Lake Windermere Lake District National Park

A re we there yet?" pleads         enchanting Bowness-on-Windermere.  my three-year-old son from      Boats for hire are aplenty, and    the rear of the car. I've       though tempting, my stomach is     returned to the Lake District for     demanding lunch. Central to life   the first time since my school        here, the local bar-restaurant     trip to Patterdale, back in the       protrudes beyond the riverbank     early eighties. I'm curious as to     and affords magnificent views      what I can recall of the place        from the upper landing while we    after all these years, however,       consume lunch. The upper seating   the sands of time and copious         area is built directly above       quantities of alcohol play havoc      lakeside and gives the sensation   with the old grey matter.             of being as one with the water.                                          The panorama retains you seated    I've already decided our next         long after lunch is finished as    appointment with the lakes will       the lake extends through the mist  be headquartered at Windermere,       and towards the mountains          hub of the region. As a base it's     spanning the horizon.              ideally positioned for excursions                                        to all of Lake District National      Meriting a visit is Ambleside, an  Park, as well as a noble locale       attractive, petite village off     to explore itself. We're              the north shore of Lake            stationed at the Flookburgh           Windermere. Choice route is by     caravan park in the southern          boat, a wonderfully scenic         region of the Lake District, and      journey of about thirty minutes    though pleasant, the daily            from the shores of                 half-hour drive to Windermere         Bowness-on-Windermere.             grows slightly tedious.               Snow-capped mountains span the                                           horizon and towering trees stand   We park almost a mile short of        as sentinels, flanking either      the main town to explore the          side of the lake, forging an       atmosphere far removed from           absorbing the relaxed ambience as  nearby town life.                     the day idles by. Life is lived                                          at a different pace here,          Whilst birds swoop overhead,          something I envy greatly, having   seeking food scraps from              grown up in a large city. Even     passengers, fish twist and turn       the wildlife seems more laid       through relatively pollution free     back, enjoying a more tranquil     currents. Small pockets of people     alliance beside humanity, away     scatter themselves along the          from the hustle and bustle of      riverbanks, consuming lunch and       loud, frantic cities.              About the Author: Steven Cronin writes for Travel Sargas online magazine, the number one home for travel reviews, opinion, news, insight and special offers. For further reading please visit http://www.sargas.co.uk Source: www.isnare.com