Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lake Rd., Windermere, Cumbria LA23 2EQ. www.fir-trees.co.uk.
&
01539/442272.
Fax 01539/442512.
9 units. £64-£96 double. Rates include English breakfast. MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Beauty treat-
ments available.
In room:
TV, hair dryer.
The Wild Boar Inn, Grill & Smokehouse
Guests and diners come here for
the comfortable and cozy atmosphere. Most guest rooms have been refurbished and
individually styled, some with elaborate French-style beds or velvet headboards; a few
have wood-burning stoves. The
restaurant
features an open kitchen where diners
can see their wild boar sausages or house-smoked steaks sizzling on the grill. After-
ward you can retreat to the quintessentially English bar and sit beside the open fire
with one of the 50 whiskies or guest ales available.
Crook Rd., Windermere, Cumbria LA23 3NF. www.elh.co.uk.
&
08458/504604.
33 units. £80-£238
double. Rates include English breakfast. MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant, bar.
In room:
TV,
hair dryer.
16
AMBLESIDE
278 miles NW of London; 14 miles NW of Kendal; 4 miles N of Windermere
An idyllic retreat at the north end of Lake Windermere, Ambleside is just a small
village, but it's one of the major places to stay in the Lake District, attracting hikers
and rock climbers. It's wonderful in warm weather and even through late fall, when
it's fashionable to sport a raincoat.
The town is most renowned for its
plethora of shops
selling outdoor gear, but it
also has restaurants to suit all tastes, several lively pubs, and a jazz bar/cinema. But
it's not all about eating, drinking, and shopping! There's a gentle walk up to
Stock
Ghyll Force
(waterfall) and a steep drive across
Kirkstone Pass
toward Ullswater.
Stop en route to take panoramic snapshots of Windermere.
Essentials
GETTING THERE
Take a train to Windermere (see “Windermere & Bowness,”
earlier in this chapter), and then continue the rest of the way by bus.
Stagecoach
has an hourly bus service from Grasmere and Keswick (see “Gras-
mere & Rydal,” below, and “Keswick & Borrowdale,” later in this chapter) and from
Windermere. All these buses into Ambleside are labeled either no. 555 or 556.
If you're driving from Windermere, continue northwest on the A591.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Ambleside Tourist Information Centre
is at
Market Cross Central Buildings (
&
01539/432582;
www.golakes.co.uk). It's open
Monday to Saturday 9am to 5:30pm, Sunday 9am to 5pm.
Exploring the Area
The Homes of Football
GALLERY This might seem a curious addition to a
Lake District town, but this gallery draws in crowds of visitors intrigued by its extraor-
dinary display of football photography from around the world. The work of photogra-
pher Stuart Roy Clarke, the gallery also presents nonfootball projects—but all display
his knack for cultural perception and talent for capturing the moment. There are
several signed prints and postcards for sale.
100 Lake Rd.
&
01539/434440.
www.homesoffootball.com. Free admission. Daily 10am-5pm.
Stock Ghyll Force
NATURAL ATTRACTION The 15-minute walk to this
waterfall is suitable for those who can't manage the more strenuous fell walks. It's a
