Discover Windermere: Walking, the Lake and Culture

There are different ways to discover Windermere: on foot along routes by the lake, on Orrest Head, or through activities on the water. Windermere is 17 kilometres long and England’s largest natural lake. When planning your stay, you might consider whether you’d prefer to go walking, use boat services, or visit cultural and natural attractions. The routes and activities below offer some specific ideas.

Walking and scenery around Windermere

The circular route up Orrest Head is 3.5 kilometres long and passes through Elleray Wood. Orrest Head reaches an elevation of 238 metres, and from the top there are 360-degree views across Windermere and the Central Fells. An accessible route on Orrest Head is marked with blue signs.

A different path runs along the west shore as a linear route, covering 4.5 kilometres each way. From there, views stretch across the lake towards Bowness and further north to the Troutbeck Hills. There are places to rest and picnic along the way. For many visitors, the first two kilometres from Ferry House to Strawberry Gardens are considered a route. The two paths differ mainly in their layout and length: the Orrest Head path is a circular route, while the west shore route is given as a distance each way.

The lakeshore also shapes the character of the west shore, with wooded sections and pebble beaches along the shoreline. If you’d like to combine a walk with expansive lake views, the west shore offers a different landscape from the path through Elleray Wood up to Orrest Head.

Boat activities and routes across the lake

Windermere Lake Cruises hires out self-drive electric boats and rowing boats from the jetties at Bowness Beach, Bowness Dock, Waterhead and Lakeside. The operator’s boat services connect Ambleside, Bowness, Brockhole, Lakeside and the Windermere Jetty Museum. This gives you different options on the water: you can steer a boat yourself or plan a service between the places listed. Check the timetable in advance if you’re planning to take a boat service.

The Windermere Ferry is another way to cross the lake, carrying vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians between Ferry Nab in Bowness and Far Sawrey. The crossing takes about ten minutes each way. If you’re including the ferry in your plans, check its timetable as well.

For activities on the water, the Windermere Outdoor Adventure Centre offers kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, raft building and sailing, as well as equipment hire and lessons. The Windermere Lake Cruises Walkers Ticket, on the other hand, combines a boat cruise with a walk. So, alongside individual water activities, there are also options that combine a boat trip and walking.

Culture and nature in the surrounding area

The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction opened on 28 July 1991. It brings Beatrix Potter’s stories to life in a recreation of the Lake District landscape; the garden reflects this world with plants and scenes. The attraction can be accessed via an uphill ramp from Crag Brow or an uphill ramp from Rayrigg Road. The Peter Rabbit Café offers a themed dining experience with brunch, lunch and afternoon tea, and is open daily from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm. If you’re planning a visit to the café, check its opening hours before you go.

Nearby, Wray Estate offers signposted paths through parkland on the shores of Windermere and access to a pebble beach. Notable structures there include a Gothic Revival-style boathouse and a miniature harbour. A 45-minute guided tour provides information about the estate’s history.

Nearby, the gardens at Brockhole extend across terraces, from the formal planting area through flower beds and meadows to woodland and the shores of Windermere. A short circular route follows the lakeshore across the grounds. The Windermere Jetty Museum displays a collection of steamships connected with the history of the Lake District World Heritage Site. This ties in with the lake’s history: in the past, Windermere was used as a transport route for stone, minerals, charcoal and woollen cloth.

At Fell Foot, you can paddle, canoe and hire boats on Windermere. The parkland and meadows offer opportunities to spot otters, warblers and geese. The Boathouse Café serves drinks, freshly prepared hot and cold meals, snacks, cakes and pastries. A 0.8-kilometre circular route takes you through cultural and natural history. Together, these destinations offer a range of activities, including time on the water, wildlife watching, gardens and historical themes.

Discover more destinations: Stapleton, Dufton, Crosby Garrett, Newby Bridge, Holmrook, Dockray, Shap, Wheyrigg.

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