Bowness

The location:

Bowness is Cumbria’s most popular tourist town on the shores of Lake Windermere. In the late 19th century wealthy Lancashire families built large houses with lake views, many of which have now become hotels, such as Storrs Hall Hotel or the Belsfield Hotel. Windermere is just a stone’s throw away and despite the name, does not actually touch the lake.

Did you know?

Bowness is thought to be the lakeside town of Rio in Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons.

Windermere is England’s largest lake stretching from Newby Bridge in the south to Ambleside in the north, a distance of over 10 miles. Its official name is Windermere, not Lake Windermere.

The only lake in the Lake District is Bassenthwaite Lake. The rest are meres and waters.

Famous people

Arthur Ransome based the fictional North Lake in Swallows and Amazons on Windermere and Coniston Water.

Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggywinkle, Jemima Puddleduck and all their friends can be seen in The World of Beatrix Potter.

Alfred Wainwright first saw the peaks and fells of the Lake District from Orrest Head, a short climb from the centre of Windermere.

Things to do

If you’re not climbing Orrest Head or visiting the World of Beatrix Potter, you could hire a rowing boat or motor cruiser from Bowness Pier. Or take a cruise on one of the large Lake Cruisers to Lakeside or Ambleside. There are several pubs and restaurants in the town as well as excellent shops. Other attractions include the Blackwell Arts &Crafts House and the Windermere Steamboat Centre.

See Also: The Bowness Suite in Windermere