🇬🇧United Kingdom · Places to discover
What to see in Windermere?
22 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Landmarks & heritage
7 places
1Wikipedia · CC BY-SALandmark
Townend, Troutbeck
A seventeenth-century farmhouse in National Trust hands, preserved with the original furnishings and possessions of the Browne family. A rare testament to four centuries of rural Lakeland life, worlds away from Bowness's crowds.
2Wikipedia · CC BY-SALandmark
Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House
A masterwork of 1900 Arts & Crafts design by M.H. Baillie Scott, commanding views over Windermere. Original interiors feature carved woodwork, stained glass and period furnishings — largely unknown to passing tourists.
3Wikipedia · CC BY-SALandmark
Church of St Martin, Bowness-on-Windermere
A fifteenth-century parish church at the heart of Bowness, home to an exceptional medieval stained-glass window depicting the Crucifixion, salvaged from a Flemish church. A haven of tranquillity mere steps from the lakeside tourist tumult.
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Landmark
Landmark
Townend (National Trust)
17th-century farmhouse-manor at Troutbeck, occupied by the same family for 400 years and preserved exactly as it was, complete with original furnishings and books. One of England's finest surviving rural houses.
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Landmark
Landmark
Low Sweden Bridge
Old humpback stone bridge spanning Scandale Beck, a vestige of medieval packhorse routes. A secret spot known to local walkers, just ten minutes on foot from the centre.
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Landmark
Landmark
Dove Cottage
The house where Wordsworth lived from 1799 to 1808 and composed his finest works, including The Prelude. The adjacent museum houses original manuscripts of exceptional significance.
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Landmark
Landmark
Bridge House
A diminutive seventeenth-century dwelling built upon a stone arch spanning Stock Ghyll. An absolute icon of Ambleside, once home to an entire family, now managed by the National Trust.
Museums
2 places
8Wikipedia · CC BY-SAMuseum
Windermere Jetty Museum
Contemporary lakeside museum opened in 2019, housing England's largest collection of historic lake vessels, including the country's oldest floating motor boat. Striking architecture on stilts along the water's edge.
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Museum
Museum
Armitt Museum and Library
A small local museum dedicated to Lake District history, housing original watercolours by Beatrix Potter and works by John Ruskin. A cultural gem frequently overlooked by tourists.
Castles & fortresses
1 place
- 10
Castle
Castle
Galava Roman Fort
Remains of a second-century Roman fort at Borrans Park, overlooking Lake Windermere. Little-known amongst hurried visitors, this site offers rare historical perspective on the region.
Nature
1 place
- 11
Nature
Nature
Skelghyll Wood
Ancient forest managed by the National Trust, scattered with sessile oaks and centuries-old beeches. The path to Jenkins Crag cuts through it, but the wood itself deserves a slow exploration, especially in autumn.
Parks & gardens
2 places
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Park
Park
Borrans Park
Municipal park on the shores of Lake Windermere, discreet and cherished by locals for picnics facing the water. Ideal for watching sailboats and swans away from the bustle of Waterhead.
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Park
Park
Stagshaw Garden
A National Trust woodland garden perched above Waterhead, spectacular in spring when rhododendrons and azaleas burst into bloom. Refreshingly quiet, with sweeping views toward the lake.
Viewpoints
4 places
14Wikipedia · CC BY-SAViewpoint
Orrest Head
A 20-minute climb from Windermere town centre rewards you with a 360° panorama across the lake and surrounding fells. This was Alfred Wainwright's first Lake District outing — and it changed his life entirely.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Brant Fell
Wooded fell overlooking Bowness-on-Windermere, accessible in 30 minutes from Ambleside via National Trust footpaths. Its open summit delivers lake views without demanding arduous climbing.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Jenkins Crag viewpoint
A rocky promontory above Windermere, reachable from Waterhead in 30 minutes on foot. Vertiginous views across the lake and boats, particularly striking in late afternoon light.
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Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Brant Fell
Accessible hillside from Bowness town centre in 30 minutes, offering one of the finest lake views without the crowds. Well-marked path through woodland and pasture, with the option of returning via Post Knott.
Activities
3 places
18Wikipedia · CC BY-SAActivity
Windermere Lake Cruises - Bowness Pier
Historic steamboats plying England's largest natural lake since 1845. Ferry across to Ambleside or Lakeside to experience the water at its finest, far from the crowded shoreline.
19Wikipedia · CC BY-SAActivity
Waterhead Pier
A landing stage on Windermere serving ferries to Bowness and Lakeside. Locals rely on it as everyday transport, not merely a tourist attraction.
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Activity
Activity
Ambleside Climbing Wall
Indoor climbing facility run by Ambleside Sports, frequented by local climbers training before tackling routes on the Langdale Pikes. A fine place to meet the local outdoor community.
More to discover
2 places
21Wikipedia · CC BY-SAPlace
Ings Church & Village
Understated village on the A591 with an elegantly proportioned 18th-century church and the Watermill Inn, which brews its own ales. An authentic stop between Kendal and Windermere, virtually unknown to visitors.
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Place
Place
Troutbeck Village
Linear village typical of the Lake District, with period fountains and stone farms. Locals favour it for its peaceful paths between Windermere and Kirkstone, away from the beaten track.
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