Ambleside
{{infobox England place with map|
Place= Ambleside | Map = Ambleside - Cumbria dot.png | Population = 2,600 | District= South Lakeland | Region= North West England | County= Cumbria | Ceremonial= Cumbria | Traditional= Westmorland | Constituency= Westmorland and Lonsdale | PostalTown= AMBLESIDE | PostCode= LA22 | DiallingCode= 015394 | GridReference= NY375037 | Euro= North West England | Police= Cumbria ConstabularyAmbleside is a town in Cumbria in north-west England.
Ian McMillan described the town in a BBC programme about Kurt Schwitters as, "A gentle place where people wear anoraks without irony."
Ambleside is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake. The town is within the Lake District National Park, in the Westmorland area.
Steamers (in reality diesel-powered ferries) run to Bowness-on-Windermere and Lakeside offering fine views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Ambleside is a base for hiking, mountaineering and mountain biking. It has a selection of hotels, guesthouses, pubs and restaurants.
The Armitt Library and Museum provides a fascinating source of local history with a collection which represents many of the local artists and writers of the past.
Its name came from Old Norse Á-mel-sǽtr = "river — sandbank — summer pasture".
On the west, Loughrigg Fell rises above the town; to the north are Red Screes and the hills of the Fairfield group; to the east is Wansfell Pike.
Ambleside is administered by South Lakeland district council and forms part of the Lakes civil parish but from 1894 to 1935 it was a separate urban district council. | Boats at Ambleside jetty. |
 | Bridge House, Ambleside |
Bridge HouseBridge House was built over Stock Ghyll more than 300 years ago probably as a summer house and apple store for Ambleside Hall. The building was purchased by local people in 1926 and given to the National Trust. It is now used as an information centre for the National Trust, and is part of the Trust's Windermere and Troutbeck property. | St Martin's College, Ambleside |
St Martin's CollegeSt Martin's College, formerly Charlotte Mason College, can be found at the northern end of the town; courses held at the college include teacher education, sports and outdoor studies.The Climbers ShopIn 1959 Frank Davies opened The Climbers Shop - the first outdoor shop in Ambleside. Walking and climbing now form an important part of the local economy and lifestyle of the local people in the area. The shop is located at the top of the one way system at the Northern end of the town. If you head out towards Grassmere its just before the excellent Hot Apple Pie cafe.Bridge House — Information from a notice at Bridge House.*Windermere and Troutbeck (including Bridge House) information at the National Trust
*Armitt Library
*St Martin's College
*The Climbers Shop
*Illustratd guide to Ambleside
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