Best Lake District walks from Windermere and Bowness: Easy circular and scenic routes

With so many walking routes around Lake Windermere, it’s hard to know which ones are actually worth your time. Some are overcrowded, others are tougher than expected, and it’s easy to miss the quieter scenic spots. 

To help with your search, this guide rounds up the best easy and circular walks from Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere – from peaceful lakeside strolls to short fell walks with incredible views.

What are the best Lake District walks in Windermere?

The best walks in Windermere give you a bit of everything that makes the Lake District special. Think peaceful woodland trails, open fell views, hidden shoreline paths and cosy village starting points. 

Here’s an overview of some of the best Windermere walks: 

And a quick summary of the top Bowness-on-Windermere walks​:

Now, let’s take a look at these routes in more detail. 

The best easy and short Windermere walks 

Orrest Head

The Orrest Head Windermere walk follows woodland paths through Low Hag Wood and High Hag Wood towards Orrest Head, a classic Lake District viewpoint overlooking Lake Windermere and the surrounding fells

The climb is fairly gentle overall, making it a good option for families or anyone looking for a shorter Lake District walk.

📍 See the Orrest Head route here. 

School Knott

This short, circular walk follows quiet lanes and grassy paths before gradually climbing up towards School Knott. The ascent is steady before reaching the viewpoint with wide-open views over Lake Windermere (and across to the Langdale Pikes and Troutbeck valley). 

📍 See the School Knott route here. 

Rayrigg Meadow Bay

Rather than heading straight for the hills, this route eases you into the Lake District scenery with a relaxed mix of village streets, woodland paths, and shoreline walking. 

You climb gently towards Queen Adelaide’s Hill. From here, you’ll drop down to the lakeshore at Rayrigg Meadow Bay, an open stretch of shoreline that feels tucked away compared to the busier parts of Windermere. 
📍 See the Rayrigg Mead Bay route here.

Top circular Bowness-on-Windermere walks​

Bowness Bay loop

From the churchyard at St Martin’s, the route slips down to the buzz of Bowness Bay, where boats, ducks, and lakeside cafés set the scene. The walk then hugs the shoreline past the pier to Cockshott Point, a quieter stretch with open lake views.

The path continues towards the ferry crossing before looping back through calmer village-edge trails.

📍 See the Bowbess Bay loop route here. 

Side note: Make this longer by getting the ferry to the other side of Windermere and grabbing lunch at Joey’s Café. 

📍 See the longer Bownes Bay route here. 

Post Knott – Brant Fell loop 

Similar to the previous route, this walk gently climbs past St Martin’s Church before opening out towards the lakeshore at Bowness Bay. The path then rises steadily towards Post Knott and Brant Fell, where the views suddenly expand over Bowness and the full length of Lake Windermere. 

It’s a short but rewarding fell walk, before looping back down via quieter village-edge paths and returning to the bustle of Bowness.

📍 See the Post Knott – Brant Fell route here.

Biskey Howe Viewpoint loop

This route is one of the best short walks near Bowness-on-Windermere for big views with minimal effort.

The path gently winds past the Dales Way start/finish marker before taking you through quiet streets and footpaths. The route then quickly lifts you above the lakeshore without ever feeling too demanding.

📍 See the Biskey Howe route here. 

FAQs about walks around Windermere

What are the most scenic Lake Windermere walks?

The most scenic walks around Lake Windermere combine lake views, wooded trails and panoramic fell scenery. Popular routes (like Orrest Head and School Knott) include viewpoints over the water, quiet forest paths and traditional Lakeland countryside.

Walks from Windermere vs walks from Bowness-on-Windermere: Which should you choose? 

Both Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere are great bases for walking, and they’re both extremely close to each other. If you stay in one location, you can easily access the other.

However, Bowness is closer to the water. If you prefer lakeside walks and boat trips, Bowness might be a better option. If you want quicker access to the surrounding fells, Windermere is the ideal choice. 

Find out more about things to do around Windermere.

Explore walks in Windermere from a Coppermines Cottage

Windermere and Bowness are packed with walking routes that show off the best of the Lake District, from quiet shoreline paths to panoramic fell viewpoints. 

Staying in a cottage gives you the freedom to explore them at your own pace, with scenic trails, cosy pubs and lakeside cafés never far away. 

Browse Coppermines holiday cottages and see what’s available in Windermere. Start planning your Lake District escape today!