Restaurants and Leisure Activities in and around Ambleside
Restaurants
There are numerous restaurants, wine bars and cafes in Ambleside. Here are a few suggestions. Note that booking is recommended for all restaurants, particularly on Friday or Saturday evenings, which are very busy at this time of year.
- Zeffirellis is an Ambleside institution; it includes a cafe, jazz bar, restaurant and two cinemas. The restaurant is highly recommended, and for the romantically inclined they do cinema plus candlelit dinner packages.
- Lucy's is another Ambleside favourite; it includes a nice delicatessen and a restaurant (also open as a cafe during the day).
- Lucy 4 is a wine bar and bistro just round the corner from and run by Lucy's. Good selection of wines by the glass.
- Doi Intanon is a good Thai restaurant in Market Place.
- Rothay Manor Hotel has a highly regarded and upscale restaurant for those with deeper pockets.
A comprehensive listing of these and other Ambleside restaurants can be found at http://www.amblesideonline.co.uk/restrnt.shtml. There are also numerous restaurants in nearby Windermere.
Leisure Activities
The Lake District is famous for its lake and mountain scenery, and as the home of "romantic" poets such as Wordsworth.
Low Wood is ideally situated for activities such as walking, mountain-biking and water sports. The area immediately behind the hotel offers excellent opportunities for short (and longer) walks with spectacular views over Windermere. Useful information can be found at http://www.bestofthelakes.com/walking.html including a map. Another very popular area just northwest of Ambleside is Loughrigg, which offers several posibile routes, and wonderful views over Grasmere and Rydal Water. I can provide more information and have detailed Ordnance Survey (OS) maps availlable if anyone wants to borrow one.
Both of the above areas also offer excellent mountain biking possibilities (bike rental is available in Ambleside). In England it is legal to cycle on roads and all public rights of way except those designated as footpaths; in particular, you can cycle (and ride a horse if you have one) on public bridleways - often old packhorse routes that take more direct routes between valleys than those suited to modern roads. Bridleways are marked on OS maps with long green dashes (short dashes are footpaths). A highly recommended route crosses the fell behind the hotel to Troutbeck and from there offers several possibilities, including the famous Garburn Pass , and a magnificent ride along a Roman road that climbs to the top of High Street and then follows a rolling ridgeline northwards, with spectacular views in all directions , before gradually descending to Ulswater. A testing trail along the east shore of the lake followed by a climb over Kirkstone pass eventually allows for a return to Ambleside. Only those with strong legs and several hours to spare need apply! Just ask me if you want more information about these or any of the other numerous possibilities that this area offers.
For water sports, the hotel has its own Watersports & Activity centre.
For Wordsworth enthusiasts, both Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage are open to the public and easily accessible from Ambleside.
Tourist Information Centre
There is a Tourist Information Centre in Central Buildings, Market Cross, Ambleside (tel +44 (0)15394 32582). They can provide a wealth of information, including a local bus timetable for those who want to travel a little further afield.