Colourful Viewing Station with endless lake views and waterside paths
Best explored on foot or by bike, Windermere west shore is the place to go for lakeside strolls, great views and picnics by the water. Here’s a handy guide to our car parks along Windermere west shore to help you plan your day.
The western shore of Windermere is perfect for a car-free adventure. Why not travel over on the ferry from Bowness? In less than 15 minutes you’ll arrive on the tranquil west shore.
From here you can discover Claife Viewing Station. Less than a five-minute walk from the ferry, stroll through the courtyard and up to the viewing platform, where you can admire panoramic views of Windermere through coloured panels and listen out for the Aeolian wind harp on a blustery day. Learn about the building’s colourful history and relax in the quaint café in the courtyard, then explore Ash Landing Nature Reserve just down the road, where you can wander through the woodland and stumble across pockets of wildflower meadows.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, set out on the 4-mile lakeshore path which leads to Wray Castle. Whether you are on foot or bike, this gentle, linear route is great for the whole family. You can return to Bowness or Ambleside on the boat from Wray Castle or Bark Barn, or refuel in the castle's café and retrace your steps back to the ferry.
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
