Map - Google
Map - Ordnance Survey - SD 412988
Windermere village and the lake beyond, from the footpath to Orrest Head.
Photo by Ann Bowker.
The town of Windermere grew around the railway station, about a mile and a half from the lake. The village was originally called Birthwaite, but the railway company decided to call the station after the lake.
Over the years, the little town has become merged with the older lakeside town of Bowness-on-Windermere, though the two have quite separate centres.
The Terrace is a unique row of Grade II listed large holiday homes, located in the heart of Windermere village but within private grounds. Designed by Augustus (AWN) Pugin (1812-1852), these cottages are believed to date from 1849, and were originally built for railway executives from Windermere Station. One house contains a fireplace that is a copy of one of Pugin's in the Palace of Westminster, London. They were probably some of the first houses to be built in Windermere.
Today, the three cottages – Alice Howe, Bannerrigg and Boston House – are available for self catering accommodation.
Windermere station offers train and bus connections to the surrounding area. The Lakes Line connects with Oxenholme, for interchange with the West Coast Main Line.
Beside the station is the main store of Lakeland Limited, a chain of kitchenware stores. It is still based where it was founded in Windermere, in the area the company is named after.
Lakeland Limited at Windermere Station.
St Mary's church was built as a chapel in 1848, though it has had extensive renovations and alterations since.
A short walk from Windermere takes you to Orrest Head, an outstanding viewpoint. It was the first 'summit' in Lakeland visited by A Wainwright, author of the famous guidebooks, in 1930.
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