Lake Windermere
Lake Windermere is a beautiful lake in the Lake District with stunning views, walks, and places to shop as well as activities such as canoeing, boat rides and cycling to name a few.
One of the most famous aspects of the Lake District is Lake Windermere. Its name comes from the Scandinavian for ‘lake of a man called Vinandr’. At ten and a half miles long, one mile wide and 219 feet deep it is England’s largest lake, and is fed by numerous rivers. At Windermere’s northern end, using the strategic position of being protected by two sides of water, the Romans built their fort of GALAVA, around AD79, as a series of fortified structures to protect the necessary and vital trade routes through Cumbria. Artefacts from the fort can be found in the Kendal Museum of Natural History and Archaeology.
Fort GALAVA, can be found at Borrans Park in Watershead, a crowded and bustling bay where boats, hotels, cafes and tourist shops, where streamers and launches sail daily throughout the year, leisurely travelling between Watershead and Bowness. At the southern end of Lake Windermere is Lakeside Pier, where the Aquarium of the Lakes, where holiday makers discover in over 30 diferent displays the fascinating and vast secret world of wildlife and freshwater creatures that dwell in the magnificent waters of Windermere. Furthermore, Lakeside Pier is a short walk away to Stott Park Bobbin Mill, which created the wooden bobbins vital to the spinning and weaving industries of Lancashire. Open to the public, they can discover and view the original Victorian machinery that was originally powered by a waterwheel, as well as watch a bobbin being made, and take it home as a souvenir.
During, the late 19th century, many wealthy business from Lancashire built luxurious mansions overlooking Lake Windermere, many of these mansions have been converted into luxury hotels, for example the Langdale Chase Hotel, an Elizabethan gabled house, originally built as a private home in 1891, many of the carvings and artefacts in the building date as far back as 1664. The House has its own boathouse, landing stage and has spectacular views of Lake Windermere. Other attractions include Graythwaite Hall Gardens, a delight in Spring, the garden in laid out since the 19th century, with flowers including rhododendrons and azaleas. Further entertainment can be found in the Old Laundry Theatre, is the only professional theatre in Cumbria with a stimulating programme of performing arts.
There are many things to do on Lake Windermere, and the Bendrigg Trust Residential Centre offers abseiling, rock climbing and archery for the disabled. Furthermore, balloon flights, climbing, cycling and horse riding activities are available all around the Windermere Lake. One of the most popular aspects of Lake Windermere is the sailing opportunities rowing and sailing boats, as can be hired from Waterhead, Low Wood, Bowness and Fell Foot Park, as well sailing lessons, also, canoeing opportunities. Furthermore, for those looking for a more relaxed holiday at Windermere can enjoy a spot of fishing, with arctic charr, trout, pike, perch and eels, also in Spring young salmon can all be found in Windermere.
