Ambleside
Right at the heart of the Lake District, this large village is a bustling centre for tourism. Offering most services including banks, food shops, boots the chemist and a host of excellent cafes and restaurants. For a real treat head for Lucys on a Plate serving superb contemporary eating or the Apple Pie Eating house for traditional cakes baked locally. Ambleside is known for its curious Bridge House, a National Trust property perched over the river as you head north towards Grasmere. Mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts flock to Ambleside partly for the host of excellent walking routes in the area but also the huge array of outdoor equipment retailers in the village. Cotswolds, Rock and Run, Blacks, John Gaynors but to name a few. Ambleside is a great base for exploring the Lake District, it is the most central of the larger villages and most of the major roads radiate from it. The Old Court House Gallery is one of the most note worthy retailers of local art work in Cumbria. It has an excellent sellection of fine art, hand crafted furniture, jewellery and prints produced primarily by local people. Set in the buildings of the Ambleside court it is also a sympathetic re-use of a historic building. Well worth a peek!