Windermere walking tour & city guide

Windermere and Bowness

The town of Windermere grew up around its railway station in the 1840s, and a short walk downhill leads to Bowness-on-Windermere on the lakeshore. Bowness Bay is the busiest spot on the lake, with piers, swans, cafés and the World of Beatrix Potter attraction, which brings her famous characters to life.

The lake and the fells

Windermere Lake Cruises sail the length of the lake, linking Bowness with Ambleside in the north and Lakeside in the south. Above the town, the short climb to Orrest Head offers one of the finest views in the Lake District, the view that made the writer Alfred Wainwright fall in love with the fells. Nearby, Grasmere was Wordsworth's home, and Hill Top was Beatrix Potter's farm.

A classic walk from Windermere to the lake

Start at Windermere station and take the short path up to Orrest Head for the view across the lake to the mountains. Come back down through the town and follow the road downhill to Bowness, about 2.5 kilometers away.

Explore Bowness Bay and its piers, then walk south along the lakeshore to Cockshott Point, a peaceful meadow by the water. Take a cruise or a rowing boat to see the lake from the water.

Visiting tips

Late spring to early autumn is the best time, though the lakes are beautiful in any season and quieter in winter. Rain is common, so bring waterproofs. Trains connect Windermere with Oxenholme on the main line from London and Scotland.