Windermere and Bowness are the most accessible entry points to the Lake District, and despite the crowds, the walking hereabouts is genuinely rewarding. Orrest Head gives a famous first view of the lake from above, while the quieter western shore can be reached by ferry for an instant escape.

The western shore of Windermere, reached by the ferry from Bowness, offers surprisingly quiet walking on Claife Heights — a fine contrast to the busier eastern side. The town is the best-connected entry point to the Lake District by rail.