Windermere

[GuessWho04]

Evening all,

So was wondering what those who have been to Windermere have thought for the summer hols. Never been to the lake District before, so need some direction. Staying a week, will that be too little/too much.

Will there be plenty for kids, have a 10yr old and 7 yr old? Was just thinking of using Air BnB for property. Is there anything I would need to make sure not to miss?

Any advice for a novice would be amazing.

theres the aquarium, boat rides, hire your own boat?
watersports?

lots of lovely walks too

I'm assuming you like the countryside, water and walks because sometimes people do go to the Lakes and then complain that there are too many lakes!

Plenty to do if you are an active family who like to walk, watersports, boat rides, pub lunches etc. It will be busy in the summer hols though.

Windermere is very touristy in the summer holidays. The Lakes in general are busy at that time of year, but you can find quieter spots if you're not into crowds. There's plenty to do all over the National Park - I would most definitely recommend.

If you want to be by the lake, you need Bowness on Windermere. Windermere is about 1.5 miles away from the lake. Just make sure you know what you're booking! Of course might not be an issue if you have a car and are ok to pay for parking.

Avoid the goddamn swans.

I'm from the area, used to cycle from Bowness all the way back up to Windermere to get the train home. Gets bloody hot

Where on Windermere do you plan on staying?

Bowness will be BUSY in the height of summer, but it’s lovely, lots of shops and you can get a variety of boats/tours from there. You can get the paddle boat to…

Ambleside, which is a bit quainter but not as much going on. You can walk from there to…

Grasmere, (my favourite place to stay) some really lovely restaurants, can walk to a couple of different water falls/Rydal caves etc.

there’s a boat across Windermere to a steam train you can get to an aquarium that’s quite good, some Roman ruins, a couple of NT/stately homes to explore, loads of good walks. We like walking round Tarn Howe (NT members get free parking) then pick a nice spot for a picnic lunch and have a swim when the weather is nice. There’s Go Ape locally too, we’ve also hired kayaks before but that was a wedding gift so no idea how much that costs

a week is plenty I would say unless you are big hill walkers.

There’s also a bus that does a circular between Grasmere, Ambleside and Bowness I think

Brockhole is worth a visit - I think you can also get there by boat.
The south lakes zoo is small but nice. It had some issues a few years ago but I think they are resolved now.
Ive heard good things about Puzzling Place in Keswick and the chocolate factory in Hawkshead which does workshops.
As everyone has said it’s great for walks and a boat trip is a must.

During the school holidays it will be rammed. I live closer to Keswick so perhaps a little more keen on there , will still be very busy but it is a ( very slightly less of a tourist hotspot ) but don't expect the place to yourself !

I don’t ever feel that I get a true sense of being in the Lakes at Bowness, but maybe that’s just me!

I love Wast Water; quiet and remote. Hire a boat on Ullswater and visit Aira Force (waterfall) while you’re there. You could hire bikes or have a long walk at Grizedale Forest. As pp mentioned, the Puzzling Place is quite good. I like Ambleside too.

Enjoy! It’s beautiful whatever the weather. I actually love it when it rains!

Oh, forgot to add, my kids loved ghyll scrambling (near Keswick I think) and had a go at a climbing wall too.

My son loved Brockhole, especially the zip wire.

We love the Lake District. As others have said, it will be very, very busy in the summer. We go every year in April for a weekend away without the kids and stay in Windermere itself rather than Bowness.

We’ve done the boat rides on most of the lakes and have taken the kids on the Windermere one to the aquarium and the steam train ride there too. We also visited South Lakes Zoo with them but I don’t know if that’s still open. We’ve been to Honister Slate mine and then Whinlatter, both of which are a drive away from Windermere. We love Grasmere too (especially the gingerbread).

Beatrix potter stuff
boat trips- my kids used to love us hiring a small motorboat for short day and take a picnic lunch out on the lake, or there’s rowing boats
car tour over some of passes- if they’ve not seen serious hills / mountains do at least do one day out in car on some of scenic roads to be awed- again take a picnic

Another vote for staying in or near Keswick. The town is right on the lake shore so you can walk to a beautiful viewpoint (Friar's Crag) in 5-10 minutes from town, there are plenty of longer walks or you can go on a boat trip or hire rowing boats. My DC love the crazy golf and the little radio control boats in the park, Keswick Museum and The Puzzling Place are great rainy day options. Loads of good pubs and cafes in town. If you're up for a bit of a hike, Catbells, overlooking Keswick is a very popular "beginners/ family" mountain. Nearby (walkable but longish) Castlerigg Stone Circle is fascinating and very photogenic.

A short drive away, Whinlatter Forest Park is lovely - a great cafe, bike hire and well signposted walks and cycle routes of different difficulties.

Aira Force, a waterfall leading down to Ullswater, makes an interesting walk up or down.

Pooley Bridge at the end of Ullswater is a nice village and popular paddling spot

Butterere is pretty and makes for a lovely circular walk - get there early to get in the carpark.

Bowness is nice for a day but I wouldn't want to stay there - far too busy. But worth a drive there over the Kirkstone Pass, you're very often in or above the cloud. We haven't been to Brockholes but that's meant to be good.

I've spent a week in the Lakes every year for 18 years and still haven't done and seen everything I want to!

Go to Keswick! I love the Lakes and have visited all areas but but Keswick is my fave!

Bowness is very busy in summer and it almost takes the lakes feel away somehow.

Grasmere is beautiful and usually a bit quieter....home to the famous Grasmere gingerbread... lots of lovely hikes start from there too. A lovely walk close by with children is Rydal Water, there are some caves too and if you're feeling adventurous can tick off a wainwright in loughrigg fell.

Taking the ullswater steamer to aira force is another lovely day out, catch at glenridding (home of Helvelyn the striding edge route!), stop at aira, hop back on the steamer up to Pooley Bridge which is also lovely and then back to glenridding after. You could walk from Pooley back to glenridding but it is a little bit of a trek!

Coniston water is another lovely place. Usually a lot quiter to hire a boat here too than bowness.

Also, when in bowness don't forget to visit the all year round Christmas shop! Even in the middle of summer it still feels magical.

As you can see I love the lakes. Live close by so around there fairly often so if you want any other tips or advice just pm me :)

I would crack on and book your accommodation now, especially if you are going in school holidays.

Wondering if any who have been so kind to post on this thread earlier can make suggestions of things to do in February half term?