Things to See and Do Whilst Staying at Westwood
Walks
The view from Orrest Head is stunning – you can see both up and down the length of Lake Windermere, have a panorama of Lakeland mountains, look out east towards the Howgill hills and even get a glimpse of the Irish sea in the distance. This is the view that first fired the enthusiasm of Alfred Wainwright, the man who went on to write his famous guides of the fells
- about a 40 minute walk from Westwood; moderate difficulty (well-made paths but uphill!); wheelchair access route available.
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Orrest Head
The view from Orrest Head is stunning – you can see both up and down the length of Lake Windermere, have a panorama of Lakeland mountains, look out east towards the Howgill hills and even get a glimpse of the Irish sea in the distance. This is the view that first fired the enthusiasm of Alfred Wainwright, the man who went on to write his famous guides of the fells
- about a 40 minute walk from Westwood; moderate difficulty (well-made paths but uphill!); wheelchair access route available.
If you like historic boats, or just a café with stunning lake views, try the Windermere Boat Museum. No booking needed
– We can direct you for a lovely walk from Westwood down to the museum, along a quiet wooded private road (20 minutes-ish? walk).
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Windermere Jetty, Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories
Rayrigg RoadIf you like historic boats, or just a café with stunning lake views, try the Windermere Boat Museum. No booking needed
– We can direct you for a lovely walk from Westwood down to the museum, along a quiet wooded private road (20 minutes-ish? walk).
For a full-day’s outing you could take the lake cruiser up the lake to Wray Castle and walk the far shore (an easy path), returning as a foot passenger on the ferry. Departure is from Bowness pier.
We haven't used the cruiser but we often use the ferry as foot passengers and walk along the far shore of Windermere.
We can advise on a couple of nice walks from Westwood to join this boat/walking tour).
Search for 'Walker's ticket (using car ferry)' for more details on the Windermere Lake Cruises website.
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תחנת צפייה קלייף וחוף מערבי וינדרמיר
For a full-day’s outing you could take the lake cruiser up the lake to Wray Castle and walk the far shore (an easy path), returning as a foot passenger on the ferry. Departure is from Bowness pier.
We haven't used the cruiser but we often use the ferry as foot passengers and walk along the far shore of Windermere.
We can advise on a couple of nice walks from Westwood to join this boat/walking tour).
Search for 'Walker's ticket (using car ferry)' for more details on the Windermere Lake Cruises website.
We can also provide you with a map and directions for more walks, including the ‘field walk’ down to Bowness, the route up School Knott (with views to rival Orrest Head) and the walk across to the pub at Ings. All walks from the door at Westwood - just leave your car on the drive!
School Knott Tarn
We can also provide you with a map and directions for more walks, including the ‘field walk’ down to Bowness, the route up School Knott (with views to rival Orrest Head) and the walk across to the pub at Ings. All walks from the door at Westwood - just leave your car on the drive!
'Wild' Swimming
For those who are keen on a bit of ‘wild’ swimming, you can walk down to Miller Ground where there is a landing providing good access to unsupervised swimming. (Note: the water stays very cold long after the sunny weather comes; also there are no lifeguards here, so best to take a friend with you.)
– about a 20 minute walk from Westwood down a quiet road, or a 5 minute drive to the pay-and display parking (if you think you’ll be too tired to walk back!)
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Miller Ground
For those who are keen on a bit of ‘wild’ swimming, you can walk down to Miller Ground where there is a landing providing good access to unsupervised swimming. (Note: the water stays very cold long after the sunny weather comes; also there are no lifeguards here, so best to take a friend with you.)
– about a 20 minute walk from Westwood down a quiet road, or a 5 minute drive to the pay-and display parking (if you think you’ll be too tired to walk back!)
Bike Hire
Windermere Canoe and Kayak are located at Ferry Nab in Bowness (where the ferry departs from - not the same place as the cruises leave from btw).
This means that you can hire your bike or e-bike and hop on the ferry to enjoy the trails on the far side of the lake, perhaps riding up as far as Wray Castle for the café (of which we have had good reports – and Joey’s café is also at Claife Heights near where you will come off the ferry).
Details of Wray Castle and Calife Heights can be found on the National Trust website.
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טירת ריי הלאומית של האמנות
Windermere Canoe and Kayak are located at Ferry Nab in Bowness (where the ferry departs from - not the same place as the cruises leave from btw).
This means that you can hire your bike or e-bike and hop on the ferry to enjoy the trails on the far side of the lake, perhaps riding up as far as Wray Castle for the café (of which we have had good reports – and Joey’s café is also at Claife Heights near where you will come off the ferry).
Details of Wray Castle and Calife Heights can be found on the National Trust website.
This bike hire shop is a 10 minute walk from Westwood. If they don't have the bike you want you can always try the hire shop across the road at the railway station.
Total Adventure Bike Hire
9 Church StThis bike hire shop is a 10 minute walk from Westwood. If they don't have the bike you want you can always try the hire shop across the road at the railway station.
Boat Hire
Windermere Lake Cruises hire out self-drive electric boats and rowing boats in addition to the cruises that they offer.
They operate from Bowness pier; about a 20 minute walk / 5 minute drive from Westwood.
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Windermere Cruises Day Boat Hire
PromenadeWindermere Lake Cruises hire out self-drive electric boats and rowing boats in addition to the cruises that they offer.
They operate from Bowness pier; about a 20 minute walk / 5 minute drive from Westwood.
Tours
There’s a range of boat cruises available from Windermere Lake Cruises at Bowness (- 12 minute bus ride or 25 minute walk from Westwood). Jude recently took the ‘Islands’ tour, which she really enjoyed; but you may prefer to take one of the cruises where you can get off at Ambleside pier and walk up into the village; or one that takes in the full lake.
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Bowness Pier - Windermere Lake Cruises
Glebe RoadThere’s a range of boat cruises available from Windermere Lake Cruises at Bowness (- 12 minute bus ride or 25 minute walk from Westwood). Jude recently took the ‘Islands’ tour, which she really enjoyed; but you may prefer to take one of the cruises where you can get off at Ambleside pier and walk up into the village; or one that takes in the full lake.
The 599 open top bus service offers spectacular views from the top deck , with commentary, from Bowness via Windermere (where you can join it) and Ambleside, through to Grasmere. The 599 operates every 20 minutes during the summer timetable (Mar-Nov) and every 30 minutes during the winter timetable (Nov-Mar).
The hourly 555 service travels through the heart of the Lakes from Kendal via Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere to Keswick.
‘Day Rider’ tickets are available and also tickets that provide travel for 7 days.
All buses pass through the Railway Station (10 minutes walk); and many pass the bottom of our road.
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Windermere Railway Station
The 599 open top bus service offers spectacular views from the top deck , with commentary, from Bowness via Windermere (where you can join it) and Ambleside, through to Grasmere. The 599 operates every 20 minutes during the summer timetable (Mar-Nov) and every 30 minutes during the winter timetable (Nov-Mar).
The hourly 555 service travels through the heart of the Lakes from Kendal via Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere to Keswick.
‘Day Rider’ tickets are available and also tickets that provide travel for 7 days.
All buses pass through the Railway Station (10 minutes walk); and many pass the bottom of our road.
Culture
Blackwell is a lovely ‘Arts and Crafts’ house a short drive from us. Wonderful if you enjoy architecture and the William Morris approach (although this was built by one of his peers), and ideal if you get a rainy afternoon
- 10 minutes’ drive from Westwood (depending the on the traffic through Bowness)
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Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house
Blackwell is a lovely ‘Arts and Crafts’ house a short drive from us. Wonderful if you enjoy architecture and the William Morris approach (although this was built by one of his peers), and ideal if you get a rainy afternoon
- 10 minutes’ drive from Westwood (depending the on the traffic through Bowness)
Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage at Grasmere has had a re-vamp very recently, giving an insight into the life of the poet. Advanced booking is essential I believe
- 9 miles from Westwood – travel time varies tremendously with traffic – 25 minutes if free-flowing traffic
- I would recommend the bus service so you can take in the views - the 555 and 599 services operated by Stagecoach run direct to Grasmere year-round and the Dove Cottage stop is just yards from Dove Cottage – the 599 is open-top and has a commentary (see Stagecoach buses website for details)
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בית היונים
Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage at Grasmere has had a re-vamp very recently, giving an insight into the life of the poet. Advanced booking is essential I believe
- 9 miles from Westwood – travel time varies tremendously with traffic – 25 minutes if free-flowing traffic
- I would recommend the bus service so you can take in the views - the 555 and 599 services operated by Stagecoach run direct to Grasmere year-round and the Dove Cottage stop is just yards from Dove Cottage – the 599 is open-top and has a commentary (see Stagecoach buses website for details)
Beatrix Potter’s former home at Hill Top, near Hawkshead, is charming, especially if you know her books, since many of her illustrations are readily recognisable as set in her home and the surrounding village of Near Sawrey. Again, Hill Top needs advance booking, certainly at busy times.
(see National Trust website for details)
- 12 miles drive from Westwood via Ambleside (c.40 minutes) or 4 miles drive via the car Ferry from Bowness (will take just as long probably; but much more fun)
We would recommend calling in at the Cuckoo Brow pub in Far Sawrey (the hamlet on the road between the ferry and Near Sawrey) for lunch. We often walk here from Westwood as an outing in its own right, using the Ferry as foot-passengers. The people have always been lovely with good food and beers.
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Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's House
Beatrix Potter’s former home at Hill Top, near Hawkshead, is charming, especially if you know her books, since many of her illustrations are readily recognisable as set in her home and the surrounding village of Near Sawrey. Again, Hill Top needs advance booking, certainly at busy times.
(see National Trust website for details)
- 12 miles drive from Westwood via Ambleside (c.40 minutes) or 4 miles drive via the car Ferry from Bowness (will take just as long probably; but much more fun)
We would recommend calling in at the Cuckoo Brow pub in Far Sawrey (the hamlet on the road between the ferry and Near Sawrey) for lunch. We often walk here from Westwood as an outing in its own right, using the Ferry as foot-passengers. The people have always been lovely with good food and beers.
Whilst visiting Hill Top you might want to go on to Hawkshead to see the school-house where Wordsworth was taught.
Hawkshead Grammar School
Main StreetWhilst visiting Hill Top you might want to go on to Hawkshead to see the school-house where Wordsworth was taught.
If you enjoy watercolour paintings, there is an exhibition of Beatrix Potter’s work at the Hawkshead Gallery (open Monday to Thursday only). I was really taken with her paintings.
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Beatrix Potter Gallery
Main StreetIf you enjoy watercolour paintings, there is an exhibition of Beatrix Potter’s work at the Hawkshead Gallery (open Monday to Thursday only). I was really taken with her paintings.
Brantwood is the former home of the writer /artist / architectural historian / radical / philanthropist. John Ruskin. It overlooks Coniston Water and has an art exhibition gallery, minerology exhibition woodland walk and café, in addition to the house. You can drive directly to the house or park-up in Coniston village and catch either the Coniston Launch or Steam Yacht Gondola to the jetty at Brantwood.
- 12 miles drive from Westwood (about 40 minutes) – only 4 miles (about 15 minutes) from Hawkshead if you are combining Brantwood with visiting Hawkshead
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Brantwood
Brantwood is the former home of the writer /artist / architectural historian / radical / philanthropist. John Ruskin. It overlooks Coniston Water and has an art exhibition gallery, minerology exhibition woodland walk and café, in addition to the house. You can drive directly to the house or park-up in Coniston village and catch either the Coniston Launch or Steam Yacht Gondola to the jetty at Brantwood.
- 12 miles drive from Westwood (about 40 minutes) – only 4 miles (about 15 minutes) from Hawkshead if you are combining Brantwood with visiting Hawkshead
Cinema / Music
The Royalty Cinema is a really old-fashioned cinema in Bowness. When we went the lady who sold us our tickets then popped up with the refreshments between reels (I suspect she ran the film, too). The Royal shows some of the latest releases across its three screens. It also has a Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ which is used for concert recitals and on occasion as accompaniment to ‘silent’ films.
- 2 minutes’ drive or 20 minutes’ walk from Westwood
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Royalty Cinema
Lake RoadThe Royalty Cinema is a really old-fashioned cinema in Bowness. When we went the lady who sold us our tickets then popped up with the refreshments between reels (I suspect she ran the film, too). The Royal shows some of the latest releases across its three screens. It also has a Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ which is used for concert recitals and on occasion as accompaniment to ‘silent’ films.
- 2 minutes’ drive or 20 minutes’ walk from Westwood
Zefferelli’s in Ambleside is perhaps rather more fashionable. It shows all the latest film releases across 5 screens, plus National Theatre, Opera and Ballet relays. It also has a jazz bar with acts most Fridays and Saturdays, an award-winning veggie pizzeria (Zefferelli’s) and another vegetarian restaurant (Fellini’s). They offer meal deals with the films and music. We went to Fellini’s and had a great meal in their restaurant before before going upstairs to see an opera relay in a cosy cinema room with cute bar attached. Drinks were served in proper glasses and you could take them with you to your seat.
- 15 minutes’ drive from Westwood (traffic allowing)
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Zeffirellis
2 Compston RdZefferelli’s in Ambleside is perhaps rather more fashionable. It shows all the latest film releases across 5 screens, plus National Theatre, Opera and Ballet relays. It also has a jazz bar with acts most Fridays and Saturdays, an award-winning veggie pizzeria (Zefferelli’s) and another vegetarian restaurant (Fellini’s). They offer meal deals with the films and music. We went to Fellini’s and had a great meal in their restaurant before before going upstairs to see an opera relay in a cosy cinema room with cute bar attached. Drinks were served in proper glasses and you could take them with you to your seat.
- 15 minutes’ drive from Westwood (traffic allowing)
The characterful Crafty Baa in Windermere (there is another in Keswick now) with its maze of eccentrically styled rooms, open fire and ‘over 100 World Beers and Fine Wines’ has live music Thursday to Sunday; and even when it isn’t live it has an eclectic mix of what they characterise as ‘soulful music’. We love their charcuterie / cheese boards, but last we heard, these need to be ordered the day before, so best to book a table and place your order.
- 5 minutes’ walk from Westwood
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The Crafty Baa
21 Victoria StThe characterful Crafty Baa in Windermere (there is another in Keswick now) with its maze of eccentrically styled rooms, open fire and ‘over 100 World Beers and Fine Wines’ has live music Thursday to Sunday; and even when it isn’t live it has an eclectic mix of what they characterise as ‘soulful music’. We love their charcuterie / cheese boards, but last we heard, these need to be ordered the day before, so best to book a table and place your order.
- 5 minutes’ walk from Westwood