Welcome To Ambleside
Introduction To Ambleside
Ambleside is a small popular town located at the northern head of lake Windermere in the heart of the Lake District. Ambleside has many independent shops cafes and restaurants and has many shops catered for hiking and climbing. Ambleside is surrounded by Lakeland fells and is a good start point for many walks in all areas and many water activities such as kayaking paddle boarding and more extremer sports such as windsurfing. Ambleside is historically known for its woollen trade in the medieval times, however a lot of the buildings nowadays are from the Victorian times built for traditional Lakeland slate.
Things To Do In Ambleside
Brockhole
Brockhole is the Lake District National Parks visitor centre. The visitor centre offers a range of activities for families such as tree top adventures, Lake activities such as kayaking and boat hire and even woodland activities such as archery and laser tag.
The Fairfield horseshoe is one of the most popular walks in the Lake District. this large walk contains 8 wainwrights plus a possible extra wainwright if included on the route. This stunning walk is great for avid hikers wanting to explore the area.​
Windermere Lake Cruises
Lake cruises on windermere offer a wide range of journeys across and around Lake Windermere you travel all around the islands of Lake Windermere and catch crusies to other nearby towns connected the lake Windermere.
Loughrigg Fell is one of the smallest wainwrights in the Lake District which is just a small walk from Ambleside town centre. Although small Lfell has sensational views of lake Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and all the surrounding fells. Its a perfect walk for hikers.
Rydal Cave is a large cave underneath Loughrigg fell and just above Rydal water. This cave is a stunning beauty spot in the Lakes, You are able to enter by walking on the stepping stones in the shallow lake into the depths of this enormous cave.
​
Stock Ghyll Force
Stock Ghyll is a small waterfall formed from the River Rothay The series of waterfalls flow towards the centre of Ambleside and pass under the famous bridge house. .
Places To Stay In Ambleside
Ambleside is a stunning town located in the centre of the Lake District National Park. Ambleside is an amazing adevnture base as it is surrounded by lakeland fells and the head of the huge Lake Windermere. Ambleside has many different types of accommodation in many different areas around the town such as lakeside properties of stunning fell views properties.
Visit the link to find your desired property and your desired location in Ambleside for your wonderful stay in one of the Lake Districts greatest locations.
Walks In Ambleside
Ambleside is a very popular area in the Lake District with plenty of people passing by and staying every day. The Lake District is one of the best places in the UK for adventurous activities hiking being one of them. Ambleside is surrounded by rolling hills and fells with dramatic scenery and is home to some of the most popular walks in the Lake District. There is a variety of walks around Ambleside varying in difficulty and length to suit beginner hikers and more experienced hikers. Below are some of the breath taking walks within the Ambleside area that the Lake District has to offer.
Ambleside Hiking Trails
1. Loughrigg Fell Circular
Distance - 12.1 km
Time - 2.40 h
Elevation - 566 m
Difficulty - Easy
This beautiful hiking trail around Loughrigg Fell is mostly a low level walk until you climb for the loughrigg fell summit. This walk passes loughrigg tarn and Rydal water and from the summit you are able to see Lake Windermere and other surrounding fells. Find this route here
2. Fairfield Horseshoe
Distance - 18.5 km
Time - 6 h
Elevation - 1182 m
Difficulty - Hard
The Fairfield horseshoe is one of the most popular walks in the Lake District. This walks has 9 wainwright summits consisting of Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Stone Arthur, Great Rigg, Fairfield, Hart Crag, Dove Crag, High Pike and Low Pike. However. On a clear day you are able to see many of the Lakeland fells in all directions including the famous striding edge ridge. Find this route here
3. Ambleside To Stockghyll Force
Distance - 2.3 km
Time - 40 m
Elevation - 87 m
Difficulty - Easy
This small trail is suitable for beginner or non hikers. It is a beautiful picturesque waterfall trail which ends up at Stockghyll Force. Starting in Ambleside town centre, the trail winds through the town, along the road and then onto a majestic woodland path and up to the viewpoint for the waterfall. To get back to the start point of this route you just have to re trace your foot steps. Find this route here
4. Silver How Circular
Distance - 4.7 km
Time - 2 h
Elevation - 353 m
Difficulty - Easy
This route starts in Grasmere just a short drive from Ambleside. The trail heads out of Grasmere village centre and past Allan Bank, then across some farmland fields. This trail then goes heads upwards towards a narrow riverbed which soon ends. After this you will Cross Wray Gill will, Brigstone Moss is then passed and finally the summit of Silver How is reached. Find this route here
5. Waterhead To Wansfell Pike
Distance - 7.4 km
Time - 3 h
Elevation - 429 m
Difficulty - Easy
This circular route which starts in Ambleside is a fairly steady climb all the way to the summit of Wansfell pike. This summit is a wainwright and has great views of Lake Windermere. The trail winds back down to the start point via Skelghyl Wood and past Jenkyn's Crag. Find this route here
Ambleside History
Ambleside is a town which used to be a civil parish in Cumbria. Ambleside sits at the head of Lake Windermere and has a population of around 2596. Ambleside was used widely in the industrial industry, water power was used such was the production of charcoal used for smelting Iron Ore. Ambleside was also greatly ued in the timber and textile industry. More recently Ambleside was heavy used for quarrying and mining some of which is still done to this day. Ambleside is most well known historically for its local woollen industry in the later middle ages.
How To Get To Ambleside
There is a vast amount of people who visit Ambleside every year and there are multiple transport options on how to get to Ambleside. Ambleside is located in the heart of the Lake District and is connected to all of the most popular towns in the Lakes. The A591 road runs through the centre of the Lakes connected to the M6 by just a short 5 - 20 minute drive.
1. Train To Ambleside
The Train closest to Ambleside ends in Windermere. There is no train station on Ambleside however from Windermere train station it is only a 10 minute drive to Ambleside in which you could get a taxi or the 555 bus. The train which terminates at Windermere line runs directly to Manchester airport this is as far south the trainline travels without changes. If travelling from the west coast of Cumbria you can catch a train to Oxenholme and then change to get onto the Windermere Line. If travelling from the north of the Lake District , England or even Scotland, you will have to make changes to get on the Windermere line as Windermere is the northmost point of this line.
2. Car To Ambleside
Ambleside is fairly accessible by car in comparison to many other areas in the Lake District, most likely tourists would be taking the m6 north or south bound to the Lake District. If coming from the north you would then join the A66 then onto the A591 which connects Keswick to Kendal right through the centre of the Lake District. If coming from the south you would join the A590 then follow onto the A591 until you reach Ambleside. The time it will take will vary depending on your Location.
3. Bus To Ambleside
The buses in the Lake District are fairly efficient and priced. There are a few bus stops in Ambleside in which you can get off. The 555 bus connects to other popular towns an villages in the Lake District. This main route travels up the A591 and stops at Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick. From Ambleside you can get the 505 bus to Coniston.
4. Ferry To Ambleside
If travelling to Ambleside by ferry you will most likely be coming from Isle Of Man, Northern Ireland or Ireland. From Isle of Man you would arrive in Heysham port and drive from Heysham to Ambleside which is approximately a 1 hour and 10 min long journey. If travelling from Northern Ireland or Ireland you would catch a ferry to Liverpool which is then approximately a 1 hour 50 minute drive.
5. Flight To Ambleside
The nearest airport to Ambleside is Manchester airport, from Manchester airport you can get a direct train straight to Windermere and then travel by road 10 minutes to Ambleside or drive from Manchester airport which is approximately a 1 hour 40 minute drive.