CUMBRIA

It's not surprising that the Lake District, which forms the largest part of Cumbria, has inspired so many painters, poets and authors. The scenery is magnificent, with its soaring mountains framing spectacular lakes. One of my friends described it as being 'like Snowdonia only with bigger puddles!'  It's only spoilt by the sheer number of tourists during the Summer season.

Sadly, this trip, I didn't have much time to explore or to take pictures, but I've promised myself a trip back there out of the tourist season, when I can explore to my heart's content.
Meanwhile, here's a taster (but not as tasty as the damson and ginger ice cream I had in Bowness!)

BOWNESS-0N-WINDERMERE

ULLSWATER

BOWNESS-ON-WINDERMERE

Windermere, usually full of tourists, is the largest of the lakes, at 10.5 miles long, that's just over 18 km. At its deepest point is 219 feet, that's 66.7 m. 

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Only one village is directly on the lake itself. That is Bowness (or, more properly, Bowness-on-Windermere). It is no surprise that Bowness is the terminus for several popular pleasure boat services that carry visitors up and down the lake.

Bowness-on-Windermere is also where The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction has modern displays on the children’s writer. There's been a settlement here since at least the 15th. century, and a ferry service across the lake almost as long

Oh, and the 'mere' in its' name means lake, so to call it 'Lake Windermere' is a tautology, and quite frankly wrong. It's just 'Windermere'. Would you believe - there is actually only one 'lake' in the Lake District? Bassenthwaite Lake is the only official lake, because the rest are either meres or waters. 

The name of the lake is a combination of Norse and Old English words. From the Norse comes Winder, derived from the proper name Vinandr. The suffix mere is Old English for a body of water, so Windermere means Vinandr's lake. Unfortunately, we do not know who Vinandr was or when he lived. Until the 19th century it was known as Winander Mere.

Lake Windermere is fed by several rivers and streams, including the rivers Brathay and Rothay, Trout Beck, and Cunsey Beck. The River Leven flows out of the southern tip of the lake and after much meandering, it empties into Morecambe Bay.

The A591 and A592 roads run along the eastern shore, while the western shore is served only by a few very minor roads and none of them follows the lakeshore for any great length.

ULLSWATER

And, just to prove the point I made about lakes in the article on Bowness, welcome to Ullswater. 

I'd like a £ for every photo that's been taken at this viewpoint! Ullswater is the second largest lake in the region by both area and volume, after Windermere. The lake is about 7 miles long, 0.75 miles wide, and has a maximum depth of 63 metres.

Steamer services started in 1859, and the two vessels, 'Lady of the Lake' and 'Raven', have been there almost as long, although both were converted to diesel in the 1930s. There is a newer one, 'Lady Dorothy', which runs a winter service.