Things to do in Ambleside
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Lucy's on a Plate
Lucy's started life in 1989 as a specialist grocery, but over the last decade it's mushroomed into a full-blown gastronomic empire, with premises dotted all over Ambleside, as well as a Windermere outpost and even a cookery school in Staveley. The original bistro is still the best of the bunch, though: a light and inviting space with pine tables and a sweet conservatory, serving Lucy's trademark quirkily named food, such as 'fruity porker', 'fell-walker filler' or 'pruned piggy-wig'. It gets very busy, so bookings are essential at busy times and weekends.
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Lakeland walks
The town makes an excellent base for many well-known Lakeland walks. One of the most popular trails is the easy-going woodland stroll up to Stock Ghyll Force, a 60ft waterfall plunging into a narrow canyon. For something more strenuous, you could try the hour-long ascent to the top of Wansfell, followed by a two-hour return trip via Jenkins Crag, with views across to Coniston and the Langdale Pikes. Serious hikers are spoilt for choice - several classic circuits start from Ambleside, including the 10-mile Fairfield Horseshoe via Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Fairfield and Dove Crag.
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Glass House
Ritzy restaurant in a converted watermill (with the original mill wheel and machinery still on site), serving some of the most accomplished Med and French food in the Lakes, underpinned by top-quality local ingredients – Herdwick lamb, Lakeland chicken, and fish from the north coast ports.
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Armitt Museum
Artefacts at Ambleside's modest town museum include a lock of John Ruskin's hair, a collection of botanical watercolours by Beatrix Potter, and prints by the pharmacist- turned-photographer Herbert Bell.
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Low Wood Watersports & Activity Centre
The brand-new Low Wood Watersports & Activity Centre offers all kinds of ways to get out on the lake, including rowing boats, kayaks and canoes, wayfarer sailing boats and outboard motor boats. It also offers sailing, water-skiing and wakeboarding tuition and a climbing wall.
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Priest Hole
Next door to the Royal Oak pub inside the old Kelsick Hall, this spicily shaded restaurant has a melting-pot menu of Italian, French, Spanish and Cumbrian cuisine, where Blencathra venison sits alongside Prosciutto ham and manchego cheese.
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Zeffirelli's
Affectionately known as Zeff's by the locals, this buzzy pizza and pasta joint doubles as Ambleside's jazz club after dark. Artful lighting and big curvy seats conjure a cool vibe. The movie-meal combo costs £17.95, including a two-course meal and a ticket to the flicks.
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Climber's Shop
Compston Rd has enough equipment shops to launch an assault on Everest, including a branch of Climber's Shop, which specialises in rock-climbing gear.
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Apple Pie
Sunny cafe popular for its cakes, sandwiches, Bath buns and hearty pies.
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Black's
Compston Rd has enough equipment shops to launch an assault on Everest, including a branch of Black's, which is a favourite with hikers.
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Royal Oak
This old whitewashed inn is the best pub in Ambleside, with hearty pub mains, good ales and a busy outside terrace.
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Gaymer Sports
Compston Rd has enough equipment shops to launch an assault on Everest, including a branch of Gaymer Sports .
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Zeffirelli's Cinema
A two-screen cinema next to Zeffirelli's Restaurant, with extra screens in a converted church down the road.
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Rohan
Compston Rd has enough equipment shops to launch an assault on Everest, including a branch of Rohan.
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Pippins
Reliable café serving full English breakfasts, jacket potatoes, and sandwiches.
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Royal Oak
This old whitewashed inn is the best pub in Ambleside, with hearty pub mains, good ales and a busy outside terrace.
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Golden Rule
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Tarantella
Snazzy Italian served in elegant surroundings, with wood-fired pizzas and authentic pastas partnered by unusual regional fare such as duck-and-chilli sausage and roast tuna.
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Lucy's Specialist Grocery
The deli that started it all, now relocated to Compston Rd. Shelves stocked with chutneys, chocs and other tempting treats, plus chiller cabinets full of Lakeland produce.
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Low Wood Watersports
If you feel like getting out on the lake, this watersports centre rents row boats (one/four hours £12/34), kayaks (two/four hours £16/21), canoes (two/four hours £20/30) and motor boats (one/four hours £20/45).
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Fellini's
Fear not, vegetarians: you might be in the land of the Cumberland sausage and the tattie hotpot, but thanks to this new veggie venture you won't have to go without a good meal. It's a long way from tired old nut roasts: think grilled courgette towers, potato filo baskets and walnut and pear cannelloni. It's run by the owners of Ambleside's cinema and Zeffirelli's restaurant (as well as the lovely Yewfield B&B). The movie-meal combo costs £19.95.
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Fell Hikes
Ambleside marks the start of several well-known walks, including the wooded trail up to the 60ft waterfall of Stock Ghyll Force, or the three-hour round trip via Wansfell and Jenkins Crag, with views across to Coniston and the Langdale Pikes. Serious hikers can tackle the 10-mile Fairfield Horseshoe via Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Fairfield and Dove Crag.
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