Linthwaite House Hotel
Windermere, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[6.8 miles]
Cool, elegant country house, with superb food and views, in an almost unbeatable location close to Lake Windermere and Ambleside.
Official star rating:
Bucket list experience:
Situated between Windermere and Coniston Water, this pine and broadleaf forest is a great place to explore on foot or two wheels. Ten marked walking trails and nine mountain-bike trails wind around the forest, ranging from easy to advanced.
On your way round the forest, look out for sculptures hidden away amongst the trees – there are more than sixty works, commissioned by international artists.
There’s also the Go Ape treetop assault course, involving swings, canopy boardwalks, climbing ladders and other dastardly challenges – great fun for all the family.
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Destination Guide >The nearest train station is Windermere (ten miles away), and there is plenty of parking for cars. The largest car-park is next to the Grizedale Visitor Centre, with several other small car-parks dotted around the forest.
Bikes can be hired from the Bike Treks Grizedale, next to the visitor centre, who also offer maps of the various trails.
Forest facilities are open daily all year, though some trails close in poor weather conditions. The on-site bike shop is open 9am-5pm.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Windermere, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[6.8 miles]
Cool, elegant country house, with superb food and views, in an almost unbeatable location close to Lake Windermere and Ambleside.
Official star rating:
Windermere, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[8.9 miles]
Classic Lakeland luxury with a contemporary twist – along with a Michelin-starred restaurant – make the Gilpin one of the region’s top hotels.
Official star rating:
Windermere, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[9.4 miles]
A charming, cosy boutique hotel, perched on a private hillside on a 67-acre estate, with an excellent restaurant and grandstand views across Lake Windermere.
Official star rating:
Great Langdale, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[11.1 miles]
The Lakeland version of a deluxe ski lodge, offering supremely plush rooms, a lavish spa and a very private location on a Langdale estate. It’s also adults-only – making this an ideal place for couples looking for a place to pamper themselves.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)
Imposing mountains, wild landscapes, tranquil lakes and picturesque towns combine to make the Lake District uniquely beautiful, and one of the best places in Britain for walking, climbing, boating and biking.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Ambleside, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[3.3 miles]
Beatrix Potter’s cottage is every bit as pretty (and popular) as you’d expect – and, for fans of her books, offers the chance to see some of the places that inspired her illustrations.
Best for ages: 13+ | £15
Rydal, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[12.5 miles]
Wordsworth’s grand family home between Ambleside and Grasmere is an essential stop: it’s full of memorabilia, and offers an intriguing glimpse of the Wordsworth family’s daily life in the Lakes.
Best for ages: 18+ | £5
Grasmere, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[12.9 miles]
Take a guided tour around Wordsworth’s charming cottage near Grasmere to get a fascinatingly personal insight into the poet’s life and times – and don’t miss the brilliant museum next door.
Best for ages: 180+ | £12
Wasdale, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[18.1 miles]
Climb up to the highest point in England for a memorable view of the Wasdale fells – and a special sense of achievement. But don’t expect to be on your own if the weather’s fine
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | Full day
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Hawkshead, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[4.2 miles]
This small gallery in Hawkshead is located in the old office of Beatrix Potter’s husband, solicitor William Heelis. It holds regular exhibitions of her work, including her beautiful botanical paintings.
Best for ages: 10+ | £7 | 3 hours
Troutbeck, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[10.5 miles]
This traditional stone and slate farmhouse was home to local famers the Browne family for over 400 years. The house and family’s possessions have been preserved, showcasing rural life in the Lakes over the past centuries.
Best for ages: 18+ | £9 | 3 hours
Ambleside, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[13.3 miles]
Sarah Nelson’s gingerbread is an institution in Grasmere: it’s been made to the same recipe since 1854. It’s wonderfully quaint – the frilly outfits worn by the shop staff are something from a bygone age.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 3 hours
Kendal, Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)[13.7 miles]
The best-known of some fantastic craft breweries in the region. It has a brilliant beer hall at its main site in Staveley, where you can also take a guided tour to learn more about the brewing process
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 3 hours