Essential Hotels > England > Cumbria > Windermere

Windermere is the biggest body of water in the Lake District National Park, and indeed the country. ‘Mere’ is a descriptive term for the type of lake, while ‘Winder’ is thought to come from a local high-born family. The lake is over 10 miles long and dotted with islands. This scenic spot is a hub for visitors to the area, and it is no surprise that a host of picturesque towns and villages have grown up around it. The best known of these are the town of Windermere and the smaller Bowness-on-Windermere, which adjoins the water. Ambleside is another lakeside destination, at the head of the mere. Ambleside is a short drive from Windermere town, but a good visitor destination with plenty of heritage attractions.

Bowness-on-Windermere is small, but booms with visitors during the summer season. It has a quaint, rural ambience, and the immediate access to the lake is a definite bonus. The Glebe at Bowness-on-Windermere is a popular meeting place. This green space on the waterside is ideal for a stroll or a game of pitch and putt. Windermere town only came into existence fairly recently. The introduction of a railway in the 19th century saw a burst of development in the village of Birthwaite, seeing the area transformed and renamed in honour of the adjacent lake. The Victorian architecture is still a defining part of Windermere’s appeal. If you are staying in Windermere, it is very easy to stroll down through Bowness-on-Windermere and the lake, or climb in the other direction up to Orrest Head, a mountain climb that rewards you with scenic views.

There is plenty to see and do in and around Windermere. Arthur Ransome’s novel, Swallows and Amazons, was set in the Lake District. Fans will have great fun identifying the various locations featured in the book, which are mainly centred around Windermere and Coniston to the west. There are also two attractions related to beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter. Bowness-on-Windermere houses the World of Beatrix Potter, which showcases the various characters in Potter’s stories and is great fun for children. Alternatively, Hill Top outside Ambleside explores Beatrix Potter as a person.