When is the best time to visit Ambleside?

Ambleside is a beautiful place to visit all year round, however there are pros and cons depending on which season you visit…

  • Spring  (March- June) 

Spring is a beautiful season in the Lake District; lambs are jumping around the fields and fells, daffodils are blooming and tourists are returning following the quieter winter months. Grasmere is a great place to be in the spring, with plenty going on as the village begins to open up following winter… 

  • Vibrantly coloured spring walks… 

Walks around Ambleside’s gardens and woodland provide endless opportunities to spot new wildlife and blooms including bluebells, snowdrops and of course, daffodils. The spring daffodil was a favourite sight of poet William Wordsworth who was inspired by the bloom to write his most famous poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ or now more commonly known as simply ‘Daffodils.’ 

- Spot some of Wordsworth very own daffodils in the nearby Dora’s Field at Rydal; he planted a field of daffodils here in memory of his daughter who sadly passed away young. 

- A hike around Stagshaw Gardens will be a magical experience in springtime; the forest floor will be blanketed with fresh, spring flowers. Skelghyll Woods is also filled with carpets of bluebells, wood sorrel, daffodils and wild garlic during spring time. 

  • Summer (June- September) 

Summer is the most popular time for visitors to the Lake District with warmer weather, longer days and public holidays encouraging tourists. Ambleside is often at its busiest during summertime, making the town a lively place to be. 

 - Outdoor activities  

Anything outdoors is best enjoyed when the weather is warm and dry, and lots of outdoor activity centres only host events in the summer. Ferries and launches on Windermere run a more frequent timetable and host summer events and deals including parties and dinners on deck. The surrounding marinas on Windermere re-open for the season offering water sports activities and boat hires.  

  • Camping

Campsites in and nearby Ambleside such as Low Wray Campsite re-open for the summer season between March-October. The warmer weather makes camping an ideal way to spend summer nights in Ambleside and around Windermere and often the cheapest way, due to hotels and accommodation often peaking in price during this busy time of year. 

  • Summer Events  

  • Every year on the first Saturday in July, Ambleside celebrates its Rushbearing Festival. This religious custom is an archaic tradition in which locals would strewn the church floor with rushes for warmth and cleanliness. The festival takes place at St Mary’s Church and usually consists of six local girls (‘the Rush Maidens’) carrying a white sheet of strewn rushes whilst there is a procession of people behind them holding rush-based ‘bearings’, in shapes of harps and crosses. 

  • Rydal Sheepdog Trials & Hound Show is held every August at the nearby Rydal Park. Spectators travel from near and far to see the traditional event, which dates back to 1901. 

  • Ambleside Sports takes place in August at Rydal Park and is one of the most well known and attended countryside sporting fairs in Cumbria and is one the few places you can see the famous Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling. The fair includes a range of sporting events alongside traditional and exotic food stalls, a bar and trade stands selling jewellery, crafts, cakes, chocolate, cheese and much more. Other activities include children’s ridea and games and a climbing wall. 

  • Autumn (September-November) 

Autumn is a beautiful time in the Lake District, with summer crowds disappearing and autumn leaves falling, its time for wild, wrapped up walks, cosy pubs, hot chocolates and Halloween activities… 

  • Autumn coloured hikes… 

  • Hiking around Ambleside and Windermere Lake during autumn is a beautiful time, with woodland walks being a great option to display the leaves changing colours alongside some of the grassier fells which showcase stunning purple heather and orange bracken.  Some vibrant woodland walks to explore near Ambleside include Common Woods, Stockghyll Woods and Skelghyll Woods. 

  • Halloween activities 

Ambleside is a fun town to be in during Halloween with plenty of things to keep the kids busy during October half term and maybe some scary activities for adults too! Brockhole annually host a ‘Halloween experience’ and ‘Skeletons Parade’ plus a range of activities such as a haunted forest trail, a pumpkin trail, scary shows and ghost storytelling, arts & crafts, a tent of horror and a witches brew and goblin cake making workshop! Brockhole is the place to be during Halloween in Ambleside! 

  • Winter (November- February)

Winter is likely the quietest time of year in the Lake District with closed amenities and cold weather keeping many tourists away. This doesn’t mean Ambleside is off limits; it’s a great way to explore and enjoy the town without the crowds. Winter in Ambleside can mean stunning snowy hikes, cosy pubs with a roaring fire and festive Christmas days…  

  • Winter walks… 

Although short, dark days are common in winter, local walks can still be enjoyable with an early start, the right kit and skills. Nearby hills that are particularly beautiful in winter and snow include Loughrigg Fell and Helvellyn. There’s no need to feel like you’re rushing home after a winter hike, accommodation in Ambleside is often at its lowest price during the winter months, so staying at a cosy hotel for a winters night is more affordable this time of year. 

  • Cosy pubs 

Finding a cosy pub with a fire is a great way to end a winter’s day in Ambleside.  Local pubs including the The Royal Oak and The Golden Rule both have cosy, roaring fires to warm up next to with a locally brewed pint and some seasonal pub grub. 

  • Christmas activities 

Ambleside is a beautiful, festive town around Christmas time, with plenty of local businesses and shops ideal for Christmas shopping, with a variety of cosy, small cafes and pubs for a mid-shopping coffee or pint.  The Ambleside Christmas Lights & Firework Display is held in November with celebrations spreading across the town including Grand Christmas Fair, live music, street performers and ending the day with pretty lights and firework display. Two Windermere Lake Cruises depart from Waterhead Pier to search for Santa, with entertainment on board for children including performances from the Snow Queen!