There is something for everyone in Ambleside from arts & crafts with galleries to an award winning cinema. Combine these with with dinner in one of many high quality restaurants and a sampling of the vast selection of real ales available in the pubs. If the great outdoors is what you want, at local shops and info centres you can buy books and leaflets telling you how to get on to the fells. And don't forget, the amazing choice of outdoor shops where you will be able to stock up on the best walking gear from retailers with expert knowledge.

Mainstream activities in the Lake District have an outdoor emphasis combined with simple leisurely enjoyment of the magnificent scenery and its literary and artistic heritage. The area is justly famous as an escape for stressed out urban dwellers who come to enjoy a little solitude as they walk the hills.

The town centre is only a mile from the head of Lake Windermere which offers a variety of water activities including Windermere Lake Cruises, rowing boat hire, canoeing, kayaking and wild swimming.

Ambleside is an ideal base for cycling in the Lake Distrct including taking on the famous passes of Wrynose and Hardknott. Great new off road cycle paths have also been constructed to leisurely and safely cycle as well as mountian bike treks galore. The mighty Fred Whitton Challenge is also a big draw to the area, so too the The Tour of Britain which we have seen numerous stages pass The Gables.