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 Windermere is not the heart of the mountains but no where inthe Lakes is far away (except on Good Friday when Ambleside is gridlocked!). A car ferrry takes you across to the beautiful and much quieter southern fells past Hawkeshead and on to Coniston Water, through Nether Sawrey, home of Beatrix Potter to the Lake where Donald Cambell's famous exploits in the Bluebird are recorded in the local pub. A short drive north takes you to Ambleside, now a mecca for shoppers seeking new boots, cagouls or just a cup of tea. There you will find the smallest house in Britain, the Bridge house, just one of many National Trust properties open to explore in the area. (They own much of the fells and lakeside too of course.) Ambelside is the crossroads, taking you north to the range of fells around Keswick or East to the delights of Ullswater and Haveswater. A left turn takes you down the beautiful Langdale aleey to some of the best walking in the Lakes; Scafell, the Langdale Pikes, up the Band on to Barfell and over to crinkle crags. You will be no more than an hour's drive from the base at least of these fells. Closer to home the Fairfield Horseshoe ia a challenging circular walk from Ambleside passing through Rydal Mount to Wardsworth after Dove Cottage - (National trust) Windermere these days merges with Bowness and both have a range of shops and restaurants to rival much bigger towns. Many local places of interest too, from the Beatrix Potter collection of beautifully designed life sized tubleaux to the Lakland shop! Boats of all description can be hired at Bowness or you can take a steamer around the lake for a wonderful afternoon viewing the distant fells reflected in the water. |
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