There are no end of things to do during your stay at Ivy Bank, pic-nics by cascading waterfalls, relaxing cruises on the 4 larger lakes, rugged mountain peaks to conquer, historic haunts from stone circles and Roman Forts to Bobbin Mills and Stately homes, steam trains and slate mines.

We can give you advice on longer walks either from Ivy Bank or from other areas of Cumbria, the Western Dales or Hadrian's Wall country. In fact the whole of the North West is within easy reach of Windermere.

Apart from the beautiful and varied scenery which would take a lifetime to explore, there are plenty of other interesting things to do:

Close to Windermere village
Boat trip on Windermere www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk	The best way to see Windermere all year round.
Steam Boat Museum www.steamboat.co.uk	A unique and historic collection of Steam and Motor Boats.
Blackwell Arts and Crafts Movement House www.blackwell.org.uk	Designed by M H Baillie Scott. Completed in 1900 at the crossroads of Victorian design and modern architecture. A real gem.
Townend, Yeoman Farmers House www.nationaltrust.org.uk	A very fine example of 17th-century Lake District vernacular architecture. contains carved woodwork, books, papers, furniture and fascinating domestic implements.
The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction www.hop-skip-jump.com	An indoor re-creation of the Peter Rabbit tales of Beatrix Potter

Around Lake Windermere
The Aquarium of the Lakes www.aquariumofthelakes.co.uk	More than 30 naturally-themed habitats bring the natural history of the Lake District vividly to life.
Stott Park Bobbin Mill www.english-heritage.org.uk	Fascinating fully functional Mill
Hill Top (Beatrix Potters home) www.nationaltrust.org.uk	Idyllic old farm house
Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway http://ukhrail.uel.ac.uk	3½ mile section through contrasting lake and river scenes and the station café at Haverthwaite is wonderful.
Stagshaw Garden www.nationaltrust.org.uk	A woodland garden containing a fine collection of shrubs, including many notable rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.

Within approximately 30mins by road
Boat trip on Ullswater www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk	Beautiful scenery – combine a cruise and a walk.
Dove Cottage www.wordsworth.org.uk	Home of William Wordsworth from December 1799 to May 1808,
Rydal Mount www.wordsworthlakes.co.uk	Wordsworth and his family lived here from 1813.
Grizedale Forest www.grizedale.org	High ropes course, 8 waymarked paths, 5 waymarked cycle trails, one all ability trail
Levens Hall www.levenshall.co.uk	A homely stately home with topiary gardens and traction engines.
Holker Hall www.holker-hall.co.uk	Magnificent Hall, national award winning gardens and the Lakeland Motor Museum
Beatrix Potter Gallery www.nationaltrust.org.uk	17th-century building once the office of Beatrix Potter's husband containing exhibition of her original sketches and watercolours.
Sizergh Castle & Gardens www.nationaltrust.org.uk	Medieval castle surrounded by gardens including a particularly beautiful rock garden.
Lakeland Miniature Village www.lakelandminiaturevillage.com	Cumbria's only miniature village - over 140 buildings made from local Coniston slate.
Lakeland Motor Museum www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk	Over 30,000 motoring related exhibits
Quaker Tapestry www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk	A delightful visual chronicle of Quaker life through the centuries
Heaton Cooper Art Gallery www.heatoncooper.co.uk	Art Gallery and Exhibitions, Art Shop for all art materials, Original Paintings Fine Art Prints

Within 45mins by road
Boat trip on Derwent Water www.keswick-launch.co.uk	Cruises around Derwent Water throughout the year.
Dalemain House www.dalemain.com	Mediaeval, Tudor and early Georgian house
Brantwood www.brantwood.org.uk	John Ruskin's home and gardens on the shores of Coniston Water.
Ruskin Museum www.ruskin.org.uk	A celebration of Conistons heritage. Ruskin, the coppermines, slate, geology, lace and Donald Campbell.
Boat trip on Coniston www.lakefell.co.uk	More Beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace.
Rheged www.rheged.com	Europe's largest grass covered building and National Mountaineering Exhibition
Cumberland Pencil Museum www.pencils.co.uk	Fascinating – you wouldn’t believe what you didn't know about pencils.
Cars of the Stars Motor Museum http://carsofthestars.com/	Museum of vehicles from film and television.
Aira Force www.nationaltrust.org.uk	Dramatic walks and Aira Force waterfalls
Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre www.sheep-woolcentre.co.uk	An opportunity to meet Cumbria's most famous residents
The Puzzling Place www.puzzlingplace.co.uk	Optical art and illusions

Longer than 45mins by road but worth the journey
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk	From the Lake District Coast to the foot of England's highest mountains, small steam engines haul trains through two of 'Lakeland's loveliest valleys'
Honister slate mine www.honister-slate-mine.co.uk	At the head of the Honister Pass England's only Slate Mine.
Muncaster Castle www.muncaster.co.uk	Historic haunted castle.and the World Owl Centre
Acorn Bank Garden and Watermill www.nationaltrust.org.uk	The famous herb garden is the largest collection of medicinal and culinary plants in the North
Hadrians Wall www.hadrians-wall.org	The best known frontier in the entire Roman Empire

Mini-bus tours are a good way of seeing a lot in a short time. Information on these can be found at :-

www.parktours.co.uk
www.lakes-supertours.co.uk
www.mountain-goat.com

Activities :-

For walkers www.lakedistrictwalks.com
For Guided Walks see www.cumbriatouristguides.co.uk
Kendal indoor climbing wall www.kendalwall.co.uk
Hire a mountain bike, Country Lanes Bike Hire

Information about outdoor activities such as walks, rides, horseriding, birdwatching, angling etc. www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk

For any of the following outdoor activities go to WOA organisation
Dinghy Sailing, Windsurfing, Kayaking, Open Canoeing, Keel Boat Sailing

Restaurants in Windermere
The Lamplighter Bar - (015394) 43547
Francine's - (015394) 44088
Jerichos - (015394) 42522
Grey Walls Hotel - (015394) 43741

Restaurants in Bowness
Hole in the Wall - (015394) 43488
Trattoria Ticino - (015394) 45786
Postilian - (015394) 45852

Country pubs
Watermill at Ings - 01539-821309
Brown Horse at Winster - (015394) 43443
Hare & Hounds Country Inn at Bowland Bridge - (015395) 68333
Masons Arms at Strawberry Bank - (015395) 68486

Link to most restaurants in Windermere and Bowness

Cinemas
Royalty - Bowness-on-Windermere www.nm-cinemas.co.uk
Zeffirellis - Ambleside www.zeffirellis.co.uk
Brewary Arts Centre - Kendal www.breweryarts.co.uk

Theatres
The Old Laundry Theatre - Bowness www.oldlaundrytheatre.com
Theatre by the Lake - Keswick www.theatrebythelake.com
Brewary Arts Centre - Kendal www.breweryarts.co.uk

Car hire
You can arrange car rental at the Tourist Information Centre in Windermere right next to the railway station and coach stop. Their email address is windermeretic@southlakeland.gov.uk or fax 015394 47439. Or in Bowness-on-Windermere at Interental Car Hire, their fax no. is 015394 42200.

General
Weather Forecast www.lake-district.gov.uk
The Lake District National Park Authority Weatherline - 0870 0550 575
The Lake District National Park Authority www.lake-district.gov.uk
The Cumbria Tourist Board site has lots of info and links to all sorts of things www.golakes.co.uk
The Cumbria County Council web site www.cumbria.gov.uk has a lot of useful local information and links.