Bowness-On-Windermere on Lake Windermere

Bowness-On-Windermere lies on the shores of Lake Windermere and combines experiences on the lake with culture, history and a variety of discoveries. From here, views stretch across the water and up towards the mountains. Bowness Bay forms the lively centre of the waterfront, while Bowness Pier is the main departure point for cruises on Windermere. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Bowness-On-Windermere can therefore easily match the character of the destination with their own holiday preferences: would you like to spend time by the lake, visit museums, explore historic buildings or choose routes through the countryside?

Experience Lake Windermere from the water and the shore

A compact way to get to know the lake is the Islands (Blue) Cruise. The 45-minute round trip departs from Bowness Bay. Another particularly engaging experience is the Steaming Up Experience: participants fire up the restored Edwardian steam launch Osprey, built in 1902, and then take a cruise across Windermere.

The history of boating is also part of the local range of experiences. The collection at the Windermere Jetty Museum comprises 40 boats and documents the history of sailing on Windermere since the late 18th century. Anyone who would like to get active on the water themselves can find an opportunity with the Royal Windermere Yacht Club's Youth Sailing Club, which is open to members and non-members.

Family experiences and excursions with a range of different focuses

The World of Beatrix Potter™ Attraction brings all 23 stories to life in a recreated Lake District landscape. The site also includes Peter Rabbit's Garden. Families with pushchairs can access it via sloped ramps from Crag Brow or Rayrigg Road; the attraction offers step-free access. At Crag Brow in the centre of Bowness-on-Windermere, it shares a building with The Victoria Wood Theatre.

The theatre offers a year-round programme of drama, classical music, folk, comedy and film. This makes it possible to combine a stay by the lake with an evening of culture, without focusing the trip exclusively on nature or water. When planning accommodation, it is therefore worth considering whether you would prefer short experiences around the waterfront or would like to combine several different activities during your stay.

History, architecture and routes

St. Martin's Church adds to Bowness-on-Windermere's cultural character. The present structure of the church dates from 1483. The east window contains medieval stained glass, including a piece that is believed to date back to around 1260. Blackwell – The Arts & Crafts house provides another architectural highlight. Designed by Mackay Hugh Baillie Scot, the building is listed as a Grade I structure. It hosts art exhibitions, family-friendly activities, creative workshops and events.

Anyone who would like to combine such visits with exercise can include the five-mile circular walking route between Bowness-on-Windermere and Blackwell in their day plan. The Beatrix Potter Walk begins and ends at The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere. The route follows the shores of Lake Windermere and crosses the wooded heights of Claife Heights. This provides a choice of different ways to explore the area: a cruise on the lake, a museum or theatre visit, or a longer walk through the countryside.

Guidance for planning your trip

The Lake District visitor centre on the shores of Windermere offers a wide range of activities. For travel planning, Bowness-on-Windermere is served by Stagecoach bus routes 599 and 755. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can take the town's service by these bus routes into account as a practical aspect of your trip planning.

You can also discover Appleby-In-Westmorland, Camerton, Ireby, Wellington, Ambleside, Wetheral, Uldale and How.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cumbria.