Ambleside

This is the quieter of the three villages and is situated at the far end of lake Windermere from the train station. There are several large hotels in Ambleside, the Waterhead Hotel is near to the Pier where you can catch the boat to Bowness and the Low Wood is on the shores of the lake but is a reasonable walk to the village itself.

There are hotels and bed and breakfasts along the main road from Windermere to Bowness, the largest is the Langdale Chase which has spectacular views of the lake and a terrace ideal for drinks or dining.

At the other end of the scale, there is a Youth Hostel right on the shores of the lake if you are looking for budget accommodation in a great location. The village is only a short walk and the pier for the Windermere boat is just around the corner.

No matter where you stay in Ambleside, you will need to get a taxi from the train station or catch a local bus which will drop you off in the centre of the village.

The village is lively and full of shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, one of which is Zeffirelli's, an independent cinema with an authentic pizzeria attached and relaxed jazz cafe for live music which is the only establishment to serve a varied vegetarian and vegan menu in any of the three villages. The other food outlets offer a variety of choice, from Thai to Italian, traditional English to Indian and a Chinese takeaway.

Many of the shops sell outdoor clothing and equipment and there is a small recreational park, Roman remains at Galava on the lake shores and the Armitt Museum and Gallery, a gem hidden away near the University of Cumbria Campus which holds all types of interesting things and some Beatrix Potter items.

There are a couple of ATMs, a Tesco Express and a pharmacy for any essentials you may need.

One of the meeting-points for our tours is situated at the bus station in the village.