Expert: Iain Reynolds - 11/10/2008

Question
Visiting the UK in January with my spouse for our 20th and were planning on visiting the Windermere area around mid January.  Any recommendations on areas to get a good feel for the small town life, Windermere or Bowness.  Restaurant recommendations?

Answer
Hi Ron,

The town you will be visiting is Bowness as Windermere is just the lake! Bowness on Windermere is its official name.  It is small pretty town and will be quite quiet in Jan as you are well out of the main tourist season.  Sometimes that is the best time to see the Lake District!  Bowness is not a great Lakeland town although it is the busiest because of its proximity to the lake.  Dare I suggest that you visit Ambleside?  Just a small journey, 10 minutes, north of Bowness.  It is a lovely typical lakeland town with many many great restaurants.  

Howver, one I would very hightly recommend and is probably one of the best in Northern England is the Drunken Duck!!! It's a bit of a slog to get to it but well well worth it.

www.drunkenduckinn.co.uk

Hope this helps.

Iain