The bright afternoon sunshine made my mind up – Hubby, Zack and I were going for a walk at Fell Foot. Once the parkland gardens to a 17th century mansion house sadly demolished by its then owner, Oswald Henley, in 1910, Fell Foot Park was given by his widow to the National Trust in 1946. (www.visitnorthwest.com/sights/fell-foot-country-park) Since then, many generations of visitors have enjoyed days out in this well-loved Victorian country park.
Fell Foot is located at the south-eastern shores of Windermere, about a 5-minute drive from our Bowness guest house, Blenheim Lodge. Visitors can easily access this park by public and private transport, including a ferry transfer via Lakeside on the south-western shores of Windermere. The parkland extends down to the Lake where visitors are able to board the boat to Lakeside, from which are daily sails to Bowness Pier and on to other points on the lakeshore.
This early April afternoon must have been a lazy afternoon for the families of ducks basking in the sun or idly paddling in the water. Zack, with his head down on a mission of detecting interesting smells and barreling purposefully onwards along the footpath by the Lake, barely disturbed their peace – or so it would seem. It wasn’t until he was a couple of feet away that three ducks resting on the wall beside the Lake decided that discretion (or flight) was the better part of valour and plopped into the Lake.
Perhaps one of the best things about Fell Foot are the views to be had of Windermere and the mountains. It does feel like a holiday park, complete with a children’s play park, shops, refreshment booths, car parks, and the roar of traffic where it borders the main A592. However, one can hardly complain about the main road when it is the reason why Fell Foot is so easily accessible. In any case, once one has walked further into the heart of Fell Foot, the sound of traffic can barely be heard.
The National Trust is currently upgrading the facilities at Fell Foot. Among some of its more ambitious projects are the restoration of the original arboretum, gardens and pathways, and self-pitch camping. Nonetheless, it already provides opportunities for swimming, boating, walking, running, and even opportunities for wild family camping with the support of a ranger. Please take a look here for more information.
Fell Foot is very easily reached from the main hubs of Windermere, Bowness, Lakeside, and Newby Bridge, and the National Trust runs a programme of activities at the Park which it publicises on its website. Visitors could easily spend hours at Fell Foot or just a short 30 minutes. Either way, it will make for an enjoyable break simply to picnic with the ducks or to do much more – like swimming in the Lake! Brrrr!!!
Blenheim Lodge . . . panoramic Lake views, peace and tranquillity, nestled against acres of beautiful fields and woodlands, in the heart of the English Lake District National Park.’
Visit our website: http://www.blenheim-lodge.com
Email: enquiries@blenheim-lodge.com
Telephone: 015394 43440
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