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15 Short Walks in the Lake District: Windermere Ambleside and Grasmere
Discover 15 of the best short walks around Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere. Each walk comes with easy-to-read Ordnance Survey maps, clear route description and lots of images, plus information on local beauty spots and tasty refreshment stops. No challenging terrain or complicated navigation means walks can be enjoyed by everyone.
Seasons
Suitable for walking in all seasons, although generally the best weather is in spring, summer and autumn. Winter can be cold and wet, with snow and ice.Centres
Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside and GrasmereDifficulty
Lower routes are suitable for nearly all abilities; however, suitable clothing and footwear are recommended for the higher hill walks, and these are essential in winter months when paths can be icy, even at low levels. Basic navigation skills are valuable for the higher routes and in poor weather.Must See
The lakes and tarns of Windermere, Grasmere, Rydal Water, Easedale Tarn, Loughrigg Tarn and Elter Water; Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount (former homes of poet William Wordsworth); Hill Top (former home of children's author Beatrix Potter); Galava Roman Fort; Townend farmhouse; Wray Castle; traditional Lakeland pubs and inns; waterfalls; viewpoints; woodland; ancient bridges; traditional farms; hardy fell sheep and lambs; lake cruises and ferries-
Overview
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Would you like to explore the best of Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere? This guidebook covers 15 of the best short walks in the area (between 5 and 11km, all under three hours), including Loughrigg, Elterwater, Orrest Head, Hill Top, Wray Castle and the Lion and the Lamb.
Why choose this guidebook?
- Easy to moderate walks suitable for almost everyone
- Short climbs but no challenging terrain
- Numbered points which tie OS maps to clear route description
- Facilities, parking and highlights for every route
- Route Summary Table to help you choose your walk
Cicerone’s Short Walks guidebooks contain everything you need to get outdoors and discover the best of an area. The routes are perfect if you’re new to walking or looking for something you can enjoy with the whole family. Let the adventures begin!
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By Lesley Williams
Originally from Oxfordshire, Lesley's lifelong passion for walking, trekking and, more recently, cycle touring has taken her to many corners of the UK, Europe and occasionally further afield. Although now mostly retired, she has been a director of Cicerone for over 25 years, leading its sales and marketing team. Lesley is a qualified marketing professional, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the author of Walking the Tour of the Lake District. Lesley shares a passion for alpine walking and trekking with husband Jonathan and together they have written several guidebooks. Based between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, they relish every excuse to spend days exploring and writing.
View author profileBy Jonathan Williams
A proud Yorkshireman, Jonathan first climbed a mountain before he was born. Although he first met Lesley at sea, they have spent many years exploring mountains and trails in Britain and Europe. After nearly 25 years as Cicerone's publisher and managing director, he now supports the team whilst exploring, updating and writing guides. He has developed UK guides and walked throughout Europe, but his special subject is the Alps and Switzerland. He has worked on guidebooks including Chamonix to Zermatt: the Walker's Haute Route, Trekking in the Vanoise, the Swiss Via Alpina and the Tour du Mont Blanc, as well as walking guides to Zermatt and Saas Fee, Arolla and Zinal and the Bernese Oberland.
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