to answerphone

Having a good time here! You recommendations have been super-helpful thank you lovely people.

We haven’t used the car since we got here!

Loving the lake......light on the water just now......and did the wansfell circular yesterday.

Just to add, although Ambleside is indeed one big traffic jam, there are restaurants where you queue (no reservation needed) which is great.

I was going to suggest Muncaster Castle or the Ravenglass railway but they are the other side.. lol.

Glad to hear you are having a good time!

You can walk with Alpacas at a place near Keswick (sorry can’t remember what it’s called). It’s good fun.

Alpacaly Ever After - that’s what it’s called.

We weren’t that impressed with Apple Pie bakery but to be fair we were about their thousandth customer of the day......
all other recommendations so far terrific.
Going to get in car today and drive up into the hills

We have just done the walk from Ambleside through the park and up Loughrigg fell. It was uphill but we did it with a five and seven year old and they managed! We then came down to the most gorgeous beach on Grasmere for swimming and walked back along the bottom of thr hill and visited Rydal Cave. It was the best day of our holiday!