There is something about the waters of Windermere that make us go all Enid Blyton. Or more accurately, all Swallows and Amazons: the Arthur Ransome series was based around Windermere and nearby lake Coniston Water (although the Famous Five are way more wizard). Taking a boat out to sail along the ten miles and hop around the islands of England’s biggest natural lake sounds simply spiffing to us, especially with added baddie catching opps re Bownessie, the lake monster rumoured to be lurking under Windermere’s waters.
Thus. Take a leaf out of a Swallows and Amazon (or Enid Blyton) book and have some camping in Windermere. And ginger beer. A Windermere campsite (sadly, the islands are off-limits) will have you beside the watersports and information centres of Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere lake cruises and boat hire at Brockhole… and again, camping on the islands is Not Allowed. More of a landlubber? Hike or bike the five miles around Windermere’s western shore for scenes worthy of proper poetry – we think we feel verse coming on…
