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Ambleside(See also Stott Park Bobbin Mill , Stagshaw Garden , Armitt Library and Rydal Mount) Ambleside, at the heart of the southern Lake District, is beautiful but busy. Its scenic setting, one mile north of Lake Windermere, guarantees its popularity. Grey stone houses, B&B's, hotels, galleries, and shops catering to the tourists abound.
Both the Romans-they built Galava Fort at Waterside in AD79-and the Vikings
(place names in the area show the relationship) found this an inviting area. But it wasn't until
the advent of the railroad, in Victorian times, that large numbers of tourists were able to
visit. Inexpensive rail fares brought hordes of people to the Lake District, and Ambleside's
popularity was assured. Charles Dickens was one tourist who didn't like all the other visitors
and said so. Lake Windermere presents an inviting aspect. Explore it by hiring your own rowboat or go on a launch trip from Waterhead, one mile south of Ambleside. Stroll the walkway along the friendly harbour, home to ducks and swans. Landscaped gardens and park benches add to the ambience.
Other interesting events in the area are the sheepdog trials that take place in
Rydal Park and, on the first Monday in August, fell runners come out in full force to compete.
Indeed, fell walking, not running, is a popular year round pastime. The poet Wordsworth and his
sister used to walk Southeast of the village at Jenkins Crag (730ft-230m), there are views of the village and the hills. Stagshaw Garden, a woodland garden on a steep hillside contains rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. From the garden, walks lead through Skelghyll Woods and to the fells beyond.
Winter or summer, busy or quiet, Ambleside charms. Whichever way you turn, the beauty of the Lake District surrounds you. Location Map of Ambleside Tourist Information Centre The Bridge House Galava Fort Armitt Library St Mary's Church Windermere Lake Cruises give full details on the dates, times, costs and routes. National Park Information Centre National Park Weather Service Rydal Mount Stagshaw Garden Getting There: Photos courtesy Barbara Ballard and Julian Thurgood © 1997-2008 by The Cumbria Directory. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including images, and reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from The Cumbria Directory is prohibited. |
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One would never guess from looking at its pleasant aspect today that Ambleside's
past was partly i ndustrial. Charcoal, used in the smelting of iron ore in Furness and west
Cumbria, was made here. Timber for the bobbin mills was another product of the area. Machine tool
manufacture, quarrying, and mining were all part of the picture. Local slate and stone are still
used for buildings.
The 17th century slate-roofed Bridge House, so called because it is
perched over the narrow Stock Ghyll, is a shop and National Trust centre. One room up and one
room down, it's hard to imagine that a family once lived here, or so it's said. Another rumour
has it that a Scotsman (naturally!) built it over the river to avoid land taxes. Still another
story says it was built as a summerhouse for the former Ambleside Hall or as storage for their
apples. There's a charming tearoom just down the street and over a little bridge.
A bit of history, the Rushbearing
Ceremony, dates back to medieval times when rushes were used to cover church floors. Dirt and
debris lay on the floor until, once a year, the rushes were changed. A procession on the first
Saturday in July-children parade through the village carrying rushes and flowers-celebrates this
custom. A mural of the ceremony is on display at the Early Gothic style St Mary's Church
(1850-54). You can't miss the sandstone church's 180ft. (55m) spire.
into Ambleside from Grasmere to get their mail. When Wordsworth was
Distributor of Stamps for Westmoreland (1813), he had his office in Ambleside. Both rock and
mountain climbing are popular attractions.
A short walk from Ambleside's centre is the
location of the 70ft. (21m) waterfall, Stock Ghyll Force, which used to power several mills. The
old Corn Mill-there was a mill on the site as early as 1335-now houses shops. Near Ambleside is
Rydal Mount, home to William Wordsworth from 1813 until his death in 1850. It is little changed
since that time and houses memorabilia of the poet. There are beautiful landscaped gardens and a
walk on the property. The view over Rydal Water is said to have inspired Wordsworth's poetry.