The Windermere Swim 2011
The Great North Swim, sponsored by British Gas, is held annually in Windermere, and is expected to attract 11,000 swimmers in 2011. Swimmers can choose to participate over half a mile, one mile or two miles, and swimmers of all ages and abilities come to Windermere to take part each year.
The Great Swim Series includes five swims at Windermere, Salford Quays, Suffolk, London and Strathclyde, Scotland, and the Windermere event is being held between Friday, 17th June and Sunday, 19th June, 2011.
Combining beautiful lakeside scenery with some of the best attractions in the Lake District, Windermere attracts swimmers and their families from all over the world, for the biggest outdoor swim event in the UK. Even though the Windermere Swim will be held in June this year, swim gloves and swim socks are recommended, as the temperature of the water is 14-15º in summer.
Nearly 11,000 swimmers are expected to take part in 2011, and the swim starts at the Low Wood Bay Hotel and Marina in Windermere. Swimmers start in differently-timed waves, with approximately 300 swimmers per wave. Amateur swimmers who prefer to let the faster swimmers go first, can hang back and enter the water at the back of the wave. Family and friends are welcome to come and cheer swimmers on, and there are large screens around the lake, plus a grandstand.
There is so much going on in Windermere during summer, that if you plan to visit from outside the region, it is well worth checking out the events calendar and/or local Windermere attractions, to make the most of your stay in this beautiful part of the world. You will also find a wealth of guest houses, hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation and spa hotels in Windermere to make your stay extra special.
Some of the best attractions around Windermere include:
1.The World of Beatrix Potter at Bowness
If you plan to visit Windermere for the swim weekend, and you have the family in tow, take a trip to the award-winning World of Beatrix Potter. This famous attraction helps bring the characters of Potter´s books to life, including Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy Winkle and Jemima Puddleduck. You can reach the attraction by boat from Windermere, and add to the adventure. For more information, see www.hop-skip-jump.com
2.The Lakes Aquarium
Situated at Lakeside, Newby Bridge, the Lakes Aquarium provides a great day out for all the family. Explore a re-created journey below Windermere, the Seashore Discovery Zone, the Carp Tank, the Virtual Dive Bell and the Tropical Rain Forest, plus many other attractions. You can reach the Aquarium by road or rail, and even combine a train journey with a boat trip and entry to the www.lakesaquarium.co.uk/index.cfm for more information.
3.Boat trips on Windermere
One of the best ways to enjoy the stunning scenery that surrounds Windermere is by viewing it from the lake itself. You can enjoy a cruise from 45 minutes to three hours, and if you buy a ´freedom of the lakes ticket´, you can hop on and off the boat where you choose. Ferry trips and steamer trips are most popular, and this is the best way to see the attractions of Bowness, Ambleside, Lakeside or the Windermere Islands. For more information, see www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk
4.Rydal Mount and William Wordsworth
Rydal Mount was William Wordsworth´s lived at Rydal Mount for 37 years, and it was here that he composed many of his famous works, including ´Daffodils´. Visitors can explore the beautiful, terraced gardens, which the poet landscaped himself, and also enjoy superb views over Windermere and Rydal Water from the grounds of the house. For more information, check out: www.rydalmount.co.uk
5.Windermere Pubs and restaurants
Whether you are looking for gastro pubs serving delicious local Cumbrian cuisine, country pubs with open fires and beamed ceilings, or gourmet Michelin star restaurants, you will find them all near Windermere. Within easy walking distance of the lake, you can find a wealth of lively cafés and pubs, which are famous for their real ales and delicious food.
You can find a wealth of spa hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast accommodation close to Windermere, and whatever you want to do during your stay in the Lake District, you will find plenty of attractions and events close to your hotel.
