Windermere

#147 among destinations in the United Kingdom

Nature, Natural attraction, Lake, Top attraction

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Facts and practical information

Nestled in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Windermere stands as the largest natural lake in England. This ribbon lake was formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of ice at the end of the last Ice Age. Today, it is a centerpiece of the region, stretching over 11 miles in length and reaching depths of up to 219 feet.

The lake is not only a natural wonder but also a hub for outdoor enthusiasts and tourists seeking tranquility or adventure amidst stunning scenery. Visitors can indulge in a variety of activities, including boating, sailing, and windsurfing. For those preferring to stay on land, the surrounding area offers numerous walking and hiking trails that provide panoramic views of the serene waters and rolling hills.

Windermere is also well-known for its charming lakeside towns and villages, such as Bowness-on-Windermere and Ambleside, which offer hospitable retreats with cozy accommodations, traditional pubs, and quaint shops. The lake's significance is further enriched by its literary connections; it is an area famously celebrated by poets such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, whose stories and poems echo the natural beauty of the region.

Alternative names: Population: 7.8 thous.Area: 5.69 mi²Length: 11.23 miWidth: 4910 ftMaximum depth: 219 ftElevation: 433 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 54°21'36"N, 2°56'45"W

Location

EnglandUnited Kingdom

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Day trips

Windermere – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Hill Top, Windermere Jetty, St Martin's Church, Blackwell.

1.2 miSW
Museum, History museum
Hill Top, Hawkshead
30 min walk • Hill Top is a 17th-century house in Near Sawrey near Hawkshead, in the English county of Cumbria. It is an example of Lakeland vernacular architecture with random stone walls and slate roof.
1.2 miNE
Museum
Windermere Jetty, Windermere
32 min walk • Windermere Jetty: Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories is a museum on the eastern shore of Windermere between Bowness-on-Windermere and the town of Windermere in Cumbria, England. It reopened in March 2019 after 12 years' closure and redevelopment work.
1 miE
Gothic Revival architecture, Town, Church
St Martin's Church, Windermere
27 min walk • St Martin's Church stands in the centre of the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Windermere, the archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness, and the diocese of Carlisle.
1.5 miSE
Museum, Art museum, Historical place
Blackwell, Windermere
38 min walk • Blackwell is a large house in the English Lake District, designed in the Arts and Crafts style by Baillie Scott. It was built in 1898–1900, as a holiday home for Sir Edward Holt, a wealthy Manchester brewer.
1.1 miE
Town, Area
Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere
29 min walk • Bowness-on-Windermere is a town and former civil parish, now in the parish of Windermere, in South Lakeland, Cumbria, England. Due to its position on the banks of Windermere, the town has become a tourist honeypot.
0.4 miSE
Hiking, Hiking trail
Windermere Way
12 min walk • The Windermere Way is a 45-mile circuit of Windermere, a lake in the English Lake District. The route is wholly within the Lake District National Park and takes in the summits of Wansfell, Loughrigg Fell and Gummer's How as well as passing through the towns of Ambleside and Windermere.
0.9 miE
54°21'45"N • 2°55'23"W
Windermere Lake Cruises, Windermere
24 min walk • Nature, Natural attraction, Boat tours
0.9 miW
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Moss Eccles Tarn
24 min walk • Moss Eccles Tarn is a tarn on Claife Heights, near Near Sawrey in the Lake District, Cumbria. It is currently owned by the National Trust and known as an attractive tarn for fishing and walking.
0.5 miE
Island
Belle Isle, Windermere
13 min walk • Belle Isle is the largest of 18 islands on Windermere, a mere in the English Lake District, and the only one ever to have been inhabited. It is 1 km in length. The Roman governor at Ambleside built a villa on the island. In 1250 it was the seat of the district's Lord of the Manor.
0.6 miNW
Nature, Natural attraction, Hill
Claife Heights, Ambleside
16 min walk • Claife Heights is an upland area in the Lake District, near to Windermere in Cumbria, England. It has a topographic prominence of 177 metres so is classified as a Marilyn. It is the subject of a chapter of Wainwright's book The Outlying Fells of Lakeland.

Windermere

Facts and practical information

Windermere plan & book

Windermere – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)