Windermere Retreat, Bowness On Windermere

Lake District. Sleeps up to 10

With oodles of charm, artistic flair, elegance and grandeur, the sensational Windermere House offers ten guests superb, generous accommodation, fabulous views and an astounding garden. This is a very special property that has been beautifully finished with impressive attention to detail. Windermere House enjoys a prestigious location on the periphery of Bowness on Windermere with breathtaking views across the fabulous Lake Windermere.

Bowness on Windermere is a popular, bustling town with charming architecture, a wide variety of shops selling crafts, gifts, outdoor clothing, local produce and foods as well as an excellent array of characterful restaurants, bars and cafes. The Lake District offers numerous outdoor adventures including sailing, cycling, climbing, horse riding, hill walking and kayaking amongst the most spectacular of landscapes. Lake Windermere, the largest lake in England, is probably the most popular of the lakes with the pier at Bowness offering excellent boat trips to explore the lake.

As soon as you drive through the gates of Windermere House, you will quickly realise that this magnificent property and its grounds are going to give you the holiday of your dreams. This Edwardian house radiates grandeur and splendour with its fabulous features including panelling, feature fireplaces, gorgeous windows and its sumptuous furnishings. The living and dining rooms offer a slightly regal feel and the open plan kitchen, dining and family room is a contemporary wonder with a fabulous designer kitchen, modern furnishings and a fantastic apex window. Windermere House’s original features have been brilliantly blended with stunning contemporary flair, resulting in luxurious, modern living. The formal lounge is a light flooded space with imaginative, beautiful fabric inlaid panelling, a huge window, a feature fireplace with a remote start gas fire and sumptuous leather sofas. It excudes elegance and style and is the perfect place for evening drinks in front of the fire. Double doors open to the fantastic formal dining room with its beautiful original oak panelling and traditional dining table and chairs. It boasts gorgeous garden views. The wooden floor and delightful mossy green tones continue from the living room. Guests can enjoy a movie night in the contemporary cinema room with its huge television and comfy sofas. To enjoy the film at its best, you can close the electric curtains and create a brilliant movie experience. The main kitchen, dining and family room is a wonderful surprise with striking turquoise colour pops, a very high ceiling and the most sensational views though the wow factor windows. With the very best appliances including a wine fridge, you will enjoy some brilliant meals in this informal space. Alternatively, you can dine alfresco on the terrace. The kitchen enjoys a large central island, a range cooker, a Miele fridge freezer, two dishwashers and a built in bar. Just off the kitchen is a cosy snug with another television and a remote controlled, contemporary gas fire. You really are spoilt for choice here when it comes to relaxation spaces!

A smart staircase takes you to the bedrooms which are on the first and second floors. The Wordsworth Suite offers a spacious bedroom with an exquisite super kingsize bed, lake views and an ensuite bathroom with two cross water, wet room rose showers as well as a fabulous freestanding bath and walk-in wardrobe. This bathroom does also double as the main family bathroom as it has a separate entrance from the main landing. The Wainwright Suite is another wonder with incredible views of Windermere Lake. It boasts a comfy kingsize bed, a smart television, voice activated soft lighting and blinds and a fabulous ensuite wet room with a giant drench shower head and body jets. The fittings here are state-of-the-art and beautiful with it. The sink even enjoys an LED tap! Ruskin is a double bedroom with a comfy double bed, a smart television and voice activated soft lighting and blinds. Coniston is a huge room with a gorgeous bay window where you can enjoy excellent lake views. On the second floor, Windermere Suite is a fabulous, self contained suite ideal for a couple that might appreciate a little private time. It enjoys a balcony for that spectacular panorama, a kitchen area with a hob, a hide and slide oven and a fridge with an icebox, a small dining table, comfy seating and a double bed which can be hidden away. The suite has its own entrance separate to the main house which is accessed via an external spiral staircase or it can be accessed internally via the main house.

Windermere House stands in a beautiful 2.5 acre, completely enclosed, mature garden. It is such a treat with its large pond, its tree house for the young ones, its patio with a gas fire pit for chilly evenings and wonderful atmosphere and its alfresco dining and lounge areas. The gardens are surrounded by mature trees and shrubs making this idyllic paradise totally private and very peaceful. The garden looks even more beautiful at night with its ambient lighting. Once you have closed the electric gates, that is it, you can relax and get away from the stresses of everyday life.

Bowness on Windermere is a bustling tourist town about halfway along the 10.5 mile length of Lake Windermere. It is located between Waterhead on the northern end of the lake and Lakeside on the south. Bowness on Windermere enjoys an excellent selection of shops including the flagship Lakeland store which is very popular. There is a wonderful array of cafes, bars and restaurants as well as a good selection of gift shops and outdoor clothing outlets. Lake Windermere is one of the most desirable parts of the Lake District with unrivalled hiking, mountain biking and watersports on offer, not to mention attractions including crazy golf, climbing, hot air ballooning and orienteering. There are plenty of boats for hire or organised boat trips for those that do not want to go it alone. Bowness on Windermere developed after the opening of the railway line from Oxenholme and Kendal to Windermere in 1847. Bowness was the nearest accessible point on the lake. The Victorian influence can be seen everywhere. One of the most interesting buildings in Bowness is the parish Church of Bowness, St Martin’s Church which was built in 1483 and restored in 1870. The area behind the church is the oldest part of Bowness, a delightful warren of narrow streets known as Lowside. The village was originally called Birthwaite but the railway company wanted to call the station after the lake. A short walk from Windermere takes you to Orrest Head, an outstanding viewpoint. It was the first summit in Lakeland visited by A Wainwright, author of the famous guidebooks.

Just north of Bowness on Windermere, you will discover the thriving town of Ambleside. It offers an excellent selection of shops, restaurants, cafes and a cinema. Close to Ambleside is the Waterhead Pier with rowing boats, motor boats and ferry and cruise services. There are many outdoor adventure activities available around Ambleside. A short walk from the centre takes you to Stock Gyll Force, a spectacular 70 foot waterfall. In spring, it looks absolutely stunning with a carpet of daffodils next to it. Once there were twelve watermills powered by Stock Gyll and other local becks. The National Trust’s 17th century Bridge House over Stock Gyll beck is one of the most photographed scenes in Lakeland. Another local National Trust wonder are the Stagshaw Gardens covering about 8 acres and brimming with fine collections of rhododendrons, azaleas, ericaceous trees and shrubs. The Armitt Museum offers a wonderful collection of books, manuscripts, watercolours, archaeological remains and an area dedicated to Beatrix Potter. A short ferry ride from Waterhead is Brockhole, the Lake District National Park Visitor Centre. It is a fantastic stop set in 30 acres of beautiful gardens with boat hire, bike hire, a tree top trek, laser clay shooting, archery and special family events.

Nearby attractions include the Lakes Aquarium with the UK's largest collection of freshwater fish, the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, where visitors can enjoy a 3.5-mile steam locomotive trip into the Leven Valley and the delightful World of Beatrix Potter, where the fabulous animals of Beatrix Potter's tales are brought to life in three dimensions! This is always a favourite with young children.

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