Holiday rentals in Bowness-on-Windermere

Bowness-on-Windermere is a small town on the shores of Lake Windermere, the largest lake in England, in the heart of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria. The town is lined with traditional stone buildings featuring slate roofs and independent shops, cafes, and tea rooms. Narrow cobbled alleyways take you off to hidden areas, including St Martin’s Church, which dates back to the 15th century. The bottom of the main road opens out to reveal the wide expanse of Lake Windermere — looking out across the water to Belle Island and the seemingly endless rolling fells and densely wooded landscape hugging the shore.

At Bowness Pier, gleaming white yachts congregate, greeted by crowds of birds, including geese and swans. Boat trips set out further along the pier to explore various destinations along this deep and mysterious lake, which measures an impressive 10.5 miles long and one mile wide.

Summer is the season when Bowness-on-Windermere is at its busiest. The streets are filled with visitors heading to the pier to choose one of the cruises that set off across Lake Windermere to different destinations, including Ambleside. Be aware that these cruises are seasonal and run from around late March or early April to the end of October. The summer school holidays from the end of July to the first week in September are when the highest numbers of visitors are in the area. Nevertheless, Bowness-on-Windermere is a year-round destination, with walkers arriving every month to take advantage of the many trails here, including the 45-mile Windermere Way that goes around the lake. And the high levels of rainfall in the Lake District National Park from the autumn to the spring doesn’t deter them. In the winter, snow is also possible, particularly on the fells.

Windermere Jetty Museum

Lake Windermere forms the lifeblood of the community at Bowness-on-Windermere, and the Windermere Jetty Museum describes the 200 years of boating history associated with the lake. Interactive displays, boats, exhibitions, and galleries bring the stories to life and showcase the museum’s conservation work. Cruises on heritage boats depart from the restored Edwardian jetty throughout the year onto lake waters.

Brockhole on Windermere

Three miles down the road from the town is Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Centre, boasting a variety of activities for all ages. Attractions include minigolf, laser clay shooting, archery, boating, karting, kayaking, an adventure playground, and a woodland trail. The centre resides in Brockhole House, an Arts and Crafts building, and you can wander around its grounds and kitchen gardens, with the lake and fells as an exquisite backdrop.

Stock Ghyll Force Walk

You can head by boat, bus, or car to the neighbouring village of Ambleside at the northern tip of Lake Windermere. It features a 1.2-mile circular trail that will take you along a path through the trees to Stock Ghyll Force, a 70-foot waterfall cascading down the rocks. The force of the River Stock Ghyll was vital for this community in the past, as it powered 12 watermills in the area.