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Lake
Windermere
England's largest lake by length, area and volume, with Bowness on its eastern shore.
A mini guide to
Windermere & Bowness
England's largest lake, with lake cruises, a railway station and a lakeside town
Photos
1 / 8Welcome to the area
England's largest lake, with lake cruises, a railway station and a lakeside town
Windermere is England's largest lake, and the two bases on its eastern shore are different in character. Windermere village, just over a mile from the water, has the railway station where the branch line from Oxenholme ends. Bowness-on-Windermere is about a mile and a half downhill, with the piers, the Bowness Bay information centre and the lake cruises.
Bowness has the World of Beatrix Potter attraction, and the Windermere Jetty Museum of boats and Blackwell, an Arts and Crafts house, are a short way out. All three are indoors, which helps when the weather turns. For views, Orrest Head is a short climb from Windermere village, and the National Park Authority lists stile-free lakeshore routes from Bowness towards Cockshott Point and Brockhole.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Boat trips
Windermere Lake Cruises
Passenger boats from Bowness piers, with landings at Brockhole, Wray Castle, Ambleside and Lakeside.
Directions Website Report a problem with Windermere Lake Cruises
Museum
Windermere Jetty Museum
Museum of boats, steam and stories on the Windermere shore, run by Lakeland Arts.
Directions Website Report a problem with Windermere Jetty Museum
Visitor attraction
World of Beatrix Potter Attraction
Indoor attraction in Bowness based on the tales of Beatrix Potter, with a themed café opposite.
Directions Website Report a problem with World of Beatrix Potter Attraction
Historic house
Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts House
Arts and Crafts holiday house designed by Baillie Scott and built in 1898–1900 for Sir Edward Holt.
Directions Website Report a problem with Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts House
Viewpoint
Orrest Head
Hill above Windermere village with views over the lake; the first fell Alfred Wainwright climbed in Lakeland.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Windermere & Bowness and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Walk down to the lake
Bowness is a mile and a half downhill from Windermere village and its station, so you can walk down and take a bus or boat back.
2
Stile-free lakeshore walks
The National Park Authority lists Miles without Stiles routes from Bowness to Cockshott Point (2 km) and at Brockhole (1.5 km), suited to wheelchairs, pushchairs and limited mobility.
3
Cross to Hawkshead by ferry
The Windermere Ferry links Ferry Nab with Far Sawrey and is a shortcut towards Hawkshead and Grizedale. Check the council for running times.
4
A wet-day plan
Windermere Jetty Museum, Blackwell and the World of Beatrix Potter are all indoors. Check each website for opening days before you set out.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Windermere & Bowness (area photo): Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Windermere: Peter S, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Windermere Lake Cruises: Ian Mcallister = Imcall, Public domain, source
- Windermere Jetty Museum: Anthony Parkes, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- World of Beatrix Potter Attraction: Richard Cooke, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts House: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Orrest Head: Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Brockhole on Windermere: J Scott, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Martin's Church: Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Windermere railway station: DS Pugh, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Windermere Ferry: RuthAS, CC BY 4.0, source
- Belle Isle: Ian Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Cockshott Point: Wayland Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Claife Viewing Station: Oscar Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Holehird Gardens: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ambleside & Grasmere: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Keswick & Derwentwater: Antiquary, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ullswater & Pooley Bridge: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Coniston & Hawkshead: Martin Jeffries, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Wasdale & Eskdale: John260660, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Lake District