The Lake District

In the Lake District National Park, the long ribbon of water called Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. Fed by rivers as it stretches south, it is no more than a mile across but over ten miles long and about 220 feet deep. It is home to Atlantic salmon, arctic char, brown trout and more but most magical for visitors are quaint villages and mountain peaks rising all around, mirrored in its glistening waters.

On the water

Dozing around the nineteenth century rail station, the small town of Windermere is a mile or so from the lake but Bowness-on-Windermere, its older neighbour, is the tourists’ honeypot, with a ferry across the water and fabulous cruises on modern or traditional boats, providing allocated seating and commentary. Sail north to Ambleside or south to Lakeside, or book the circular Island Cruise for stunning views of the isles, the mountains, wooded shores and bays. There are aquatic plants and wintering birds, swans gliding here and there and pretty sails flapping in the breeze. It’s a lovely way to relax and some cruises allow you to stop and return on a later boat.

Bank on land

Attractions are aplenty. The Lakeland Motor Museum or the Jetty Museum of ‘Boats, Steam and Stories’ are both highly rated, or take a look around the Bobbin Mill or the Blackwell Arts & Crafts House. For families, the World of Beatrix Potter is a must. Character displays, storytelling, all sounds and smells, and a fairylike gift shop, it fires anyone’s imagination. Beatrix loved her holidays in Windermere and later bought a house, ‘Hill Top’ in Near Sawrey, which inspired many of her books. House and cottage garden are open to the public. Meanwhile in Ambleside, the mock-Gothic Wray Castle is a great place for children to roam around with a chance to dress up and build their own foam castle.

Historic homes

Then there are historic houses, such as Holker Hall, home of the Cavendish family, and delightful gardens, among them Ryder Hall and its 500-yearold sweet chestnut tree, or in the spring Stagshaw ablaze with azaleas and rhododendrons or the quiet Dora’s Field full of daffodils, just like the originals planted by Wordsworth in memory of his beloved daughter. The poet, who wrote over 70,000 lines, spent much of his life around Grasmere and you can visit Dove Cottage and its museum and Rydal Mount, the final home near his humble grave in St Oswald’s churchyard.

On the rails

Don’t miss the steam train from Haverthwaite to Lakeside and enjoy the scenery along the lake and the river Leven near Fell Foot Park. It’s a short trip but can be combined with a visit to the Lakes Aquarium.

Firing up and winding down

For an adrenaline buzz, try mountain biking, treetop walking, kayaking, abseiling, trekking in the hills, horse-riding or any of the on-water activities. But when evening comes, take time to wander, ‘lonely as a cloud’, as the sun sets all purple and gold over quiet waters.