Whether you have been there once or a thousand times, the Lake District is always a winner, and Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the more popular places in the area. Staying in town lets visitors appreciate it free from day-trippers, so why not consider basing yourself there in one of our fantastic cottages to rent? The relaxed, friendly atmosphere combined with an excellent variety of amenities plus a location that makes it easy to explore will help you to have the holiday of your dreams. Read more
Rydal Cottage is a mid-19th-Century holiday cottage on a no-through road near the centre of Bowness-in-Windermere. The holiday home sleeps four people in two bedrooms and is wonderfully convenient for the eastern shore of Windermere, Catbells, and other famous Lake District sights. It's well-equipped for self-catering yet also close to cafes, restaurants and pubs if you don't want to cook. Guests who have stayed at Rydal Cottage love how tranquil it is, even in summer when the national park is at its busiest. Short breaks and extended stays are welcome all year round.
A delightful stone holiday cottage that offers the best of both worlds - a stunning peaceful corner of the Lake District, yet within easy reach of the more popular tourist traps and attractions. A wonderful location in the Cumbrian village of Bowland Bridge within the Lake District - perfect for relaxing in the Lakes or walking!
Sitting in large gardens (with tennis court!), this welcoming bright and airy holiday apartment is perfectly placed in a tranquil location overlooking lake Windermere, yet within just a mile of Bowness-on-Windermere with its shops and eating establishments. The Loft offers the best of both worlds for those who want to relax and unwind whilst being within easy reach of the areas many attractions.
Ideally placed with views over Lake Windermere, this modern stylish holiday apartment sits in extensive grounds where guests can enjoy peace and tranquility, along with an all-weather tennis court, putting area and croquet lawn. The many amenities of Bowness-on-Windermere are just a mile away. A perfect retreat to enjoy the many attractions of the Lake District.
Exceptional both inside and out, this stylish well presented lodge sits in one of the most enviable positions in the Lake District, with a rural location close to Lake Windermere. Enjoy an alfresco meal on the terrace watching the sun set in the evening, and by day discover the many attractions of nearby Bowness and Windermere.
Ellen Brow is a spacious, single-storey property on a quiet cut de sac in Bowness-on-Windermere, ideal for families or groups of friends. It accommodates six guests across three bedrooms, with two bathrooms. The property enjoys a large communal garden at the front, a tiered terrace at the rear with garden furniture and private parking for three cars, two on the drive & one in the garage. The convenient village location means you can easily explore without a car. A ten-minute walk takes you to the shores of Lake Windermere and the pier for Windermere Lake Cruises. Nearby, you'll find plenty of cafés, restaurants, and bars, including the popular Bodega Tapas and The Angel Inn is a 2 minute walk away, perfect for dining out.
Luxuriate in elegant surroundings with stunning views in this Windermere lakeside holiday home. North Highfield was built as a gentleman's residence and boasts beautiful Victorian details with modern comforts. It sleeps 12 people in six well-appointed bedrooms, with four reception rooms, five bathrooms, and extensive grounds. It's a fantastic location for your next family reunion or get together with friends. Windermere village and Bowness-on-Windermere are both within easy reach, as are places like Scafell Pike and Orrest Head.
Windermere is at the heart of the Lake District, and Kempton is close enough that guests can stroll to the water's edge and drink in the views of this beautifully scenic landscape. The three-bedroom self-catering retreat comfortably sleeps up to six people, giving them space and privacy within easy reach of shops, cafes and pubs, as well as sightseeing cruises and favourite Lake District attractions. Kempton is perfect for families and friends as well as couples who appreciate a little extra space around them on holiday.
Treat the family to a stay at Sandown, a lovely holiday cottage on the edge of Bowness village only a short stroll from shops, cafes, pubs and beautiful Windermere. Guests can access lovely walks and bike rides from the door and are close to favourite attractions including the World of Beatrix Potter and Wray Castle. Explore Windermere by boat, kayak, or on a hop-on-hop-off sightseeing ferry. Sandown sleeps up to seven guests in four lovely ensuite bedrooms and is perfect for families and friends.
"Bay Tree Lodge" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. The historic, South Lakeland village of Cartmel is renowned as the prettiest village in the Lake District. The Priory Church, one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England, remains the heart of the community with its...
"Lilymere Boat House" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. The attractive old market town of Sedbergh (pronounced Sed-Ber), with its old-world atmosphere, is not only set in the magnificent western dales of the Yorkshire Dales National Park but is also close to the rugged eastern fells of the Lake...
"7 Railway Cottages" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Named after the 1651 construction of a stone bridge with five arches across the River Leven, the tiny community of Newby Bridge takes its name from the bridge's architectural feature. Haverthwaite and Newby Bridge are connected by the historic...
"Longlands Milkmaid's Parlour" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. The village of Cartmel is renowned as the prettiest village in the Lake District. The village features walks, cobbled streets with antique shops, a gift shop, traditional pubs and the Michelin Star awarded L'Enclume restaurant.EPC Rating:...
"Kessock" is a 5 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 10 guests in Cumbria. For the Lake District National Park, the dynamic twin towns of Bowness and Windermere are a popular choice, with each offering a diverse selection of attractions, facilities, shops, and restaurants. Windermere Lake Cruises in Bowness offer a...
"Yewdale View Apartment" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Nestling at the head of Coniston Water, the pretty village of Coniston is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the Lake District National Park, making it a superb base for touring, with Hawkshead, Ambleside, Windermere and...
"Juniper Cottage" is a 4 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. The twin towns of Bowness and Windermere are both vibrant, fun-filled places set within the splendid scenery of the Lake District. Both towns provide a range of amenities, shops and restaurants to suit all tastes whilst Ambleside offers the...
"Lower Lake View" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Bowness-on-Windermere is a vibrant town, popular with tourists for its bustling activity and friendly atmosphere. Located in the Lake District National Park, it makes a perfect base for an action-packed holiday filled with walking with friends...
"Rock Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Beetham is a village of grey limestone cottages and cobbled forecourts in south Cumbria, just north of the border with Lancashire. It was once the centre of the ancient parish of Beetham and rests within the Silverdale and Arnside designated...
"The Writing Room" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. The picturesque village of Hawkshead still retains the charm and character that so endeared it to its most famous residents - William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Visitors can wander the wealth of tiny alleyways, thoroughfares, archways and...
"South Lodge" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Kendal is an historic Lakeland town set on the banks of the River Kent and is known as the Southern Gateway to the Lakes. Its old cobbled lanes and byways branch off the attractive main street, and the stone ruins of 12th century Kendal Castle...
"Riven Oak" is a 4 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 8 guests in Cumbria. Lying at on the edge of the Lake District National Park is the delightful Cumbrian village of Levens. Set on a high promontory in the beautiful countryside, Levens is home to a local Post Office, convenience shop and a pub, Hare & Hounds,...
"Lady Barn" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. Town End is a charming village that embodies the quintessential rural English experience, nestled within the scenic countryside of Cumbria. Characterised by winding lanes, traditional stone cottages, and lush, rolling fields, this village...
"Howgills Retreat" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Crooklands is located in the middle of the three towns of Kendal, Kirkby Lonsdale, and Milnthorpe. It has a pub/hotel and is within walking distance of the Lancaster Canal. Only five miles away, Kendal is known for its yards, tiny alleyways,...
"Huntsman's Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. The historic, South Lakeland village of Cartmel is renowned as the prettiest village in the Lake District. The Priory Church, one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in the north of England, remains the heart of the community with its...
"Fern Lodge" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Cartmel, a village in the South Lakes, is widely considered the most picturesque settlement in the entire Lake District. One of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in northern England, the Priory Church still serves as the village's focal point...
"Ramblers Lodge" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Set in the beautiful Lyth Valley, the tiny hamlet of Bowland Bridge is a hidden gem, with a small scattering of houses and two renowned pubs surrounded by beautiful meadows, woods and Lakeland fells. At the heart of the Lyth Valley are the...
"Robin Lodge" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Cartmel in South Lakeland is a lovely holiday location with streamside footpaths, antique shops, classic pubs, a priory, and a racetrack. Grange-over-Sands, a beach resort with attractive gardens, golf courses, and birding chances, is nearby...
"Beck Cottage" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. The small village of Rogart lies in the county of Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands. The village is known for once being the home to Major Andrew MacDonald, who fought into the French and Indian War. The village is also home to the Rogart...
"Longlands Groom's Quarters" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. The village of Cartmel is renowned as the prettiest village in the Lake District. The village features walks, cobbled streets with antique shops, a gift shop, traditional pubs and the Michelin Star awarded L'Enclume restaurant.EPC Rating:...
"Townhead Farmhouse" is a 4 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. The picturesque village of Pooley Bridge sits on the northerly edge of Lake Ullswater in the Lake District National Park. The name Pooley came to be due to the forming of a large pool, which was left by the fast flowing River Eamont, and the...
"Grizedale" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Kendal, England is a picturesque market town on the southern gateway to the Lake District, situated on the banks of the River Kent. The 12th-century stone ruins of Kendal Castle dominate the townscape from atop a hill, and the town's charming...
"Elder Lodge" is a 2 bed holiday Lodge sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. The twin towns of Bowness and Windermere are both vibrant, fun-filled places set within the splendid scenery of the Lake District. Both towns provide a range of amenities, shops and restaurants to suit all tastes whilst Ambleside offers the...
"Pear Tree Cottage" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. The charming Edwardian resort of Grange-over-Sands is set between the Lake District fells and Morecambe Bay and offers one of the mildest climates in the north of England. Formerly a small fishing village, the introduction of the Furness...
Popular towns in and around The Lake District:
AmblesideBowness-on-WindermereCartmelCockermouthConistonGrasmereGrizebeckHawksheadKendalKeswickKirkby StephenPenrithRavenglassSilverdaleUllswaterUlverstonWasdaleWindermereSome local suggestions:
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Sailing and Watersports - Bowness sits on the eastern shore of Windermere - the largest body of water in the entire Lake District National Park. It is a magnet for those who love the water, and there are lots of ways to explore its surface including sailing, paddle-boarding, kayaking and waterskiing. Local businesses, like Low Wood Bay Watersports and Windermere Canoe Kayak, can help with advice, equipment hire and even lessons, so make the most of their expertise. An alternative to dipping yourself in the admittedly chilly water of Windermere is to let someone else do the hard work while you sit back and enjoy the scenery. Windermere Lake Cruises offers a variety of tours ranging from 45 minutes to three hours, including hop-on-hop-off services that drop visitors close to favourite Lake District attractions like the Lake District Aquarium and the Lakeland Motor Museum.
Shopping - Bowness is well-served with a wide variety of locally owned pubs, cafes and shops that sell outdoor clothing and equipment, food, homewares and gifts. Windermere village is a mile north of town with shops of its own plus a mainline train station linking the area with Kendal, where there are several shopping centres and a mainline station with trains to Carlisle and Penrith.
History - Until the mid-1800s, Bowness was just a quiet fishing village. The arrival of the steam train and the choice of wealthy families to build holiday houses there resulted in a tourism boom that has never waned. Despite the Lake District’s annual influx of some 14 million visitors, Bowness and Windermere combined have fewer than 9,000 residents so still feels small and personal. Visitors can enjoy the legacy of the Victorians in the elegant buildings dotted around town, as well as the extensive restoration of St Martin’s Church, which was built in 1483 but repaired and preserved in the late 1800s. William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter both loved the Lake District so much that they made it their home, with Potter being instrumental in founding the National Trust to help preserve the landscape. The World of Beatrix Potter is in Bowness while her home, Hill Top, lies across the water. Dove Cottage, the home Wordsworth shared with his sister when they both moved to the area, is in Grasmere.
The Views - The scenery in the Lake District is bold and beautiful and best enjoyed up close rather than just through the window of a car or a train. The steep incline to the Post Knott viewpoint may leave you slightly out of breath, but the views will take your breath away all on their own. Other favourite views are those from Loughrigg Fell overlooking Windermere, Grasmere, Loughrigg Tarn and the Langdales.
Walking and Cycling - We have arguably left the best for last. The plentiful choice of walking and cycling routes in and around Bowness on Windermere is one of the prime reasons for its year-round popularity. Popular walks include the path up to Orrest Head which is famous among fans of Alfred Wainwright for being his first fell walk. Other way-marked routes include the West Shore Walk, the Tarns Walk and the path through Brant Fell. Grizedale Forest is nearby while Scafell Pike is 18.5 miles away if you fancy scaling the highest mountain in the country. Those seeking Wordsworth’s daffodils should head north to the shores of Ullswater where thousands of yellow flowers bob their heads in the spring. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is only 20 miles east of Bowness, opening up another enormous playground for walkers and cyclists.
These are only five reasons to stay in Bowness-on-Windermere, but after a holiday there you will be able to add many more.
