The cultural heritage of the Lake District is as unique as its geography. Visitors today can indulge in local treats like Cumberland sausage and enjoy centuries old traditions; such as hound trailing and rushbearing.
Lake Windermere is right in your back garden at Lakeside House. Its name comes from the Scandinavian for ‘lake of a man called Vinandr’. England’s largest lake and its surrounding area is packed with loads of things to do! Get on the water, try walking and hiking, or what about cycling?
Take to the water to truly experience Lake Windermere. The many different options and tickets for Lake Cruises allow you to hop off, walk back or just sit back and watch the mountains, woodlands and islands unfold before you.
Spend the day at Fell Foot Park. This Victorian park, restored to its former glory, offers substantial access to the lakeshore, where there are leisure facilities. Fine picnic areas and rowing boat hire make it an ideal day out for families.
Lakeside House has private access to Lake Windermere, with canoeing launching from the stone jetty below the house. Other lake activities include kayaking, sailing and windsurfing.
Looking for more action? Try Low Wood Water Bay Sports and take a lesson in waterskiing, wakeboarding or kneeboarding. Horse riding, treks, orienteering, mountain bike hire, bushcraft and much more are all available around Lake Windermere. Or get your children swinging, climbing, balancing and flying their way through 250 year old oak trees at Treetop Trek at Brockhole.
For a quieter time out, visit the Lakes Aquarium. Set on the lakeshore it is an award winning attraction and has the UK’s largest collection of freshwater fish. And at the World of Beatrix Potter experience an indoor re-creation of the Lakeland countryside, complete with sights, sounds and even smells. All of Beatrix Potter’s tales are brought to life.
We can arrange land activities on the estate to include archery, climbing, clay pigeon shooting, forestry, wild food foraging, and more. And we hope you’ll find time for a Segway tour, a fun and original way to glide the grounds around the nearby Graythwaite Hall.
Fancy a drink, great dining or a visit to a spa? Check out the ultra-cool Swan Hotel, a short drive down the road.
Discover Graythwaite Hall Gardens during your stay at Lakeside House. Laid out in the late nineteenth century, the Arts and Crafts garden is a delight. In spring the rhododendrons, azaleas and flowering shrubs are in glorious bloom.
Windermere is at the head of the lake and is where the Oxenholme to Windermere railway line terminates. It is a busy little town with a good variety of local shops. A mile inland from Windermere, Ambleside is a bustling town of outdoor equipment shops, bookshops, gift shops, cafes and restaurants and a cinema. Nestled in the valley between various fells, it’s the start and end point for many walks.
For fun and leisure, we can arrange activities to include a cocktail-making masterclass, guest chef evenings, wine tasting or a murder mystery themed dinner party.
