Bowness
Bowness is one of the most popular and busy tourist towns in Cumbria. It offers a full range of services and is set on the shores of Lake Windermere. It is the obvious destination for day trippers and has jettees from which you may take boat trips up the lake. It is a great place to go and feed the ducks, but be careful of the plentiful.
From the Lake shores you afford superb views north up the mountains like Wansfell and Bowfell near Ambleside. The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction is at the bottom of town and is a great place to take young children. One of the best restaurant in Cumbria, The Porthole, is located on Ash Street in Bowness.
Expensive but trully amazing dining, quality attentive service and an endless wine list. From Bowness it is possible to take a small car ferry accross Lake Windermere to the opposite shores giving easy access to Grizedale Forest and Hawkshead.