Windermere is the most popular town in the Lake District National Park and walking in Windermere offers outdoor enthusiasts a wide choice of routes.
Stunning scenery combined with luxury cottages with spas and outdoor hot tubs make Windermere a favourite place for UK and overseas visitors.
Two of the most popular places to go walking in Windermere include:
Orrest Head Walk
The Orrest Head Walk is one of the most popular in the area, and is ideal if you want a short walk to one of the most spectacular regions around Windermere. From Windermere Station, cross over Victoria Street and the A591 (pedestrian crossing). Go uphill where a tarmac lane leads off to the left, signposted Orrest Hill.
Luxury Windermere spa cottages are available all year round and fill up quickly in the summer months.
Follow the lane through Elleray Woods, for about 600m. Follow the track which follows. The track then opens up into woodland. Keep following the route uphill. As the views open up, you will see glimpses of Windermere Lake through the trees.
At the end of the path go through the kissing gate and the viewpoint and Lake District Mountains spread out in front of you. From the summit continue north and follow the path until it comes to a minor road. Turn left and follow the road downhill to the next junction. Look out for the path on the left, which crosses a field and carries on to the woods. This path rejoins the outward route, just before you return to the village.
Post Knott and Brantfell Walk
This walk is perfect if you want to start from Bowness Promenade. From here, head back into Bowness Village, then take the first turn on the right past the Village Inn, cross over Kendal Road and head steeply up Brantfell Road. At the top of the road, head through the gate and keep on up the field. A seat about half way up here enables walkers to rest a while and enjoy the scenery. With breathtaking views of Windermere, this is one of the best places to stop en route.
Why not book into a romantic Windermere cottage so you can relax at the end of your walk?
At the next gate turn right, and follow the level path until you reach the view of the north basin of Windermere, which improves as you climb. When you arrive at Post Knott, Brantfell lies just behind it. Cross the stile and follow the cairns to the top, from where you can see almost all of Windermere. Return by either re-tracing your steps or return down the line of cairns, bearing right at the small woods at the foot of the hill.
Cross the stile in the wall ahead and continue down to the field beyond. The path follows down a few steps. At the foot of these steps take the gate on the right. Ignore the farm track which crosses the path and after the next gate, look for a small iron gate in the wall on the right. Don´t take the farm track which crosses the path, and after the next gate, look for a small iron gate in the wall on the right. Enter here and follow the path. Cross the small private road and turn left after the duck pond, across the fields. Pass through 3 kissing gates, and you will come to a gravel path. Follow this around the large house, and head downhill where you will reach a tarmac road. Follow on to Bowness Village. All this walking in Windermere will be good for your personal fitness, plus you get the health benefit of a hot tub as your reward afterwards!
Book a Spa Package Break in Windermere
Windermere offers a vast range of attractions to walkers, hikers and outdoors enthusiasts. Whether you want to push yourself to reach new limits, relax in a Windermere spa cottage or celebrate a special occasion in a luxury Windermere cottage. Wherever you decide to stay when walking in Windermere, you will find a wide choice of attractions and accommodation to choose from.