Bowness on Windermere Guidebook
Sightseeing
If you don't fancy rowing your own boat, a trip on Windermere Lake Cruises is a great way to get the full lake experience. With trips to Ambleside, Lakeside and full day passes available. More destinations in summer months (eg Wray Castle and Brockhole)
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Windermere Lake Cruises (Head Office)
Glebe RoadIf you don't fancy rowing your own boat, a trip on Windermere Lake Cruises is a great way to get the full lake experience. With trips to Ambleside, Lakeside and full day passes available. More destinations in summer months (eg Wray Castle and Brockhole)
A beautiful historic arts and crafts house, with amazing views over Windermere. Delicious cafe too.
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Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house
A beautiful historic arts and crafts house, with amazing views over Windermere. Delicious cafe too.
Beatrix Potter loved the Lake District and it was the inspiration for many of her children's books. The Beatrix Potter Attraction, located almost next door to your apartment is great for children and Potter enthusiasts.
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I-World of Beatrix Potter Attraction
Crag BrowBeatrix Potter loved the Lake District and it was the inspiration for many of her children's books. The Beatrix Potter Attraction, located almost next door to your apartment is great for children and Potter enthusiasts.
A trip to the Lake District isn't compete without some time spent on the lake!
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Windermere Cruises Day Boat Hire
PromenadeA trip to the Lake District isn't compete without some time spent on the lake!
Easy to access by a short walk from Bowness on Windermere, Brant Fell offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding fells. Well worth the effort, especially when the weather is good. Suitable even for the tiniest of legs.
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Brant Fell Viewpoint
Easy to access by a short walk from Bowness on Windermere, Brant Fell offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding fells. Well worth the effort, especially when the weather is good. Suitable even for the tiniest of legs.
Lovely for a walk and a day time picnic, or an after dinner walk. Very scenic views across Windermere and the surrounding fells.
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Cockshott Point
Glebe RoadLovely for a walk and a day time picnic, or an after dinner walk. Very scenic views across Windermere and the surrounding fells.
This is a great little place to explore. A short trip on the Windermere ferry (£1pp foot passenger) will take you from Bowness to Windermere's west shoreline. Here you'll find the National Trust's Claife Highest viewing station a few minutes walk away (free entry). There's also a seasonal cafe serving coffees, cakes, pastries and ice creams.
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I-Claife Viewing Station kanye ne-Windermere West Shore
This is a great little place to explore. A short trip on the Windermere ferry (£1pp foot passenger) will take you from Bowness to Windermere's west shoreline. Here you'll find the National Trust's Claife Highest viewing station a few minutes walk away (free entry). There's also a seasonal cafe serving coffees, cakes, pastries and ice creams.
If open water swimming is your thing, you'll love Miller Ground. Pay and display parking is only a short walk from the shoreline. There's also toilet facilities, watersports rentals, a children's playground and fantastic lake shore and fell scenery.
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Miller Ground
If open water swimming is your thing, you'll love Miller Ground. Pay and display parking is only a short walk from the shoreline. There's also toilet facilities, watersports rentals, a children's playground and fantastic lake shore and fell scenery.
A short walk up Helm Road (the hill with The Angel Inn at the bottom) will lead you to the Biskey Howe viewpoint. Only a few minutes walk, past The Hydro Hotel, continue up to the left, and on a fine day you'll be rewarded with magnificent views out over the lake and fells.
Biskey Howe Road
Biskey Howe RoadA short walk up Helm Road (the hill with The Angel Inn at the bottom) will lead you to the Biskey Howe viewpoint. Only a few minutes walk, past The Hydro Hotel, continue up to the left, and on a fine day you'll be rewarded with magnificent views out over the lake and fells.
The view that inspired Alfred Wainwright can be found at the top of Windermere town. Well worth the effort, and easy to navigate. The trail starts opposite the Nat West Bank in Windermere.
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Isibonelo se-Orrest Head
Glebe RoadThe view that inspired Alfred Wainwright can be found at the top of Windermere town. Well worth the effort, and easy to navigate. The trail starts opposite the Nat West Bank in Windermere.
Bowness Bay is not to be missed! Beautiful scenery, with the mountains looming over the huge lake. Take a lake cruise, hire a motor or rowing boat, even have a dip! Or grab some fish and chips and an ice cream and sit and enjoy a sunset.
Bowness Bay
Bowness Bay is not to be missed! Beautiful scenery, with the mountains looming over the huge lake. Take a lake cruise, hire a motor or rowing boat, even have a dip! Or grab some fish and chips and an ice cream and sit and enjoy a sunset.
Situated a short walk down Rayrigg Road, the Windermere Jetty Museum is a fantastic place to learn about some of the history of the boats on Windermere. There's also a delicious cafe with an outdoor seating area with fantastic views over the lake.
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Windermere Jetty, Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories
Rayrigg RoadSituated a short walk down Rayrigg Road, the Windermere Jetty Museum is a fantastic place to learn about some of the history of the boats on Windermere. There's also a delicious cafe with an outdoor seating area with fantastic views over the lake.
Want to hire a boat? Head down to the marina for a selection of boats to hire.
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Bowness Bay Marina - Windermere Boat Hire
Glebe RoadWant to hire a boat? Head down to the marina for a selection of boats to hire.
Food Scene
A delicious a Italian restaurant, situated in very close proximity to the apartment. great pasta, pizzas, salads and more.
Trattoria
51-52 Lake RoadA delicious a Italian restaurant, situated in very close proximity to the apartment. great pasta, pizzas, salads and more.
Delicious food, prepared on the premises. Outdoor and indoor dining available. One of our favourites.
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The Angel Inn
Helm RoadDelicious food, prepared on the premises. Outdoor and indoor dining available. One of our favourites.
Dan's Shack is a great spot for picking up a coffee and ice cream or even a burger, whilst out and about. We often stop there when walking around Cockshott Point, or on our way to the ferry across Windermere.
Dan's Shack
Dan's Shack is a great spot for picking up a coffee and ice cream or even a burger, whilst out and about. We often stop there when walking around Cockshott Point, or on our way to the ferry across Windermere.
Delicious Thai food, only a stone's throw from the apartment
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Jintana Thai Restaurant
Lake RoadDelicious Thai food, only a stone's throw from the apartment
Situated almost next door to the Apartment is a small Co-op, perfect for any food or drink supplies you may need during your stay.
Co-op Food
Lake RoadSituated almost next door to the Apartment is a small Co-op, perfect for any food or drink supplies you may need during your stay.
Booths is an amazing supermarket, filled with luxurious products, to give you a real treat whilst you're away.
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Booths, Windermere
Victoria StreetBooths is an amazing supermarket, filled with luxurious products, to give you a real treat whilst you're away.
A delicious fish and chip shop that's been serving customers in Bowness since 1976. A good selection on the menu, including gluten free batter. Eat in, or why not take away and have a fish n chip picnic on the lake shore?
Vinegar Jones
A delicious fish and chip shop that's been serving customers in Bowness since 1976. A good selection on the menu, including gluten free batter. Eat in, or why not take away and have a fish n chip picnic on the lake shore?
Great for a quick tipple in the champagne bar, or a fancy full meal in the restaurant. You can even book out a karaoke pod!
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Baha
18 Ash StGreat for a quick tipple in the champagne bar, or a fancy full meal in the restaurant. You can even book out a karaoke pod!
For all your essential grocery needs. Just a short walk downhill from the Apartment, adjacent to the mini roundabout.
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Tesco Express
Market PlaceFor all your essential grocery needs. Just a short walk downhill from the Apartment, adjacent to the mini roundabout.
Fresh light dough pizza, wood fired and delicious! Friendly staff and cosy atmosphere. Eat in or boxed to take away.
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Base Pizza
97 Lake RdFresh light dough pizza, wood fired and delicious! Friendly staff and cosy atmosphere. Eat in or boxed to take away.
It's a funky restaurant that serves delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. There's an extensive bar serving coffee, cocktails and craft beers.
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The Magic Roundabout
It's a funky restaurant that serves delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. There's an extensive bar serving coffee, cocktails and craft beers.
A simple yet delicious menu, in a cosy ambience with a trendy rustic decor and friendly staff. Contemporary take on traditional food.
Urban Food House
Lake RoadA simple yet delicious menu, in a cosy ambience with a trendy rustic decor and friendly staff. Contemporary take on traditional food.
Rastelli's pizzeria is a fantastic, authentic pizzeria with a real touch of Italian taste and decor. Just a minute's walk up the road from Central Apartment.
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Rastelli's Pizzeria
Lake RoadRastelli's pizzeria is a fantastic, authentic pizzeria with a real touch of Italian taste and decor. Just a minute's walk up the road from Central Apartment.
Mela is a family run restaurant offering delicious Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine for take out or dine-in.
Mela Indian Fusion Restaurant
Ash StreetMela is a family run restaurant offering delicious Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine for take out or dine-in.
Neighbourhoods
A thriving Lakeland town, full of cafes, restaurants, shops and local amenities.
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Windermere
The PromenadeA thriving Lakeland town, full of cafes, restaurants, shops and local amenities.
Situated in the heart of the South Lakes, Bowness on Windermere is a beautiful little town, nestled on the shores of lake Windermere. Full of shops, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, water based activities, tourist attractions and local amenities.
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Bowness-on-Windermere
Situated in the heart of the South Lakes, Bowness on Windermere is a beautiful little town, nestled on the shores of lake Windermere. Full of shops, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, water based activities, tourist attractions and local amenities.
Retail
Lakeland is with a visit - it's the shop that sells stuff you never knew you needed! Plus there's a delicious cafe upstairs and a small, free play area for young children.
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Lakeland
Thwaites LaneLakeland is with a visit - it's the shop that sells stuff you never knew you needed! Plus there's a delicious cafe upstairs and a small, free play area for young children.
Entertainment
A beautiful cinema, built in the Art Deco era with period auditorium, complete with Wurlitzer, within walking distance of the Apartment. The main screen is the one you want to go for!
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Royalty Cinema
Lake RoadA beautiful cinema, built in the Art Deco era with period auditorium, complete with Wurlitzer, within walking distance of the Apartment. The main screen is the one you want to go for!
Set in the heart of the Lake District, and very close to the Apartment, this intimate little theatre produces a lively programme of professional drama, classical music, folk, comedy, lectures and film. Check out their website for whats on.
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The Old Laundry Theatre
Crag BrowSet in the heart of the Lake District, and very close to the Apartment, this intimate little theatre produces a lively programme of professional drama, classical music, folk, comedy, lectures and film. Check out their website for whats on.
Perfect for a rainy day, this fun escape room is located less than a minute's walk from Central Apartment.
Bowness Escape Room
62 Quarry RiggPerfect for a rainy day, this fun escape room is located less than a minute's walk from Central Apartment.
Kankku
Victoria StreetFancy something a little bit different? 4x4 adventures from Kankku.
Bars & Pubs
Great place to sit and have a drink whilst overlooking the lake.
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Boardwalk Bar and Grill
Glebe RoadGreat place to sit and have a drink whilst overlooking the lake.
Hole in t'Wall is a traditional pub in Old Town Bowness. Occasional live music.
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Hole in t' Wall (New Hall Inn)
Robinson PlaceHole in t'Wall is a traditional pub in Old Town Bowness. Occasional live music.
The Fizzy Tarté
Ash StreetUpmarket Champagne and cocktail bar.
Multi levelled bar and restaurant, including karaoke and late night bar.
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Baha
18 Ash StMulti levelled bar and restaurant, including karaoke and late night bar.
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Cars & Buses
There are some good bus services to the main Lakeland Villages (Ambleside, Grasmere, Keswick & many more) accessed via the bus station in Windermere or the bus stops in Bowness on Windermere. Beware that some of the more remote villages will only have one or two buses each day, so don't miss the last one back! Depending on your needs, a car can often, unfortunately, be more convenient than the public transport, allowing access to more remote spots etc. Top tip: if you're getting the 599 from Bowness Pier towards Ambleside/Grasmere, sit upstairs on the LEFT - possibly the best bus views in UK!
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Bring clothing for all weathers
Depending on what you'll be doing whilst you're here, you'll want to make sure you bring suitable clothing for the fells. The weather can be changeable at altitude, so don't get caught out, and be prepared for all weathers! If you're hiking, then sturdy walking boots, warm and waterproof clothing, map & compass recommended!
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Bus or car
It's easy enough to walk around Bowness and Windermere from the Apartment. For trips further afield:
Bus info can be found here: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/cumbria-and-north-lancashire/windermere-and-bowness-buses-explore-the-area-during-your-visit#
Alternatively, you'll need a car to explore more remote places.
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Trip on the lake for £1!
Windermere Lake Cruises do some fantastic trips on the lake - to Ambleside, Lakeside and circular tours. They're a great experience but can be pricey, especially if you're a family. A cheaper way to get on the lake is to take the ferry from Bowness across to Claife Heights. Current prices (2022) are just £1 per foot passenger (each way). Walk from the Apartment down to the lake and continue along the shore, around Cockshott Point. Pass Dan's Shack and turn right to get to Ferry Nab. Ferry's run approximately every 10 minutes, 364 days per year, weather permitting.
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Mountain Goat tours pack in a lot to one day
If you're not staying long but want to see as much as possible, consider one of the Mountain Goat bus tours. They have a range of options available, each one will show you some amazing parts of the lakes, with detailed, live commentary.