Local Area & Activities

Woodside Cottage is located right in the Heart of the Lake District with fabulous activities, walks and pubs right on the doorstep!

Just a five minute drive from the house lies Gummers How. The walk is 1.5 miles (2.4km) and will take around 45 minutes, suitable for all walking abilities! You will enjoy the most spectacular views of the full length of Lake Windermere, we'd recommend heading up for sunset, for one of the best views in the Lake District!
Why not work up an appetite before enjoying some brunchin Windermere? Orrest Head , on the eastern shores of Lake Windermere, offers sweeping 360 views of the surrounding countryside from its summit. Again, this walk is perfect for family's and walkers of all abilities!.
Just a short walk from the centre of Ambleside, you will find Stockghyll force, a spectacular 70 foot waterfall, with a view-point overlooking the entire river. This walk can be both a small out & back trail, around 1 mile, or a stopping point on a longer trail!
This out & back hike is ideal for those looking for a longer walk, but one that isn't too challenging. For a fell short in stature, Loughrigg fell offers some of the most amazing views of the Langdale pikes, & can be coupled with a stop off at Rydal caves!

Fell Foot is a family friendly country park situated alongside Lake Windermere, perfect for paddle boarding, boating &swimming. you can also enjoy a picnic on the shores of the lake or tuck into food from the cafe!
Just a 30 minute drive from woodside lies Grizedale forest, with endless forest trails, tree top trekking & mountain biking, there is literally everything you need for an exciting family day out!
The Lakeside & Haverthwaite railway is a 3.2 mile heritage railway at the southern end of Windermere. perfect for a family day out, with the windermere steam boat at the end of the line, you can couple together a 'rail & sail' ticket! Make sure to try the tea room, in particular, the afternoon tea!
Lakes Aquarium is situated on the shores of lake windermere & is home to a wide array of creatures from fresh water fish to marine fish & reptiles. make sure to book ahead online & save!

Situated just a ten minute walk from Woodside, the Mason’s Arms has stunning countryside views, with indoor/outdoor seating and a wonderful menu full of locally sourced produce.
masonsarmsstrawberrybank.co.uk
Just a mile from Woodside, the Hare & Hounds inn is a quintessentially British country pub with a modern twist. You can enjoy a relaxing drink in the large beer garden or a stunning meal in the restaurant.
hareandhoundslakes.com/
Voted as one of the best casual dining experiences in the Lake District, the punch bowl offers award winning food & drink, in a relaxed country pub setting. make sure to phone ahead & book as tables book up fast!
the-punchbowl.co.uk
For our foodie guests, this is certainly a place to visit! With a beautiful cosy restaurant & bar, or an alfresco terrace, you can enjoy award winning food prepared by the pub chef of year winner!
thebrownhorseinn.co.uk/

A personal favourite of ours! HomeGround offers foodies the most amazing brunch & speciality coffee, & is only a 15 minute drive from Woodside, in the heart of Windermere. Offering eat in & take-out options.
Instagram- @homegroundcafe
Chesters by the River is located next to the river Brathay at Skelwith bridge, serving amazing homemade lunch, wood-fired pizza & cakes. There is also a lovely walk from the cafe out to Elterwater along the river, offering sweeping views of the Langdale valley!
instagram- @chestersbytheriver
Located in the beautiful market town of Kendal, method serves up the most epic brunch, lunch, coffee and cakes & should be a definite stop-off for those serious foodies!
instagram- @methodcafe
With a strong focus on local produce, a lot of which is grown in the Levens estate gardens themselves, Levens kitchen offers a wide range of brunch & lunch options 7 days a week. You can also enjoy a tour around the gardens of Levens hall, famous for its topiary.
levenshall.co.uk/levens-kitchen

Nestled in the heart of Bowness, this is our go to for Thai food! Offering takeout or restaurant dining, with a brilliant cocktail menu, Jintana is perfect for a casual meal out, close to home!
Just 100m from the bay of Windermere, the award winning Vinegar Jones is an absolute must if you are visiting Bowness! Why not grab some fish & chips and have a stroll down to the shores of the lake before sunset?
Looking for a something a little more vibrant? Baha offers amazing asian street food, plus cocktails & live music. Make sure to book ahead as this is very popular spot!
Fancying something a little fancier? Heft delivers all the punch of a fine dining restaurant in the casual setting of a 17th century pub. With a set tasting menu, expect fabulous local seasonal food presented in the most incredible way!