Bowness-on-Windermere lies beside Lake Windermere, the largest lake in England at 10.5 miles long and offers visitors a wide range of things to see and do.
Boasting some of the best spa suites and spa hotels in the Lake District, Bowness on Windermere is home to hundreds of quirky shops, restaurants, country pubs and some excellent cultural and historical attractions. If you are planning a trip to the Lake District for the first time, or you are looking for a weekend break or a late deal in the region, check out Bowness.
The views from Bowness across Lake Windermere and over to the mountains are some of the best in the Lake District, and the wide range of things to see and do is endless.
Outdoors enthusiasts can enjoy golf, walking, hiking, climbing, water-skiing and sailing, or simply cruising down the lake on one of the authentic steam boats. If you prefer to take things a little bit easier, visit the 15th Century church of St Martin´s, which is situated in a beautiful part of the town.
Bowness is popular with all ages as there is so much to do, and the focus is firmly put on the lakeshore of Bowness Bay. Here you can hire a rowing boat, sail on the steamer or enjoy a leisurely stroll around Lake Windermere, which is also the deepest lake in England at 67 metres.
Bowness is busy most of the year, and is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Windermere. The town is Cumbria´s most popular destination, so if you prefer a quieter time on holiday, it is best to visit out of season. Lake Windermere is the best waterway in the region for water sports, swimming and yachting, and it is the only lake in the Lake District which has no speed restriction for water traffic. Boat builders and fishermen can be seen at work on the shoreline, and there are plenty of cafés to stop at and buy refreshments.
Bowness-on-Windermere and William Wordsworth
Well known to the poet, William Wordsworth, Bowness-on-Windermere was frequently visited by several writers and authors. The White Lion pub, which is now the Royal Hotel was a favourite hostelry of Wordsworth´s, and it was mentioned in ´The Prelude.´ The poet also used the ferry to cross Lake Windermere, and mentioned this in some of his most famous works. A car ferry still crosses the lake between Ferry Nab and Ferry House, and provides a convenient approach to the western side of the lake and the villages of Hawkshead and Sawrey.
The history of Bowness-on-Windermere
The Romans and the Vikings once laid claim to Bowness, and it was the Vikings who gave the name ´Bull Ness´ to the town originally. The name changed to Bowness over the years, and it remained a small fishing village until 1847, when the railroad was introduced. Bowness then grew quickly, and hotels began to spring up to accommodate the tourists. Wealthy industrialists built mansions, which later became hotels, and Bowness was planted firmly on the wealthy tourist´s map.
Why not book into a spa hotel in Windermere and make the most of your stay in the Lake District.