Our next walking will be on
Saturday 11th September
and will be from
Ambleside, Cumbria
Ambleside, at the head of Windermere and the foot of the
Kirkstone Pass, lies in the very heart of the Lake District,
with easy access to Grasmere, Keswick, Windermere
and the Langdales. A vibrant, busy town, surrounded
by magnificent Lakeland fells, it is the ideal location for
a rural break. Although Ambleside has its roots in the
medieval woollen trade, it is predominantly a Victorian
town, built of dark grey slate.
Kirkstone Pass, lies in the very heart of the Lake District,
with easy access to Grasmere, Keswick, Windermere
and the Langdales. A vibrant, busy town, surrounded
by magnificent Lakeland fells, it is the ideal location for
a rural break. Although Ambleside has its roots in the
medieval woollen trade, it is predominantly a Victorian
town, built of dark grey slate.
Ambleside’s history reaches back at least as far as Roman
times. At nearby Waterhead the Romans built a stone fort on
a trade route through South Lakeland (now in Borrans Field).
Medieval Ambleside had a thriving woollen industry centred on
the fast flowing Stock Ghyll which powered the fulling mills
that pounded the newly woven cloth. When the town was
granted a market charter in 1650, the Market Place became the
commercial centre for agriculture and the wool trade. The 17th
and 18th centuries were a major period of rebuilding, initiated by
yeoman farmers and landowners made wealthy by the profits of
the woollen trade. Many houses date from this period, notably
at the pretty village of Troutbeck nearby. One particularly fine
example, Townend 1 , is owned by the National Trust (open
March–October).
The iconic Bridge House 2 is a tiny house over Stock Beck
in the centre of the town and one of the most photographed
buildings in the Lake District. Originally built as an apple store
by the Braithwaites of Ambleside Hall in 1723, the building is
now owned by the National Trust and is open daily from Easter
to October.
As a gateway to the spectacular Langdale Valley, Ambleside is
deservedly popular, both with leisure visitors wanting a relaxing
break and outdoor enthusiasts looking for a challenge. The town
offers easy access to a range of water sports, walks, climbs
and cycle routes, and has plenty of great pubs and cafés. It
also has a wonderful literary and artistic heritage, which can be
explored in the town’s galleries and museum.
Ambleside’s specialist retailers offer everything from outdoor
clothing to interior design. Other shops specialise in unique pieces
inspired by the landscape, including slate ornaments, watercolour
paintings and pottery – look out for the Made in Cumbria logo,
which shows you are supporting local craftspeople.
We last visited Ambleside in September 2007
There will be three walks;
- A Walk led by; Jenny Matthias
- B Walk led by; Keith Scott
- C Walk led by; Joan and Shirley
No comments:
Post a Comment