Not to be confused with nearby Windermere, the tiny village of Bowness-on-Windermere lies on the shore of England's largest lake about halfway along the 10.5 mile length of the lake between Waterhead at the North end, and Lakeside at the South end. The lake is one mile wide and 220 feet deep and is the largest natural lake in both the Lake District and in England, fed by numerous rivers. It contains nineteen islands, the largest of which is the privately owned Belle Isle opposite Bowness, but the other islands or 'holmes' are considerably smaller – the word 'holme' or 'holm' means small island or islet and comes from Old Norse word ' holmr'. Ferries run from here across Lake Windermere, while the traditional stone cottages, lakefront pubs, and lively fishing harbour tempt travellers to linger a little longer. It developed after the opening of the railway line from Oxenholme and Kendal to Windermere in 1847 with Bowness the nearest accessible point on the lake. It is now the Lake District's most popular visitor destination and is busy for much of the year being now one of the main centres of Outdoor Activities in the UK and an extensive selection of top Adventure Activity companies, guides and instructors are based around here. People also come to enjoy the lake for sailing and watersports or just to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the area and the town's delightful setting. Steamers and launches operate from Bowness Bay to Waterhead at Ambleside, and at the southern end Lakeside – Lakeside Pier and Lakeside Station where you will also find the Aquarium of the Lakes.
The Romans came to the area around AD80 and established a fort at nearby Ambleside: this is probably when they built a villa on Belle Isle, the small island opposite Bowness Bay. Next came the Vikings who settled in both Ambleside and Bowness and are responsible for the naming of the lake - Vinander's Mere (this became Windermere over the centuries)- after one of their chiefs. Bowness they called Bull Ness to indicate that this was where the village bull was kept. Originally a small fishing village, the older town of Bowness dates back to the 15th century when the parish church of St Martin's was constructed. This was built in 1483, with various alterations, including the restoration of 1870, when the Church was enlarged. It is probably the most interesting building in Bowness, and is worth looking inside. The area behind the church is the oldest part of Bowness, a delightful web of narrow streets known as Lowside, which gives an idea of what the village was like before the arrival of the railway. By the end of the 18th century the beauty of the Lake District, and the South Lakes in particular, was attracting visitors. Wordsworth's popular 'Guide to the Lakes', published in 1810, further promoted the Lake District as a tourist destination. The railway line came in 1847 bringing a flock of Victorian tourists to the area which resulted in the creation of Windermere town around the railway station and the expansion of Bowness. The village was originally called Birthwaite, but the railway company decided to call the station after the lake. Finally in 1951 the Lake District National Park was established which encompassed all of the the South Lakes area and in July 2017 the Lake District was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status. The Victorian influence can be seen everywhere as in the late 19th century wealthy businessmen from Lancashire built large residences overlooking the lake, and many of these have now been converted to hotels, such as the Langdale Chase Hotel, Storrs Hall Hotel and the Belsfield Hotel. Others houses include The National Park Visitor Centre at Brockhole between Ambleside and Bowness. Interestingly, The Belsfield Hotel overlooking the Lake was once home to Henry Schneider, chairman of the Barrow Steelworks. Every morning he left home, travelled on his steam yacht, SL Esperance, on which he had breakfast, on his way to Lakeside. There he would travel by train in his private carriage (he owned the railway too) to his job in Barrow. His steam yacht is now preserved in the Windermere Steamboat Museum. Boat trips can be taken from Bowness Pier to Lakeside Pier, which is also the Lakeside station of the Railway. Alternatively you can take a car ferry over to the small town of Hawkshead, hire a boat, or take a cruise. If you are feeling energetic, the Windermere Way is a 45-mile path that takes you around the whole of the lake. Orrest Head is a popular fell walk for beginners, with an easy route that starts at the railway station and spectacular views from the summit. It was the first 'summit' in Lakeland visited by A. Wainwright, author of the famous guidebooks, in 1930.
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| The Peter Rabbit Garden |
The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction is a vibrant visitor centre offering a unique experience for all the family. Here you can explore a magical world where all 23 enchanting tales are brought to life in a magical world of 3D scenes, recreating the beautiful Lake District countryside complete with sights, sounds and smells. There's chance to meet your favourite characters including Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-winkle and Jemima Puddle-Duck. Visitors can step into Peter Rabbit's Garden to see the cos lettuces that Benjamin Bunny nibbled on and the gooseberry bush where Peter got caught in a net as he tried to escape Mr. McGregor! There's plenty to do to keep everybody happy: kids can explore with a free activity booklet and play puzzles and games whilst adults reminisce and absorb themselves in Miss Potter's history in the fascinating virtual world and interactive area. Just south of Bowness adults will find Blackwell House a celebration of the Arts and Crafts movement, intriguing, with its extensive collection of artwork, furniture, and artefacts.
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