Set on the shores of England’s largest lake, Bowness on Windermere is a bustling town in the height of summer, buzzing with day trippers and walkers.

If you want to escape the crowds, we’ve put together three walks around Bowness-On-Windermere where you can re-connect with nature and find a little calm and balance away from the noise.

 

Cockshott Point

Cockshott Point is a lovely introductory walk to the area that is a short distance from Bowness and the pier, where boats leave to explore Windermere. Following a flat, well-maintained footpath around a small peninsula, the point has views over to Belle Isle, the largest (and only habituated) of the 18 islands on Windermere. With grassy open spaces and shingle lakeshore beaches overlooking boats and yacht moorings, it’s also an excellent spot for a picnic and a paddle on a sunny day.

The walk finishes at the Ferry Nab, where a car and foot passenger boat connects Windermere’s eastern and western shores. If you a looking for a slightly longer walk, combine it with our next walk around the western shore of Windermere to Red Nab.

Length / from our Bowness-on-Windermere store, 1.2 miles one way.
Difficulty / Easy.
Terrain / Flat, tarmac road and uneven gravel path around Cockshott Point.
Directions / From our Bath House store, turn left, follow St Martin’s Parade until the intersection with Church Street, and continue straight ahead. On reaching the main road, turn right onto the promenade, follow the road past Bowness Pier, and turn right onto Glebe Road. Follow the road round until you see the gate for Cockshott Point. Follow the footpath around the peninsula, bearing right out of the park and following the signs to the Ferry Nab.

 

Western shore of Windermere to Red Nab.

Leave the hustle and bustle of Bowness behind for this low-level walk along the shoreline of Windermere’s calm and tranquil western fringes.

The journey begins with a 10-minute ferry ride across the narrowest part of the lake. Alight at the Ferry House, and if you wish, take a short detour to climb up to the colourful Claife Heights Viewing Platform built in the 1790s for stunning views over Windermere.

After a short section of road, the footpath joins the lakeshore with views over to the Troutbeck hills before heading into Heald Wood through a series of towering pines on an undulating path until it reconnects with the shoreline once again. In the summertime, wildflowers dot the little lakeside coves, perfect for a picnic or a place to pause to admire the view.

Continue until you reach Red Nab Car Park and either retrace your steps or if you wish to extend your walk, continue on another 2 miles to Wray Castle where a boat runs to Ambleside in peak season.

Length / from the Ferry House 5.5 miles there and back.
Difficulty / Easy.
Terrain / Tarmac road, uneven gravel path.
Directions / Follow the above directions to take you to the Ferry Nab. The ferry runs every 20 minutes in peak season and is £1 for pedestrians. From the ferry landing, follow the footpath around the shoreline and along the side of the road for 400m where the road ends, and the pathway continues along the lakeshore to the Red Nab car park.

Brant Fell

At 192m, Brant Fell is a relative baby compared to its neighbouring lofty hills. Whilst it may not have the grandeur of the high Lakeland fells, the views certainly cannot be rivalled. Brant Fell provides excellent panoramic views over Windermere and the surrounding fells on a clear day.

Beginning just off the main high street of Bowness, the road climbs steeply up Brantfell Road before opening out onto open grassland. A small stone seat marks the beginning (or end) point of the 81-mile Dales Way path to Ilkley in Yorkshire before the trail ascends through woodland and up the seated viewpoint of Post Knott and out on the grassy knoll of Brant Fell dotted with grazing sheep.

Length / from our Bowness-on-Windermere store 2.1 miles there and back.
Difficulty / Easy / Moderate, depending on fitness.
Terrain / Starts on pavement and then switches to uneven wooded and grassy footpaths.
Directions / From our store, bear right on to St Martin’s Parade and right again at the roundabout, following the road south, turning left onto Kendal road and immediately left onto Brantfell Road. Follow the road up the steep hill until you reach a gate. Pass through, head north on the footpath and follow the signs to Post Knott. From there, head north, through the kissing gate, and choose any of the grassy winding paths to take you to the summit.

Whilst the utmost effort has gone into making these directions accurate, it is advised you consult and take a map with you prior to undertaking these walks.

Rebecca is a writer and hillwalker based in Ambleside, find her on Instagram at @lookwithneweyes and at www.lookwithneweyes.com.

Linda and the team would love to see you at the Bowness-On-Windermere store, this store showcases our complete collection of niche perfumes, natural skincare and home fragrance.

This bustling town is not only a great starting point for walking, it also boasts many unique shops and is perfect for sightseeing, close to the Windermere Jetty Museum and The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction.

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