Windermere

Location : Ambleside Waterhead / Bowness-on-Windermere / Lakeside
Map - Ordnance Survey - SD 395960

Windermere and Waterhead, from Loughrigg. Photo by Ann Bowker

Windermere, at 10.5 miles long, one mile wide and 220 feet deep, is the largest natural lake in England, and is fed by numerous rivers. The Romans built their fort of GALAVA at its northern end (Waterhead), and it has always been an important waterway for movement of heavy materials.

Bowness-on-Windermere - Lakeland's most popular holiday resort - is an excellent centre for boating activities, with over 10,000 boats registered. Until March 2005 Windermere was the only lake without a speed limit, but a 10 mph limit has now been imposed. Steamers and launches operate from Bowness Bay to Waterhead at Ambleside, and Lakeside at the southern end.

At the southern end is Lakeside Pier, and Lakeside Station of the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, and also the Aquarium of the Lakes.

In the late 19th century, wealthy businessmen from Lancashire built grand mansions overlooking the lake, and many of these have now been converted to hotels, such as the Langdale Chase Hotel, and the Belsfield Hotel. Others houses include The National Park Visitor Centre at Brockhole, between Ambleside and Bowness, and Wray Castle almost opposite Brockhole, and the first Lake District holiday home of Beatrix Potter.

All of the west shoreline, but very little of the east, is owned by the National Trust. The Trust also owns Fellfoot Park at the southern end of the lake.

Looking towards Waterhead and Wansfell from Wray Castle

Looking to Windermere and the Langdale Pikes from the Miller Howe Hotel

Looking north from Between Lakeside and Bowness-on-Windermere. Aerial photo by Jonathan Webb

Looking north over Belle Isle - Windermere's largest island (38 acres) Bowness-on-Windermere to the right. Aerial photo by Simon Ledingham

Windermere looking north towards Bowness-on-Windermere. The Windermere ferry crossing is to the right. Aerial photo by Simon Ledingham

Windermere looking north from Bowness-on-Windermere towards Ambleside. Aerial photo by Simon Ledingham

Windermere looking north from Bowness. Aerial photo by Roger Savage, ABIPP, Greystoke, Penrith

Windermere looking north from Newby Bridge. Aerial photo by Roger Savage, ABIPP, Greystoke, Penrith

Related Links :

• Open Directory Windermere
• Wikipedia Windermere

Places to stay and eat around Lake Windermere :