Ambleside is up there as one of my all-time favourite villages in the Lake District.
Located on the northern tip of Lake Windermere – while this idyllic village may be small in size – it’s certainly big in character & offers a whole range of fantastic activities to get your teeth sunk into!
To help fellow Lake District enthusiasts, we’ve gone and compiled a list of the very best things to do during your next visit to Ambleside.
Head out on any number of these activities and I guarantee you’re in for a cracking day out!
Interested? Let’s get to it 👇👇
11 BEST Things To Do In & Around Ambleside
Did you know? – The name ‘Ambleside’ is derived from the Old Norse word ‘amla’ – which means ‘river mouth’ – and the Old English word ‘sæte,’ meaning ‘dwelling’.
Wild swim or paddleboard on Borran’s Park
Kicking off our list, Ambleside is home to one of the best wild swimming and paddleboard spots on the iconic Lake Windermere.
Borran’s Park provides shallow waters & the temperatures tend to stay relatively mild, making it perfect for swimming newbies.
For more experienced swimmers however, head just 50 metres out from shore and you’ll find plenty of deeper water to have a proper splash!
Also a hotspot for paddleboarders, Borran’s Park is tucked away to the west from where boats and ferries frequent, meaning you’ll be well out of the way from boat traffic during your frolic.
💡 Top tip – With numerous benches also dotted around the park, it’s certainly worth bringing along a picnic after you’ve dried off.
For those wanting to check this park out during their visit, the best place to park is Lakeside Car Park, just a 5 minute stroll from the heart of Ambleside.
Peruse Ambleside village
After a refreshing dip in the lake, why not take a stroll around the charming cottage streets of Ambleside?
Teeming with cafe’s, restaurants, bakeries & plenty of quirky independent shops, you’ll have no trouble killing a few hours exploring all the town has to offer.
Also home to a number of big-hitting outdoor stores, Ambleside is a great spot to get geared up for any hikes you may want to tackle during your visit (for nearby walking inspiration, be sure to check out our 7 BEST Windermere Walks post!)
Check out Stocks Ghyll Force Waterfall
For those wanting to explore a little further afield, just a gentle 15-minute stroll from the centre of Ambleside you can uncover the stunning Stocks Ghyll Force Waterfall.
Dramatic cascading falls nestled within tranquil Lakeland countryside, Stocks Ghyll Force is a perfect option for ramblers who are strapped for time or aren’t wanting to venture too far from the village centre.
A fantastic walk to incorporate with a browse around town, this scenic little stroll is only around half a mile each way (1 mile in total) making it suitable for families and hikers of all abilities.
Head out on some of the other fantastic hikes in the area
With a blog titled The Walking Northerners, it’d be amiss if we didn’t highlight some of the fantastic hikes in the nearby area!
Epic fells, picture-perfect tarns, magical woodlands & classic rolling pastures of Lakeland moorland, Ambleside has plenty of trails to offer the keen rambler.
One of my favourite nearby hikes has to be Tarn Hows, though from Ambleside you also have options of walking to other villages such as Hawkshead or Coniston.
With lake-shore trail options also available around the outer perimeter of Lake Windermere – including a trail which includes an epic castle – for the full lowdown I’d recommend checking out our ‘Lake Windermere Walking Guide’.
Take some photos of the Bridge House
Often dubbed the most photographed building in the whole National Park, Bridge House has long been a cherished treasure of the Lakes.
Dating back to the 17th Century, the quirky cottage sits above the Stocks Beck river and has long attracted and inspired tourists, photographers and artsy types from all walks of life.
Starting as an apple store for the nearby Ambleside Hall, the cottage was cunningly built over Stock Beck in order to avoid paying land tax!
Bridge House was purchased by a group of locals in 1926 who later passed it over to the National Trust. Open in spring, summer & autumn from 11:30am to 4:30pm, it’s bonkers to think that the two tiny rooms on display once housed a family of six!
Discover Ambleside’s historic Roman Fort
For history buffs wanting to check out older sights in the area, then a stop off at the Ambleside Roman Fort might just be for you.
With estimates of the site dating back to the 2nd Century, that makes this site over 1800 years old.
While much of the structure is now long gone, the sight is still glorious to behold and comes with a spectacular backdrop of classic Lakeland countryside.
Fun fact – It’s said that the fort housed a band of 500 infantrymen & was built under Hadrian’s rule to guard the Roman road from Brougham to Ravenglass.
Open to the public, the Grade 1 listed structure has been owned and managed by the National Trust since 1913 after being purchased with funds raised largely by local donations.
Residing roughly half a mile south of Ambleside town centre, the ruins lay on Borrans Field, close to Borrans Park (mentioned eariler in this post).
Get your fill at some of the fantastic eateries on offer
Fine dining, café nibbles, local bakeries or some maybe even some good old fashioned pub grub; Ambleside will surely prove a favourite among all you foodies.
Nevertheless, while I’m sure the village centre is full of great restaurant options, our personal favourites have to be the Wateredge Inn and Waterhead Coffee.
Both sitting by the lakside, these two spots not only offer tasty food but also some of the most jaw-dropping vistas overlooking Lake Windermere.
Especially if you get a sunshiny day, there’s nothing better than having a nibble and a drink while basking in the heat.
On our most recent visit, we decided to stop by Waterhead Coffee and let’s just say we weren’t disappointed.
Scrumptious paninis, indulgent homemade blueberry scones and lakes-hore panoramas to die for; what more could you really ask for?
Hop on board a Victorian ferry
Furthermore, with Ambleside offering such fantastic views of Lake Windermere, for those wanting to explore more of the waters you can always hop on one of the frequent ferries running from Ambleside.
There are a plethora of ferries conveniently running across Lake Windermere throughout the day, providing tourists with the most fun & scenic method of navigating the area.
Fun fact – Clocking over 1.6 million passengers each year, Windermere Lake Cruises was titled England’s 4th most popular paid for attraction in 2018.
With origins dating back to the Victorian era, the fleet of 17 passenger vessels even includes ‘steamers’ dating back as far as 1891.
With four colour-coded route options, passengers can easily jump on board and visit hotspots including Ambleside, Wray Castle, Bowness on Windermere and even an island cruise tour.
Name |
Route |
| Yellow | Bowness-on-Windermere – Lakeside Station – Bowness-on-Windermere |
| Red | Bowness-on-Windermere – Windermere Jetty – Ambleside – Bowness-on-Windermere |
| Green | Ambleside – Brockhole National Park Visitor Centre – Wray Castle – Ambleside |
| Blue | Bowness-on-Windermere – 45 Minute Circular Tour of the Islands – Bowness-on-Windermere |
Go village hopping via bus
If sailing isn’t really you’re thing, there’s always the option of navigating the local area via one of the hop-on-hop-off buses instead.
An open-top double decker allowing you take in postcode-worthy Lakeland scenery as you get transported around, the 599 coach runs every 20 minutes from Bowness to Grasmere, with stops at both Windermere and Ambleside on the way.
From the grave of William Wordsworth to The Wonderful World Of Beatrix Potter and more, each of these villages have plenty in store for those who visit and are all fantastic days out in their own right.
For more information regarding the towns dotted around Lake Windermere, be sure to check out our detailed post on the 10 Best Things To Do Around Lake Windermere.
Explore some of the nearby caves
Fun for children & adults alike, some of the National Park’s most magical caves can conveniently be found near Ambleside.
For instance, Rydal Caves is only an 8-minute drive from the village and has long inspired visitors with its combination of majesty and spookiness!
A man-made wonder gradually carved by Cumbria’s many years of quarrying during the Industrial Revolution, Rydal Caves is now open to visitors who are able to hop along the stepping stones and explore inside the awe-inspiring cavern for themselves.
Recently picking up even more in popularity since the cave was used as a filming location for Netflix’s hit fantasy series ‘The Witcher’, there’s no denying how incredibly atmospheric this location is!
Likewise, with other caverns such as Cathedral Cave & Hodge Close Quarry also within driving distance of Ambleside, adventurous ramblers will surely have a field day here.
Spend the night under the stars at a nearby campsite
Finally, for those wanting to stay the night in Ambleside, what better way to experience the local outdoor beauty than by pitching a tent at one of the nearby campsites?
With various lakeside campsites on offer, there’s even the option to camp by the epic Low Wray Castle.
Fun fact – While the eye-catching castle may look medieval in nature (it even includes fake arrow slits), this Victorian neo-gothic building wasn’t actually built until 1840.
Nestled beside a serene shingle beach and one of the best wild swimming locations in the National Park, what better way to start your morning than by jumping out of your tent and heading straight for a sunrise dip.
For those wanting something a tad more glamourous however, you’ll equally have no trouble finding fantastic glamping options dotted around the lake.
From Mongolian yurts to quaint shepherds huts, tipis and more, I’m sure you’ll find something to suit your preferences.
Likewise, for more camping inspiration in the National Park, don’t forget to check out our recent post listing the 5 BEST Campsites In The Lake District!
More Lake District resources
While you’re here…
Why not explore some of our other Lake District posts? I’m sure there’s something to tickle your fancy!
Happy walking 🚶🚶