What is Bowness-on-Windermere famous for?

Bowness-on-Windermere is the Lake District’s most popular visitor destination; this popularity stems from many things in history including the introduction of the railway, Victorian influences, notable poets and authors such as Beatrix Potter, the status of lake Windermere and much more…

  • Lake Windermere

Windermere lake is famous for being the largest natural lake in England, measuring over 11 miles long and one mile wide at its widest part. The lake has 19 islands, with the most famous being Belle Isle; the largest island on the lake home to a luxurious 16th century roman inspired house. The roman styled architecture reflects the history of the island, which was once home to a Roman governor who built a villa on the land. The island house draws resemblance to the architecture of the Pantheon in Rome. The island is still privately owned and off limits to tourists.

  • Beatrix Potter

Famous children’s author Beatrix Potter lived nearby Bowness, directly across the lake at Near Sawrey. She used Windermere and the surrounding area as inspiration for her famous tales with the lily pads at nearby Moss Eccles Tarn inspiring the illustrated home of Jeremy Fisher and the Tower Bank Arms pub features in the Tale of Jemima Puddleduck. When looking at Beatrix’s drawings, it is clear she also took inspiration from the landscape and countryside including the surrounding fells and lake. Beatrix Potter made a mark on the Lake District, supporting the National Trust and helping the organisation acquire land and farms. When she passed, the author left 4,000 acres of land and countryside to the National Trust alongside 14 farms.  Fans of the author would travel from far and wide to visit the beautiful scenery that inspired her tales. The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction draws interest to many tourist including famous names such as US actress Renee Zellweger who attended the unveiling of Beatrix Potter’s statue at the attraction in 2006; she said she hoped the bronze statue would become ‘a distinctive local landmark.’

  • St. Martin’s Church

Standing in the centre of Bowness, St Martin’s Church is an extraordinary church filled with history dating back to 1203 and is still active today. The church is a grade I listed building and has been restored many times throughout the years, yet still resembles its classic architecture. Stunning wall painting and stained glass windows in the church date back to the 15th century. In the church, you can find a comprehensive booklet including an illustration of the church drawn by Wainwright, with a detailed walk around the church inside and information on interesting features to spot. The churchyard is also home to a grade II listed gravestone dating back to 1822 believed to be the burial site of a slave who had connections to historic local Peter Taylor of Belfield House.

  • Victorian influence

In the Victorian era, Bowness had become quite a prestigious place to live, with rich, 19th century business owners building large, extravagant houses in the town. The Belsfield Hotel was once home to chairman of Barrow steelworks, Henry Schneider along with the now Langdale Chase Hotel and Storrs Hall Hotel also been homes of elite Victorians.

  • Olympic torch

In 2012, London hosted the Olympic games and the famous flame torch toured around the country. Triathlete Stephanie Booth carried the Olympic flame across Windermere lake on a steam boat, boarding at Waterhead Pier and travelling to Bowness attracting extra visitors to the area.

  • Boating

Due to Windermere being the largest lake in England, the water has been a popular place for boating challenges and tours over the years. Steam ferries and cruises have been operating on the lake since the 1800’s with services now owned and ran by Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd. The company still operate three original large railway boats dating back to 1891. Taking a boat trip across Windermere is an easy and fun way to explore the area. Boating activities are popular on the lake; there a five large boating clubs based around the shores including the South Windermere Sailing Club, Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club, the Lake District Boating Club, the Royal Windermere Yacht Club and the Windermere Cruising Association. Competitive power boating and water-skiing are also popular activities on the lake with world water speed records being set on the lake. The first record was broke by Sir Henry Segrave in 1930, who sadly died after his boat capsized on his third record breaking run on Windermere after crashing near Belle Grange. Later in 1950, racer Norman Buckley set several world water speed records on Windermere.