LAKE WINDERMERE, LAKE DISTRICT, CUMBRIA, ENGLAND

Lake Windermere is by far the most popular and arguably the most beautiful tourist attraction in Lake District, Cumbria. Situated in the heart of the scenic Lake District, this gorgeous long and narrow lake is the largest lake in England and serves as the busiest English tourist spot during the dazzling summers. It is also an ideal peaceful and tranquil retreat for newly wed honeymooning couples.

To enjoy the natural beauty of the lake and its delightful shores, you can take any one or all of the numerous lake cruises available from Bowness-on-Windermere or Ambleside or Lakeside.

Northern Shores of Lake Windermere, Lake District

Water babies and nature buffs can hop on to the MV Tern or Teal or the Swan and do a continuous round of the long lake for approximately 3 hours. The magnificent scenery gliding by is a treat for tired eyes and dissipated souls.

The Red cruise will give you a close glimpse into the islands dotting the Bowness bay, before sailing away towards the colossal mist covered mountains and hills gracing the northernmost tip of the beautiful lake. Alight here to sample the flavor of a traditional Cumbrian village.

Ambleside on Windermere, Lake District

Once you alight at Ambleside pier, you can’t help but marvel at the picture perfect setting of the lovely Ambleside village. Ambleside is a very attractive and distinctive village, full of quaint village shops, traditional Cumbrian tea rooms, sandwich bars (the freshly cut homemade brown bread sandwiches and Cumberland sausage rolls are worth dying for and they are so cheap and yummy ) and ice cream parlors (Cumbrian ice creams are delicious – the best I have tasted in the world). And oh! Don’t forget to visit the waterfalls.

Wray Castle

After strolling around this picture postcard village that seems to have sprung straight out of the pages of fairytales, walk back to Ambleside pier where a traditional launch service will take you to the beautiful Wray castle. The gentle 2 hour stroll between Wray castle and the Ferry House will be a walk worth remembering, considering the path runs along the lake shore on one hand and the green and yellow, red and pink wooded areas on the other.

Brockhole

Children and nature lovers find Brockhole of special interest because of the amazingly beautiful gardens and adventure playgrounds.

It is the northern portion of Lake Windermere that I found more beautiful and attractive compared to the southern section (our starting point was Bowness bay in the central part of Lake Windermere) as it allows us to glide effortlessly close to the magnificent hills and mountain ranges. And the perfect backdrop of the Ambleside pier perched prettily before the hills ensures endless Kodak moments for shutterbugs like me.

Southern Shores of Lake Windermere, Lake District

It is not as if the northern part of Lake Windermere has taken the whole bite out of the beauty pie, leaving the southern side in the lurch. The Yellow and Blue sightseeing cruises on lake Windermere are ideal for enjoying the views of the lovely secluded bays and the dozen wooded islands dotting the central portion of the lake, near Bowness pier.

The Yellow cruise will take you past the verdant green meadows gently rolling down to kiss the waters, the impressive hotels and posh properties set on the heavily wooded shoreline. As you sail southwards towards Lakeside, you will notice the woods getting denser on your right bank with the ruins of a castle peeping out from the middle of a green canopy. The left bank is more conducive towards human settlement. These woods are home to abundant wildlife.

Lakeside on Windermere, Lake District

The greatest attraction at Lakeside is the heritage steam railway with coaches made entirely out of wood. As the train chugs out of its old world platform and huffs and puffs down the dense wood, chugging past brooks and streams and white and cream cottages, you will feel as if you have been transported back to the early 20^th century – such is the magic of this delightful toy train ride with a toy engine.

At Lakeside, you have attractions aplenty to fill your day, such as the aquarium and the 5 minute ferry ride that operates only during summer. Or you may visit the FellFootCountryPark that boasts of exquisite adventure playgrounds and lovely lake shore picnic areas – perfect for families with children.

There is also the renewed, enlarged and relocated MotorMuseum on the banks of the beautiful river Leven, the lovely NewbyBridge and the leisurely riverfront café Ambio to whet your appetite.