During the United Kingdom Tour we that my spouse and I took at the beginning of December last year, the tour bus stopped for a boat tour on Lake Windermere in the Lake District on its way from Liverpool to Glasgow. The boat took off from Bowness-on-Windermere – a lovely town we discovered owing to this trip. (Photo above: Bowness-on-Windermere, sykescottages.co.uk)
With its iconic mountains, glittering tranquil lakes, lovely coasts and stunning epic views, the UK Lake District is a popular British vacation destination in the Cumbria county in northwest England along the border with Scotland. It is home to the “Lake District National Park” – an UNESCO World Heritage Site with England’s highest peak, “Scafell Pike“, and its largest natural lake, “Lake Windermere“.
Photo and map: visitlakedistrict.com
(Carlisle is the only city in Cumbria with a magnificent cathedral, an ancient castle and a rich Roman heritage. The city is next to Hadrian’s Wall built by the Romans – a UNESCO site. By riding along the “Hadrian’s Wall cycleway”, you can see the Roman forts, quaint villages and the coastline. Carlisle Castle had protected the border with Scotland for more than 900 years. (visitlakedistrict.com))
Every year millions of people are said to visit the lakes and the mountain range in the Lake District, especially Scafell Pike – popularised along with other 213 rocky summits by Alfred Wainwright, the famous fell-walker and author of “The Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells”. Wainwright’s 214 fells told in the book had become a target list among the walkers rejoicing when ‘ticking off another Wainwright’… (nationalgeographic.com)
Cat Bells, a popular Alfred Wainwright fell above the town of Keswick and Derwentwater Lake referred to as ‘the most beautiful mini mountain‘ in the Lake District – offering easy walking routes and panoramic views from its summit (countryfile.com by BBC) (Photo: Getty Images via cntraveller.com)
(I liked the image of Keswick, a market town in the Lake District with an award-winning open air market selling food and crafts, which charter had been granted by King Edward I in 1276. ‘Theatre by the Lake‘ hosting plays and musicals is also located in Keswick. (keswick.org))
The UK Lake District has world-class hiking trails, as well as spots to see wildlife. Martindale, on the southeastern side of “Lake Ullswater” is named to see red deer and “Bassenthwaite Lake” for bird watching. With its 16 scenic lakes, it is said to be perfect for various water sports like rowing, paddleboarding and kayaking. (nationalgeographic.com)
The UK’s Lake District (Photo: Daniel Kay, Getty Images via nationalgeopgraphic.com)
Kayaking in the Lake District / Buttermere Walk is an easy hike for beginners, popular with families, that offers impressive mountain views. (Photos: Sol Stock Ltd, Getty Images, and Andy Wasley, Getty Images both via nationalgeographic.com)
The Lake District is also home to ancient castles either built by the Romans or the Normans. The finest example of a Cumbrian castle is said to be in Carlisle. Wray Castle, Lowter Castle, Kendal Castle, Muncaster Castle and Sizergh are some of the other counted ones.
Muncaster Castle in Ravenglass on the Lake District coast, home to the Pennington family for over 800 years – where jolly Halloween and Christmas events are held (muncaster.co.uk) / Wray Castle on the west shore of Lake Windermere near Ambleside – closed for refurbishment at the moment and will partially reopen in spring 2027 (nationaltrust.org.uk) (Photo: visitlakedistrict.com)
(Wray Castle is a Gothic style castle with impressive turrets built as a holiday home by surgeon James Dawson in the 1840s – where once William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter set foot. Beatrix Potter had stayed here in 1882 while on holiday with her parents. William Wordsworth, who knew Dr. Dawson, had also come here and is said to have planted a black mulberry tree in its grounds. (contraveler.com, visitlakedistrict.com))
It was interesting for me to read that the renowned English romantic poet William Wordsworth had took his inspiration from the Lake District. Wordsworth had lived in Dove Cottage in the village of Grasmere in the early 1800s, during which time he wrote many of his favorite poems including his famous poem ““I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud“ also known as “Daffodils“, and called the village “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”. (nationalgeographic.com)
The Daffodils poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud“ – written in 1804 by William Wordsworth, is said to be inspired by daffodils seen by Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy on the shore of Lake Ullswater (bcc.com) (Photos: Facebook)
Daffodils flowering in late February on the banks of Ullswater (Photos: Getty Images via country file.com by BBC)
(I have noted spring as the best time to see Wordsworth’s golden daffodils in the UK Lake District.)
The village of Grasmere located along Grasmere Lake with pebbledash-faced old cottages and Victorian villas beside hotels, galleries and shops – looks so lovely (Photo: visitlakredistrict.com). You can visit Dove Cottage, the poet’s former home, and the next door Wordsworth Museum (Wordsworth Grasmere) in Grasmere – a pleasant museum with a cosy cafe… The village is also known for its gingerbread with a famous Gingerbread shop near the local church where the poet is buried. (visitlakedistrict.com)
Dove Cottage in Grasmere, home of William Wordsworth in Grasmere where he wrote most of his poems / Rydal Mount, where he later lived till his death – in the small village of Rydal nearby Grasmere (Photos and info: wordsworth.org.uk)
(Note that there is a memorial ‘Wordsworth Daffodil Garden‘ next to the church in Grasmere.)
The world famous “Laurel and Hardy Museum” devoted to Stan and Ollie is in Ulverston, Cumbria – the birthplace of Stan Laurel – an hour away from Grasmere by car. (Photos: visitlakedistrict.vom / laurel-and-hardy.co.uk)
The renowned children’s author Beatrix Potter is also said to have been impressed by the Lake District, and her work to have been influenced by her summer holidays here in 1880s. Potter also had a house in the area – a 17th-century farmhouse she bought in 1905, with the proceeds from “The Tale of Peter Rabbit“, and left to the National Trust in her will. (nationalgeographic.com, cntraveller.com, visitlakedistrict.com)
The farmhouse of Beatrix Potter (Hill Top), a museum today, in the small village of Near Sawrey on the western side of Lake Windermere, which inspired many of her famous stories. The pastoral cottage and garden is said to have frequently appeared in her illustrations. (The author had used the place as a rural retreat and holiday home. After she married in 1913, she had moved into Castle Cottage just nearby and had lived there for the rest of her life. (nationaltrust.org.uk)) (Photo: cntraveller.com)
(Photos above: (worldofbeatrixpotter.com) – The “World of Beatrix Potter” attraction, which brings Beatrix Potter’s tales and her characters including Peter Rabbit to life, with interactive exhibits and a show garden, is in Bowness-on-Windermere – the lovely town we dropped by during our UK tour, which I have mentioned at the beginning of this post…
Lake District Illustrated maps (Pinterest)
(Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside, Keswick, Penrith, Langdale Valley lying just west of Ambleside, Coniston, and Cockermouth are counted among the best areas to stay in the Lake District (cntraveller.com))
Towns around Lake Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere is a tourist town located on the shores of Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake. Its neighbouring town of Windermere, about 2 km above, is a quieter town where mostly local people live.
Windermere – a Victorian town with ancient stone buildings and a train station. The walk to Orrest Head, a famous Wainwright hill overlooking Windermere with an excellent view of the lake, starts by the station. The town is said to have a good selection of cafes and restaurants. (Photo: fr.hotels.com)
Our tour bus first stopped in Windermere where the ones who did not attend the boat tour on Lake Windermere got off. The town of Windermere looked so delightful to me with its pretty houses, cafes and shops that I thought for a moment that we could perhaps stay there. However, it would be a loss not to see Bowness.
Bowness (Bowness-on-Windermere) town center – a touristic town with beaches, piers offering boat trips, lakeside hotels, nice restaurants and pubs. (Photo: visitlakedistrict.com) (You can walk from Windermere to Bowness-on-Windermere or take a bus.)
We went on a boat tour on Lake Windermere departing from Bowness – planned by our UK tour. It was early in December and unluckily the weather was rainy and quite windy so we could not stand on the boat deck. After the boat tour, we had some free time in the town which allowed us to discover this jolly town with cute bakeries, shops and art galleries – from one of which we bought two jolly practical items that I always carry in my bag…
In Bowness-on-Windermere, December 9, 2025
“La Galerie D’art” – a charming art gallery and shop in a beautiful Victorian building in Queen’s Square in Bowness-on-Windermere – with paintings, sculptures and various artwork as well as decorative items and amazing gifts like jewelry, purses, bags, candles and scarves in various designs. (galart.co.uk)
Alice Wheeler glasses case and mirror – the two jolly items we bought from La Galerie D’art in Bowness-on-Windermere, owing to my spouse who drew my attention to them. The glasses case is very practical for it doesn’t take much space in a bag. I also bought a pink and burgundy plaid wool scarf from the store. I really liked this gallery with a display of beautiful artwork and jolly gifts. (Photos by my mobile phone)
(Note that La Galerie D’art also has a gallery in Ambleside – a picturesque little town at the northern head of Lake Windermere, home to many shops and art galleries – about 15 minutes away from Bowness-on-Windermere by car.)
The Bridge House – a 17th century stone building and a popular attraction in Ambleside / View from Borans Park, Ambleside (Ambleside is said to have nice restaurants, cafes and pubs with award-winning ales. The town offers access to major hiking trails. Note that Wray Castle is also near Ambleside.) (Photos: visitlakedistrict.com)
My spouse and I in the lovely town of Bowness-on-Winermere, December 9, 2025
Photos above: Taken inside a cute bakery we dropped by in Bowness-on-Windermere, by my mobile phone, Dec. 9, 2025
(We had “Traditional Pasty” in the bakery, with a rich beef and vegetables filling – a very delicious pasty which we loved and noted, and which I definitely suggest.)
Linthwaite House, Windermere – a country house hotel in Bowness-on-Windermere / Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa in Windermere (cntraveller.com)
(I have noted both hotels above with nice views of Lake Windermere, suggested among the “7 of the best family-friendly hotels in the Lake District” (you can check the other hotels from the link).)
If we have a chance to visit the Lake District for a longer period next time, which I would be pleased, I would consider to stay in Windermere and pay daily trips to places nearby. Either to the beautiful market town of Keswick or to the lovely town of Grasmere to see William Wordsworth house and museum and his golden daffodils… I shall also visit Wray Castle where once Wordsworth visited and Beatrix Potter stayed and have some fun in the ‘World of Beatrix Potter’ in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Note: This post was going to be about Bowness-on-Windermere only, but I couldn’t help some inspiring details about the Lake District.
