<\/p>\n
![\"Windermere](\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2020\/10\/cruise-1.png\")
<\/p>\nWindermere Lake Cruise<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Here\u2019s a selection of our year-round attractions and things to do: <\/em><\/h3>\nWindermere Lake Cruises<\/a><\/p>\nEvery day (unless very windy) Dogs go free. The most popular tourist attraction in Cumbria, choose from a 45-minute jaunt to a 3-hour cruise or spend all day bobbing on and off to please yourself. You can start at Bowness, Ambleside or Lakeside, and just soak up the magnificent views all around you. Sit inside or out, and you\u2019ll find a caf\u00e9, bar and loos on board. They also have events on such as Jazz Cruises and Summer Evening Buffet Cruises.<\/p>\n
Ullswater Steamers<\/a><\/p>\nOpen 363 days a year, unless very windy. Cruise times vary from 20 minutes to 2 hours. Dogs go free. One of the largest heritage vessel fleets in the world and connecting to iconic walking routes with vistas of Helvellyn and sailing past Wordsworth\u2019s daffodils. Open deck, and covered seating saloons, caf\u00e9, bar and loos. Lots of events through the year too.<\/p>\n
Steam Yacht Gondola<\/a><\/p>\nIf you\u2019re a steam buff, you\u2019ll be in heaven on board the National Trust\u2019s historic vessel, Steam Yacht Gondola. You\u2019ll see the furnace working, puffs of white smoke over the lake, but most of all, enjoy the elegant silence as she sails away from the jetty. You can even book onto the Engineer For the Day experience<\/a> where you feed the furnace, drive the boat and learn all sorts of fascinating things about what it takes to be an Engineer. You can visit Brantwood, home of John Ruskin on a cruise too and the Bluebird Cafe.<\/p>\nConiston Launch<\/a><\/p>\nAnother way of getting around the Swallows & Amazons lake, and finding out more about Donald Campbell. Links to the lovely Brantwood, home of John Ruskin and the Bluebird caf\u00e9 at the boat landings.<\/p>\n
\n ![\"Coniston](\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2020\/10\/coniston-launch2.png\")
<\/p>\nConiston Launch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Rainy Day Activites:<\/h3>\n\n- Rheged Visitor Centre<\/a>, Penrith.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A great place to head to for a diverse program of films, exhibitions, art, join in a workshop, listen to lectures, eat, shop, play and generally head indoors if the weather turns.<\/p>\n
\n- Brockhole Visitor Centre<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Tree Top Trek is based here, and this along with a fantastic outdoor playground, boat hire of all kinds, archery, walks, a museum, historic house and garden, shop and caf\u00e9, and the elegant Gaddum restaurant mean you can spend a day here, inside and out.<\/p>\n
\n- Join the National Trust<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The National Trust looks after over one-quarter of the Lake District, keeping it beautiful and sustainable for future generations. Walks on its land are free, but you\u2019ll be asked to pay for parking as a donation. A great way to support the NT whilst you\u2019re here is to join \u2013 you then get free parking at all 28 NT carparks, and free entry to over 20 attractions in the Lake District. You\u2019ll recoup your membership in a week\u2019s stay! You can join online, or at any property.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s our top three National Trust family favourites:<\/em><\/h3>\n\n ![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.lakelovers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2020\/10\/grasmere.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nView of Grasmere<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Allan Bank<\/a> in Grasmere, once home to Wordsworth, and Canon Rawnsley- co-founder of the National Trust. It is now a lovely, informal space where you can explore, chill out in front of the fire, enjoy a brew from the kitchen, and just wander around, enjoying the lovely views over Grasmere.<\/p>\nWray Castle<\/a> This gothic castle complete with turrets and tall tales, sits on the shores of Windermere, with lovely grounds to walk in, and a great bike trail. Beatrix Potter came here for her holidays too! A great place for letting off steam and usually lots of different activities from archery to sailing, to running. There\u2019s a small tea-room, and you can jump on a Windermere Lake Cruise in the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n
Every day (unless very windy) Dogs go free. The most popular tourist attraction in Cumbria, choose from a 45-minute jaunt to a 3-hour cruise or spend all day bobbing on and off to please yourself. You can start at Bowness, Ambleside or Lakeside, and just soak up the magnificent views all around you. Sit inside or out, and you\u2019ll find a caf\u00e9, bar and loos on board. They also have events on such as Jazz Cruises and Summer Evening Buffet Cruises.<\/p>\n
Ullswater Steamers<\/a><\/p>\n Open 363 days a year, unless very windy. Cruise times vary from 20 minutes to 2 hours. Dogs go free. One of the largest heritage vessel fleets in the world and connecting to iconic walking routes with vistas of Helvellyn and sailing past Wordsworth\u2019s daffodils. Open deck, and covered seating saloons, caf\u00e9, bar and loos. Lots of events through the year too.<\/p>\n Steam Yacht Gondola<\/a><\/p>\n If you\u2019re a steam buff, you\u2019ll be in heaven on board the National Trust\u2019s historic vessel, Steam Yacht Gondola. You\u2019ll see the furnace working, puffs of white smoke over the lake, but most of all, enjoy the elegant silence as she sails away from the jetty. You can even book onto the Engineer For the Day experience<\/a> where you feed the furnace, drive the boat and learn all sorts of fascinating things about what it takes to be an Engineer. You can visit Brantwood, home of John Ruskin on a cruise too and the Bluebird Cafe.<\/p>\n Coniston Launch<\/a><\/p>\n Another way of getting around the Swallows & Amazons lake, and finding out more about Donald Campbell. Links to the lovely Brantwood, home of John Ruskin and the Bluebird caf\u00e9 at the boat landings.<\/p>\n Coniston Launch<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A great place to head to for a diverse program of films, exhibitions, art, join in a workshop, listen to lectures, eat, shop, play and generally head indoors if the weather turns.<\/p>\n Tree Top Trek is based here, and this along with a fantastic outdoor playground, boat hire of all kinds, archery, walks, a museum, historic house and garden, shop and caf\u00e9, and the elegant Gaddum restaurant mean you can spend a day here, inside and out.<\/p>\n The National Trust looks after over one-quarter of the Lake District, keeping it beautiful and sustainable for future generations. Walks on its land are free, but you\u2019ll be asked to pay for parking as a donation. A great way to support the NT whilst you\u2019re here is to join \u2013 you then get free parking at all 28 NT carparks, and free entry to over 20 attractions in the Lake District. You\u2019ll recoup your membership in a week\u2019s stay! You can join online, or at any property.<\/p>\n View of Grasmere<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Allan Bank<\/a> in Grasmere, once home to Wordsworth, and Canon Rawnsley- co-founder of the National Trust. It is now a lovely, informal space where you can explore, chill out in front of the fire, enjoy a brew from the kitchen, and just wander around, enjoying the lovely views over Grasmere.<\/p>\n Wray Castle<\/a> This gothic castle complete with turrets and tall tales, sits on the shores of Windermere, with lovely grounds to walk in, and a great bike trail. Beatrix Potter came here for her holidays too! A great place for letting off steam and usually lots of different activities from archery to sailing, to running. There\u2019s a small tea-room, and you can jump on a Windermere Lake Cruise in the summer.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nRainy Day Activites:<\/h3>\n
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Here\u2019s our top three National Trust family favourites:<\/em><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n