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Lake District lunch stop
· Moffat Woolen Mills, 01683 220134 on A701or the Blacksmith’s Cottage at Gretna Green, 01461 338341, just over the border are potential strops on the way to Edinburgh.
· You can stop in Grasmere or Bowness-on-Windermere for lunch (for younger groups Bowness is fun, for adults Grasmere). You could also do the ferry from Bowness to Ambleside on way to Grasmere (see below).
Grasmere
On approaching the village (A591) from the north, Dove Cottage will be at the eleven o’clock position, behind some cottages, when you turn right towards the village.
Coach Park – on the right, toilets (fee) and telephone.
Facilities in the village
CASHPOINTS – Currently only one in the Post Office.
Lots of places for lunching & shopping
Sites
St Oswald’s Church (Wordsworth Family Plot in graveyard)
Sarah Nelson Gingerbread Shop (through churchyard follow aroma!)
Dove Cottage (warn group to take care when crossing the busy A591)
Windermere & Bowness on Windermere
About 8 miles south of Grasmere (A591) is the town of Windermere. 10 minutes further down the shores of Lake Windermere, are the piers of Bowness.
Bowness is one of Cumbria’s most popular resorts. Full of trinket & souvenir shops and cafes it can be crowded at the height of the season.
Steamboat trip on Lake Windermere (015394 43360) or www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk) – ½ hour ride to Ambleside where you can disembark (it’s a good idea to arrange to pick up the group there and then carry on up to Grasmere) and a ½ hour return to Bowness pier. You can also take a one hour trip around the islands.
Rowing Boat – can be hired from the pier.
The World of Beatrix Potter
The Windermere Steamboat Museum (www.steamboat.co.uk) – Arthur Ransome’s Amazon and Captain Flint’s House Boat housed there (Swallows & Amazons).
Public toilets located between coach park and piers (fee).