Ambleside
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Coordinates: 54°25′31″N 2°57′45″W / 54.4252°N 2.9626°W
| Ambleside | |
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  Ambleside
Ambleside shown within Cumbria |
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| Population | 2,600 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Lakes |
| District | South Lakeland |
| Shire county | Cumbria |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | AMBLESIDE |
| Postcode district | LA22 |
| Dialling code | 015394 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | Westmorland and Lonsdale |
| List of places: UK • England • Cumbria | |
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England. Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake. The town is within the Lake District National Park.
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[edit] Background
The name came from Old Norse Á-mel-sǽtr = "river — sandbank — summer pasture".
Steamers (in reality diesel-powered ferries) 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 shops, hotels, guest houses, pubs and restaurants.
To the south of Ambleside is the Roman fort of Galava, dating from AD79.[1]
The Armitt Library and Museum provides a source of local history with a collection which represents many of the local artists and writers of the past.
In 1650 the town was granted a charter[citation needed] to hold a market and later, in the reign of James II, another charter was granted for the town to collect tolls.[2]
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.
Ambleside is administered 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.
Ambleside is also home to the headquarters of Brathay Exploration Group, a youth charity based just beyond Clappersgate on the road to Hawkshead.
[edit] Buildings
[edit] Bridge House
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.[3]
[edit] University of Cumbria
The Ambleside campus of the University of Cumbria, formerly St. Martin's College and Charlotte Mason College, can be found at the northern end of the town; courses held at the campus include teacher training, leisure and outdoor studies.
[edit] Wordsworth's house
William Wordsworth's house at Rydal Mount stands nearby.
[edit] Outdoor shops
In 1959 Frank Davies opened The Climbers Shop - the first outdoor shop in Ambleside. Walking and climbing now form an important part of the local economy and lifestyle of the local people in the area. Ambleside is also home to Gaynor Sports, the UK's largest independent outdoor equipment store. It houses 5 departments over 3 floors. Gaynor Sports also sponsor the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team.
[edit] Pubs
Ambleside has a relatively large number of pubs for its size with some ten pubs and bars within a quarter of a mile radius. The high number of drinking establishments is maintained by both the tourist industry, so essential to the town, as well as the student population associated with the University of Cumbria.
[edit] Mountain rescue
The town maintains one of the busiest volunteer mountain rescue teams (Langdale & Ambleside MRT) in Great Britain.
[edit] Location grid
| North: Grasmere | ||
| West: Langdale Pikes | Ambleside | East: Kentmere |
| South: Windermere |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/galava.htm Retrieved on 2008-02-07
- ^ www.lakedistricts.co.uk/ambleside
- ^ Bridge House — Information from a notice at Bridge House.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ambleside, Cumbria |
- Windermere and Troutbeck (including Bridge House) information at the National Trust
- Armitt Library
- St Martin's College
- Illustrated guide to Ambleside
- Ambleside Primary School The multi-award winning school website has many sections devoted to local history and geography and the Lake District
- Ambleside Photographs On the Ambleside, Cumbria website.
- The Windermere Way - a walking route that goes right around the lake.
- VisitCumbria.com - Galava Roman Fort
- Stock Ghyll Force A film of the waterfall above Ambleside during the November 2009 flooding of Cumbria.
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