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At the northern end of Windermere is the popular market town of Ambleside, perfectly located in the heart of the national park. Surrounded by majestic Lakeland fells, Ambleside’s roots are in the medieval woollen trade, but the town you see today is primarily Victorian, built of traditional grey slate.
With easy access to Grasmere, Keswick, Windermere and an unrivalled range of water sports, walks, climbs, cycling and much more, Ambleside is very popular with both leisure visitors wanting a relaxing break and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a challenge. There are also some fabulous restaurants, cafés and pubs to satisfy the discerning palette and numerous award-winning ales to quench your thirst. Ambleside’s specialist shops offer a welcome variation on high street chains. There is no shortage of outdoor clothing specialists waiting to kit you out in the latest gear for any activity, from walking to windsurfing.
Described by purists as ‘the true Lake District’, Ambleside is a walkers’ paradise. Plenty of routes begin from near the Waterhead Pier, so why not grab a copy of Windermere Lake Cruises’ handy walkers leaflet – or even better, buy a copy of ‘Walks Around Windermere’ from the attraction’s team – a labour of love by local man, the late Jim Fleming.
Waterhead Pier is less than a mile from Ambleside’s town centre, being just a pleasant stroll or electric shuttle bus ride away.
The Armitt Museum art gallery and reference library gives you the chance to explore the history of life and arts of the Lakes. In addition, there’s also an exhibition about the life of Kurt Schwitters and of course, lots to learn about Beatrix Potter. There’s also information on the nearby remains of a Roman site, which is free to explore.
Zeffirellis is Ambleside’s famous independent cinema, offering viewings of films made by new and emerging talents, while Fellinis shows art-house and independent films, as well as holding performances. There’s also The Old Courthouse Gallery which showcases the best arts and crafts on offer in the Lakes.
For some quality outdoor time, check out Rydal Mount and Gardens. The home of William Wordsworth for nearly 40 years, this house inspired many of his poems – and tweaks to existing works including his world-famous 'Daffodils'.
After exploring Ambleside, make use of the Langdale Rambler bus service between March 25 and November 3 to visit other surrounding towns and villages before heading back to Ambleside.
Before getting back on a Steamer, you can also have a go in a self-drive power boat or rowing boat. Just ask the team on the lake shore!
Chic British dining in the local restaurants using locally sourced produce, to quirky off the beaten track cafes,
are just some of the delicious treats Ambleside has in store for you.
Wild food has become very ’now’ and no more so than in Ambleside,
where there’s ingredients from shore sourced seaweed to forest-picked mushrooms.
Impeccable Cumbrian provenance is readily available here, from Herdwick lamb to speciality sausage and Windermere Char (local fish). But it’s not all Cumberland sausage here, there’s also a sophisticated range of vegetarian restaurants and cafes in Ambleside.
There’s everything here from the finest of dining in the many top-quality hotels and restaurants, to quirky bistros in cellars, to going continental with Italian restaurants, or even contemporary Thai.
Bustling cafes with fabulous menus bring a dazzle to the centre of town, offering light lunches and tapas, or morning coffee with freshly baked pastries and cakes. No visit would be complete, without a visit to one of the town’s traditional pubs, or a little way out of town to Lakeland’s highest pub, offering soaring views.
Try one of the many Craft beers for that post-hike lift, or while away an evening sampling locally casked ales or a glass of wine, listening to a gig or one of the many other musical entertainments going on in the town.
Ambleside’s origins date from Romans, who built a stone fort at Waterhead called Galava around AD 120 (now in Borrans Field) - one of a number built to secure trade and service routes through the south lakes.
Galava was linked to the Roman port at Ravenglass (via Hardknott Pass), to Brocavum (Brougham) near Penrith along ‘High Street' (an elevated Roman road between Ullswater and Haweswater), and southwards to Watercrook, near Kendal.
Once the Romans left around AD 400, the Vikings moved in, founding a settlement on high ground above the town centre. It is thought that Ambleside may have been named after a Norseman called Amal (i.e. Amal's saeter - or summer pasture).
Ambleside was granted a market charter in 1650, and Market Place became the commercial centre for agriculture and the wool trade.
The old packhorse trail (now a bridleway) between Ambleside and Grasmere was the main route between the two towns before the new turnpike road was completed in 1770 (now the A591). Smithy Brow at the end of the trail was where packponies were re-shod after their journey.
With the coming of the turnpikes, the packhorse trains were superseded by horse-drawn stagecoaches, which regularly travelled between Keswick and Kendal (via Grasmere, Ambleside and Windermere).
The Salutation Hotel, a former hostelry dating from 1656, developed into a coaching inn where horses could be stabled overnight. The Royal Oak and the White Lion were also coaching inns.
Wray - Wray is home to Wray Castle. What you will see is a fascinating building with hints of its 'grand' past and plenty of signs of its varied history. Make sure you join one of the National Trust's free tours to get its full life story.
Waterhead - Passing through Waterhead approaching Ambleside from the South on the A591 you can find a variety of water-front shops, attractions, cafes & hotels. As well as public benches to sit and enjoy the sweeping views across Windermere and the opposite fells.
Fun facts and tantalising trivia about the town of Ambleside. Click for more details.
Whether you’re a complete beginner, indoor climber, or competent trad climber, we can tailor the…
If you've ever been curious about how photography was done a century or more ago, this workshop…
Mountain adventures are our speciality. Family Adventure days, Guided Walking, Navigation…
The Langdale Hotel & Spa in the heart of the Lake District, is the perfect place for getting away…
Pay & Display car park with 118 spaces. Public toilets adjacent to car park.
An enjoyable mountain bike ride on gravel and stony tracks with views across the Langdale Pikes and…
Follow the lane behind Barclays Bank in Ambleside Village to reach the falls. About 1 mile…
Zeffirellis hosts an award-winning vegetarian restaurant, a daytime café, a jazz bar on the second…
Pay & Display. (NT members free) with 40 spaces. A great parking spot for a riverside amble or…
Our self catering holiday cottages with hot tubs occupy an idyllic location, just a stone’s throw…
Fellinis is a new modern 'Vegeterranean' restaurant catering for the most discerning vegetarian…
This independent, hostel is perfectly situated in the picturesque village of Elterwater, at the…
Tariff type: Multi Tariff. Public toilets on site.
Whether you have a few hours to unwind, an afternoon to recharge or a whole day to relax, come and…
Often described as the friendliest and most beautiful UK marathon. This wonderful and undulating…
In 2004, Richard Askwith published Feet in the Clouds: a personal memoir of fell running and…
Parking spaces: General: 29, Disabled spaces: 3, Motorcycle spaces: Can use any of the spaces with…
From short walks along valley bottoms or around lake shores, to lesser known mountain routes on the…
Nestled in 130 acres of tranquil woodland, Skelwith Fold is the perfect destination to escape from…
Museum, art gallery and reference library covering the history life and arts of the Lakes.…
Between Ambleside and Coniston is an intricate network of low fells and twisting dales.
Making frequent stops and taking in all the attractions of an area is all part of the fun of being…
Established in 1887, F W Tyson have specialised in country and mountain footwear for the…
The Lakelands offer a selection of quality self-catering holiday apartments, situated in a unique…
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Ambleside
Whether you’re a complete beginner, indoor climber, or competent trad climber, we can tailor the day/session to suit you. We typically use easy to access climbing venues and also provide all technical and safety equipment.
Ambleside
The Cumbrian uplands include extensive areas of considerable nature conservation value. The grassland, moorland, woodland, scrub and heath vegetation of fells, ridges and mountain summits, rivers, tarns, rock outcrops and screes contain many rare…
Ambleside
If you've ever been curious about how photography was done a century or more ago, this workshop with photographer Chris Routledge is a chance to find out. Using modern instant film and direct positive paper, this is your chance to get under the dark…
Ambleside
Mountain adventures are our speciality. Family Adventure days, Guided Walking, Navigation workshops, Rock Climbing, Rock Scrambling, Gorge Scrambling, Abseiling, Canyoning and any combination of these. We’re here to help ensure you experience the…
Great Langdale, Ambleside
The Langdale Hotel & Spa in the heart of the Lake District, is the perfect place for getting away from it all.
Ambleside
Macbeth is coming. A couple corrupted by their relentless lust for power have blood on their hands. Witness the gripping tale of greed, murder, deception, and superstition in cinemas for a limited time only. Once you cross the line, you can never…
Cumbria
An enjoyable mountain bike ride on gravel and stony tracks with views across the Langdale Pikes and down into the depths of Hodge Close.
Distance: 3.85 miles (6.2km).
Nearest Town: Ambleside.
Start Location: Tilberthwaite Car Park…
Ambleside
Follow the lane behind Barclays Bank in Ambleside Village to reach the falls. About 1 mile roundtrip. Multiple fall of 90ft in woodland with clear paths and bridges.
Ambleside
Zeffirellis hosts an award-winning vegetarian restaurant, a daytime café, a jazz bar on the second floor of the restaurant, and a cinema.
Zeffirellis restaurant offers an Italian themed pizza and pasta menu with daily specials freshly prepared by…
Ambleside
Our self catering holiday cottages with hot tubs occupy an idyllic location, just a stone’s throw from Ambleside, Windermere and Hawkshead. They’re perfectly positioned for exploring some of Cumbria’s best loved towns and villages as well as…
Ambleside
Fellinis is a new modern 'Vegeterranean' restaurant catering for the most discerning vegetarian palette with a distinct Mediterranean twist.
Our menu changes regularly to reflect the seasons and the availability of local ingredients. Our wine list…
Ambleside
This independent, hostel is perfectly situated in the picturesque village of Elterwater, at the heart of the Langdale Valley in the English Lake District.
Ambleside
Whether you have a few hours to unwind, an afternoon to recharge or a whole day to relax, come and indulge yourself in beautiful surroundings and enjoy one of our specially tailored spa packages.
Ambleside
Often described as the friendliest and most beautiful UK marathon.
This wonderful and undulating road marathon takes place every year in May. It's a 26.2 mile anti-clockwise circuit of Windermere through the villages of Hawkshead, Newby Bridge,…
Ambleside
In 2004, Richard Askwith published Feet in the Clouds: a personal memoir of fell running and obsession that was also the first book to introduce the sport to a general audience, beyond the mountainous north-west. Some say fell running hasn't been…
Ambleside
From short walks along valley bottoms or around lake shores, to lesser known mountain routes on the smaller and bigger mountains, right up to the likes of Scafell Pike and Helvellyn or even multiple summits, we will endeavour to build a route to…
Ambleside
Nestled in 130 acres of tranquil woodland, Skelwith Fold is the perfect destination to escape from everyday life. An array of scenic walks, quaint villages and cosy pubs and restaurants all within walking distance. There is a Stagecoach bus stop…
Ambleside
Museum, art gallery and reference library covering the history life and arts of the Lakes. Collections include Kurt Schwitters, Beatrix Potter, photography, fine art and local history.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
102 reviewsAmbleside
Established in 1887, F W Tyson have specialised in country and mountain footwear for the connoisseur for over 120 years.
Ambleside
The Lakelands offer a selection of quality self-catering holiday apartments, situated in a unique position, overlooking the popular town of Ambleside. The Lakelands offer superb, unspoilt views of the town, Lakeland countryside, and the fells beyond…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
8 reviewsReceive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL