Travel Guide: One Week Itinerary in Bowness on Windermere, The Lake District

So you’ve chosen Bowness-on-Windermere to base yourself for a week’s holiday, and now you’re figuring out how to spend your time here? Perfect, you’ve come to the right place!

If you’re still deciding where to go, you can have a quick scan through my favourite hikes in the Lake District to help you decide where to stay.

Day 1

Head to Brant Fell for a gentle hike to ease you in at the beginning of your holiday. This should take between 1-2 hours, and is accessible from Bowness on Windermere.

Head to the Quayside Bowness for a lakeside stop for drinks, or visit The Arts Bar for some tasty pub grub.

Day 2

Get on the lake and hire a boat! There are many providers to choose from, and they all operate from the lakeside of Bowness or head to Windermere and rent a boat from here. We chose an electric one, but you can choose any type of boat to fit your needs.

From Windermere, you can hike to Orrest Head viewpoint. This route is 2.5 miles/4 km long, and should take roughly 1.5 hours. Admire the beautiful scenery as you walk through woodland and take in the views of the lakes!

Day 3

Hike Helvellyn! This is a big one and definitely not for the faint hearted. It is a difficult hike with consistent elevation gain and some scrambling over rocks. Make sure you come prepared and check the weather to ensure safe conditions.

Day 4

Recover from Helvellyn by partaking in some retail therapy in Ambleside. This quaint village has lots of cute shops to peruse.

If you’re up for it, you can go for a short hike to Stock Ghyll Force from Ambleside – a beautiful walk through woodlands leading to waterfalls.

Day 5

Head to Rydal Water to walk around the lake, and explore the cave while you’re at it. This stunning lake provides stunning scenery, with the unique cave providing some entertainment as you can explore it yourself (at your own risk).

When back in Bowness on Windermere, head to the Angel Inn for some delicious food and drinks. We loved sitting outside here and re-visited quite a few times it was that good!

Day 6

Head to Aira Force Waterfalls to either lounge by Ullswater Lake and have a dip in the water, or go for a hike to the waterfalls.

Take the scenic route through Kirkstone Pass, and stop off at one of the few stops along the way. We were lucky enough to visit Kirkstone Pass Inn while it was open, but google now suggests otherwise unfortunately. Keep an eye out for stops to take in the views!

Day 7

Head back home, heartbroken, but content after a perfect week spent in the Lakes!

If you prefer an organised tour, or you aren’t so inclined to go hiking, check out the following tours in the Lake District (affiliate links)

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Love, Lydia x

LYD1A KERR