Summary
A short distance from Windermere’s northernmost bay lies Ambleside, a favored destination in the heart of the Lake District.
England’s largest lake is conveniently nearby, offering cruises and aquatic activities, while land-based pursuits include hiking through landscapes that inspired figures such as William Wordsworth.
The poet’s residence at Rydal Mount is preserved as a museum and located just moments from the town.
The National Trust plays a significant role in Ambleside, preserving parks, historic sites, and areas of natural beauty.
Famed children’s author Beatrix Potter had a strong affiliation with the National Trust, donating 14,000 acres in the Lake District upon her passing.
Her artistic legacy is featured in a museum and gallery at Hawkshead, along with a collection of her books and watercolors at the Armitt Museum and Gallery in Ambleside.
Let us examine the premier attractions in Ambleside:
1. Windermere (Lake)
England’s largest natural lake is readily accessible from Ambleside.
Windermere is classified as a ribbon lake, formed from a glacial trough during the Last Ice Age.
Extending over 11 miles in length, it never exceeds a mile in width.
In the mid-20th century, several water speed records were established on Windermere, including one by Sir Henry Segrave in 1930 (98.76 mph), which ultimately led to his demise.
Though a speed limit for motorboats is now enforced, Windermere continues to be a hub for watersports, housing prominent rowing and sailing clubs along its shores.
The watersports center at Low Wood Bay offers a range of activities, including boat hire, sailing lessons, flyboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
2. Ambleside Waterhead
It may be unexpected, yet the town of Ambleside is not situated directly on Windermere, being set back a mile into the Rothay Valley.
Ambleside’s access to the lake is through the village of Waterhead, a delightful tourist area featuring waterfront parks, cafes, hotels, quaint gift shops, and paths leading into the lush woodland along the shore, much of which is maintained by the National Trust.
To the north, the striking outline of Loughrigg Fell rises, offering climbers an opportunity to explore.
The primary feature at Waterhead is Ambleside Pier, which offers steamer and launch trips around Windermere.
3. Loughrigg Fell
For avid hikers, the Lake District presents a vast opportunity to don those hiking boots and ascend England’s tallest peaks.
Ambleside is overlooked by its own fell, ascending to 335 meters.
While modest compared to the monumental peaks of the Lake District such as Scafell Pike, Loughrigg Fell remains prominent due to the surrounding Red Bank depression, providing breathtaking vistas including a sweeping view along Windermere.
The pathway from Ambleside leads northwest to the summit of the fell, meandering along the picturesque Loughrigg Terrace, concluding at Rydal Cave, a former slate quarry overlooking the southern shore of Rydal Water.
Along the route, gaze westward towards the Langdale Pikes, a series of jagged peaks adorned with winter snow.
The final descent back to Ambleside traverses a secluded rural road, culminating in a round trip of just under three hours.
4. Steamer Trips
An essential experience in the Lake District is a traditional cruise on a steamer or smaller launch.
These vessels offer uninterrupted views of Windermere’s fells, Belle Isle, and the lakeside residences without requiring any exertion.
During the summer, Ambleside Pier in Waterhead features an increased schedule of cruise departures.
The Windermere Lake Cruises’ Red Cruise operates year-round for a return journey to Bowness, with stops at Brockhole, featuring informative and engaging commentary.
To visit the National Trust’s Wray Castle, consider the Green Cruise during the summer, while the Freedom of the Lake pass provides extended travel options down to Lakeside and Fell Foot on the southern shore.
5. Stock Ghyll Force
You do not need to depart from Ambleside to initiate the walk to this captivating local feature.
The circular trail begins behind the Salutation Hotel, and within minutes, you will be captivated by the 20-meter waterfall cascading between moss-covered rocks.
The optimal time for visiting is just after a rainfall when the waterfall is at its most vigorous, while the flow can decrease to a mere trickle after prolonged dry periods in the summer.
Overall, the circular walk lasts approximately half an hour, and upon returning, you may be surprised at how close you remained to the town the entire time.
6. Rydal Mount
In just five minutes by car, you will arrive at the quaint village of Rydal, located on the eastern shore of the lake bearing the same name.
Rydal Mount served as the residence of William Wordsworth, one of the most revered poets in the English language, from 1813 until his death in 1850. The estate remains under the ownership of the Wordsworth family and boasts magnificent views of both Windermere and Rydal Water, along with the surrounding fells.
The house, constructed on a foundation from the 16th century, was expanded by Wordsworth and now features a collection of family portraits and artifacts.
The extensive, five-acre garden has largely retained its original character since Wordsworth’s time, showcasing a prehistoric mound, rock pools, and terraced areas on the fellside.
7. Rydal Water
Following your visit to Rydal Mount, there are several compelling reasons to linger around the adjacent lake.
One such reason is Wordsworth’s Seat, a viewpoint situated atop a set of steps at the western end of the lake, believed to be the poet’s favored observation point.
On the northern shore is Nab Cottage, formerly owned by essayist Thomas de Quincey, known for “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater,” and the son of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Hartley.
Consider ascending Nab Scar for an almost sheer perspective of the lake or even taking a swim.
During July, the water is sufficiently warm for a wild swim, with a small beach area located a short distance from the car park on the eastern end.
8. Beatrix Potter Gallery and Hawkshead
A brief five-mile journey from Ambleside leads to a gallery dedicated to Beatrix Potter, housed in a building with significant ties to the author and artist.
Located on Main Street in Hawkshead, this 17th-century structure was formerly the office of William Heelis, Potter’s husband, who worked as a solicitor.
The gallery hosts an exhibition featuring Potter’s personal belongings, sketches, and watercolors, refreshed annually with a new theme.
In 2018, to commemorate the centenary of women’s suffrage in the UK, the exhibit “The Right Sort of Woman” highlighted Beatrix Potter’s contributions to Cumbria as an advocate for conservation and the recognition of women in rural communities.
9. Jenkin Crag
The car park in Waterhead serves as the ideal starting point for a scenic two-hour walk through the ancient woodland above Ambleside, culminating at Jenkin Crag, providing an outstanding viewpoint above Windermere.
The majority of the trail meanders through dense woodland, featuring steps that ease traversing on wet days.
One particularly charming section leads you along the Ambleside Champion Tree Trail, where England’s tallest grand fir resides.
If undertaken in spring, you will witness a sea of bluebells covering the forest floor, accompanied by the fragrant aroma of wild garlic.
At the summit, one can scramble over the rocks on Jenkin Crag to fully appreciate Windermere’s beauty before retracing your steps along the winding path back.
10. Bridge House
Positioned above Stock Beck adjacent to Rydal Road, Bridge House stands as perhaps the most photographed landmark in the region.
Characteristically Ambleside, this charming, narrow structure is crafted from local slate and has been under the stewardship of the National Trust for nearly a century, following its acquisition and donation by a collective of local residents.
The Bridge House dates back to the 17th century and was initially utilized as an orchard storage facility. It has since served numerous purposes, including a mill counting house, chairmaker’s workshop, cobbler’s shop, tearoom, and as a family residence accommodating as many as eight individuals.
Visitors are welcome to explore the homely yet simple interior and cooking stove, while the rustic “wrestler” pattern of the roof slates is visible from the exterior.
11. Armitt Museum and Library
Established in 1909 by writer and philanthropist Mary Louisa Armitt, this independent museum and library was designed to honor and preserve the intellectual heritage of the town.
This institution evolved from the Ambleside Book Society, founded in 1828. The museum features exhibits celebrating Beatrix Potter, who contributed personal copies of her books, paintings, and her natural history watercolors, some of which provide insightful details regarding her life.
The collection also includes works by 20th-century German artist Kurt Schwitters, who spent his final years in Ambleside.
12. Stagshaw Garden
This beautifully landscaped eight-acre garden along the lakeshore’s southern side at Waterhead was designed by former National Trust regional agent Cubby Acland.
The lower segment of the Jenkin Crag walk will lead you directly into this picturesque site.
Half of the garden is meticulously maintained, featuring magnolias, camellias, azaleas, embothriums, shrubs, and rhododendrons that flourish in the Lake District’s acidic soils.
The cultivated areas blend seamlessly with the thick woodland climbing the steep slope, interspersed with valleys, where one can discover a delightful beck adorned with small waterfalls.
The ideal time to visit is from April to June when the rhododendrons and camellias are in bloom.
13. Ambleside Roman Fort
Located mere meters from the northern shore of Windermere is the archaeological site of the Roman fort of Galava, established towards the conclusion of the 1st century.
This fortification protected a junction of three Roman roads leading to Ravenglass and Carlisle on Hadrian’s Wall to the north, as well as Papcastle to the west.
The remaining structures date back to the 2nd or 3rd century, indicating that the fort underwent demolition and reconstruction.
A Roman stele uncovered in Ambleside bears the inscription “killed within the fort by the enemy,” suggesting Galava’s tumultuous past.
The site is managed by the National Trust and features interpretative boards labeling the granaries, the praetorium (the central office), and the two-story commander’s residence.
14. St Mary’s Church
Noteworthy for being one of the few churches in the Lake District featuring a spire, St Mary’s was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, renowned for his restoration of religious structures throughout Victorian Britain.
This sandstone edifice dates to the 1850s and was established to accommodate the surge of visitors following the railway’s arrival in Ambleside.
Observe the finely carved oak choir stalls, while near the entrance to the Wordsworth Chapel, a baptismal font from the 15th or 16th century can be found.
The prominent 20th-century sculptor Josefina de Vasconcellos was inspired by Wordsworth, and her commemorative relief depicting the poet is a notable feature within the church.
15. Borrans Park
If you seek a picnic spot or a tranquil place to unwind before Windermere, Borrans Park serves as a public green area situated at the northernmost tip of the lake, just west of Waterhead.
The park is contiguous with the verdant space surrounding the Roman fort, and several benches are positioned to overlook the water, enabling visitors to observe the steamers as they come and go while taking in the scenic beauty of the lakeshore.
To the north and northeast looms the dramatic high fells of Central Lakeland.
