Page 206 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

204 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

Above left Part of the Lakeside & Haverthwaite
Railway Above right Britain’s earliest working Lake Windermere tearoom housed in an old Victorian
locomotive, Haverthwaite Station Running north to south for 18 km boathouse, which serves light lunches.
(11 miles), Windermere is the largest ª Carry on to Newby Bridge, turning
lake in England and has been an right on to A590 and left on B5278.
important waterway since Roman
times. It is fed by the Rivers Brathay r Haverthwaite
and Rothay at the northern head and
VISITING CONISTON feeds into the River Leven at Newby Cumbria; LA12 8AL
Bridge in the south. On its eastern This is where children’s book author
Tourist Information shore, sprawling Bowness-on- and spy Arthur Ransome (Swallows
Ruskin Avenue, LA21 8EH; 01539 441 Windermere is the main resort town and Amazons) ended his days, but the
533; www.golakes.co.uk with many hotels, shops, pubs and main reason to visit Haverthwaite is
attractions, as well as plenty of the nearby Lakeside & Haverthwaite
access to the lake. In high season
WHERE TO STAY the town is full to bursting with Railway (open daily, trains run daily Apr–
visitors. The glorious lakeside road Oct; 015395 31594; www.lakesiderailway.
AROUND FELL FOOT PARK south passes along thickly wooded co.uk). The station is on the A590 (on
Newby Bridge Hotel moderate banks holding covetable houses right from Newby Bridge). Once used
Grand hotel in lovely setting on the with some truly sublime views. to carry goods to the steamers on
shores of Windermere (just off the A590 Windermere, the service closed in
south of Fell Foot), with leisure centre
including pool and steam room. Daily e Fell Foot Park 1967. But thanks to enthusiasts, the
changing menu, with fresh produce Cumbria; LA12 8NN locomotives once more ply alongside
from their kitchen garden and farm. A late-Victorian park of sweeping the River Leven. See the engines or try
Newby Bridge, LA12 8NA; 015395 lawns, rhododendrons, oaks and pines the short run to Lakeside, which offers
31222; www.newbybridgehotel.co.uk
at the south end of Windermere, Fell lake cruises. Also, visit the Lakeland
Punch Bowl Inn moderate Foot Park (open daily; 015395 31273; Motor Museum (open daily) here.
After the ferry, take the A5074 www.nationaltrust.org.uk) has great ª Rejoin the A590, turn right on the
south, turning off to Crosthwaite
for nine distinctive rooms in this shoreline access and splendid views A5092, fork right on the A5084 and
18th-century country inn. Expect of the Fells. There are good picnic turn right at Lowick (signed Nibthwaite/
hearty porridge, smoked salmon areas, rowing-boat hire and a lovely east of lake) then left for Brantwood.
and blueberry pancakes along with
local bacon and eggs for breakfast.
Crosthwaite, Lyth Valley, LA8 8HR;
015395 68237; www.the-punch
bowl.co.uk
AROUND CONISTON
Old Rectory moderate
This hotel, south of Coniston on the
A593 – take first left after Little Arrow –
is in a 19th-century house set in
extensive gardens and woodland. Close
to Coniston Water, the Old Rectory
offers nine individually styled rooms and
traditional Cumbrian breakfasts cooked
to order, using local meat and eggs.
Torver, Coniston, LA21 8AX; 015394
41353; www.theoldrectoryhotel.com
Right Sheep grazing in fields with morning
mist rising off Coniston Water beyond
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150

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