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
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.
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.
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!
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.
"Bowness Central" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. To the west of Carlisle, in the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is the village of Bowness-on-Solway. Hadrian's Wall runs 73 miles from the village to Wallsend, which is close to Newcastle, and is designated as a "National...
"Biskey Steps" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. The vibrant twin towns of Bowness and Windermere hold enduring appeal for visitors to the Lake District National Park, with each providing a range of nearby attractions, amenities, shops and restaurants to suit all tastes. A variety of boat...
"1 Bed Apartment in Bowness" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 1 king-size bed (studio-style) - 1 bathroom with free-standing bath, shower attachment and WC - Electric oven and hob, fridge, dishwasher and Lavazza Jolie coffee machine -...
"1 Bed Apartment in Bowness-on-Windermere" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 1 king-size bed - 1 shower room with walk-in shower and WC - Oven, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher, induction hob - TV - Parking permit for local car parks - Pub 100...
"1 Bed Apartment in Bowness" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 1 king-size bedroom - 1 en-suite shower room - Electric oven and hob, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, Nespresso coffee machine (initial supply of pods supplied) - Travel cot and...
"2 Bed Apartment in Bowness On Windermere" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 2 bedrooms – 1 double, 1 twin which can be made into a double by prior arrangement - 1 shower room with walk-in shower and WC - Fridge, freezer, double oven, gas hob, washing...
"3 Bed Cottage in Bowness On Windermere" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 3 bedrooms – 1 king-size, 2 singles - 2 bathrooms – 1 bathroom with bath, walk-in shower and WC, 1 en-suite shower room with WC - 1 separate WC - Electric oven, gas hob,...
"2 Bed Apartment in Bowness" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 2 bedrooms – 1 double, 1 twin - 2 bathrooms – 1 bathroom with a shower over the bath and WC, 1 shower room with a walk-in shower and WC - Oven, hob, fridge, freezer,...
"2 Bed Apartment in Bowness On Windermere" is a 2 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 4 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rulesNo dogs allowed - 2 bedrooms – 1 king-size and 1 twin (with zip-and-link beds that can be made into a super-king-size on request) - 2 bathrooms – 1 family shower room, with a WC, and 1 en-suite...
"3 Bed Cottage in Bowness-on-Windermere" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rules. Please enquire if you wish to bring more than 1 dog - 3 bedrooms – 2 king-size, 1 single with small single trundle bed beneath - 1 bathroom with shower over bath and WC - 1 separate...
"3 Bed Cottage in Bowness On Windermere" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rules. Please enquire if you wish to bring more than 1 dog - 3 bedrooms – 2 king-sizes, 1 super-king-size - 3 bathrooms – 1 family bathroom, with a bath, shower and WC, and 2 family shower rooms, with...
"5 Bed Cottage in Bowness-on-Windermere" is a 5 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 10 guests in Cumbria. Additional information and rules. Please enquire if you wish to bring more than 1 dog - 5 bedrooms – 1 super-king-size, 2 doubles, 2 king-size - 5 en-suite shower rooms with shower and WC - Dishwasher, microwave, fridge, oven...
"Lindeth Fell Country House" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 1 guests in Cumbria.
"Heart of Bowness" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
"Melbourne Guest House" is a 1 bed holiday BandB sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
"Victoria Loft" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
"Church Suites by The Cranleigh Boutique" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
"Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
"Brooklands Guest House" is a 1 bed holiday BandB sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
"Storrs Hall Hotel" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 1 guests in Cumbria.
"The Bay House Lake View Guest House - Adults Only" is a 1 bed holiday BandB sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
"Lakes Hotel & Spa" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 3 guests in Cumbria.
"Holly Cottages" is a 1 bed holiday BandB sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
"Churchills Inn & Rooms" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Cumbria.
Popular towns in and around The Lake District:
AmblesideBowness-on-WindermereCartmelCockermouthConistonGrasmereGrizebeckHawksheadKendalKeswickKirkby StephenPenrithRavenglassSilverdaleUllswaterUlverstonWasdaleWindermereSome local suggestions:
Dog friendly Lake District cottagesLuxury Lake District holiday cottagesLake District cottages with a hot tubRomantic Lake District cottagesOr search further afield:
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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.
