from Ambleside.]]
is a
Town in
Cumbria in north-west
England .
Ambleside is situated at the head of
Windermere , England's largest lake. The town is within the
Lake District National Park , in the
Westmorland area.
Steamers (in reality diesel-powered) run to
Bowness-on-Windermere and
Lakeside offering fine views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Ambleside is a base for hiking, mountaineering and mountain biking. It has a selection of hotels, guesthouses, pubs and restaurants.
The Armitt Library and Museum provides a fascinating source of local history with a collection which represents many of the local artists and writers of the past.
Its name came from
Old Norse ''Á-mel-sǽtr'' = "river — sandbank — summer pasture".
On the west,
Loughrigg Fell rises above the town; to the north are
Red Screes and the hills of the
Fairfield group; to the east is
Wansfell Pike .
Ambleside is adminstered by
South Lakeland district council and forms part of the
Lakes Civil Parish but from 1894 to 1935 it was a separate
Urban District council.
Bridge House was built over Stock
Ghyll more than 300 years ago probably as a summer house and apple store for Ambleside Hall. The building was purchased by local people in
1926 and given to the
National Trust . It is now used as an information centre for the National Trust, and is part of the Trust's
Windermere And Troutbeck property.
St Martin's College , formerly , can be found at the northern end of the town; courses held at the college include teacher education, sports and outdoor studies.
Bridge House — Information from a notice at Bridge House.
