On the main highway through the Lakes, Ambleside is Lakeland's most central town. It stands at the foot of Wansfell Pike where the Stock Gill and the Kirkstone Pass enter the green valley of the Rothay, a mile above the head of Windermere. Its situation, as seen when we come to it up the lake, is very beautiful. Though the town nestles somewhat closely under the hills, views of great and varied beauty expand from any side.
Shut in by Wansfell on the east, it is faced on the north by ridges which lead up to the summits of the Fairfield range, and hold the upland valleys of Rydal and Scandale, Loughrigg Fell blocks the head of the lake with the Rothay, a river of many memories, passing its foot on the way from the vale of Grasmere, and the Brathay from the Langdales on the other side. A very short walk along the lower slope of Wansfell to Jenkin Crag opens out the western view of the Langdales, with the chief summits of the highest mountain mass in England in the distance. Loughrigg, a small plateau with rocky points of view raising from it, just across the flat of the Rothay valley, has easy paths to where lake, valleys, woodlands and hills compose a striking panorama.
There are many short walks hereabouts. One of the most popular being to Stock Ghyll Waterfalls. These falls have a drop of seventy feet and are in woodland under fine trees which have a carpet of daffodils in the Spring.
Although Ambleside is often referred to as a village, in reality it has been a market town since it received a charter for a weekly market in 1650. It has a resident population of some three thousand people, and at first glance seems quite a large place for so few people. However during the summer months the population increases substantially owing to the area's popularity as a holiday resort.
The Romans arrived here in AD79 on their way to establish a port at Ravenglass. They made their base, which they called Galava, on the flat land to the north of Windermere now called Borrans Field. Their first fort was built of wood and clay.
Certainly without fear of argument, one of Ambleside's most popular landmarks is the tiny seventeenth century Bridge House on the Rydal road which was built originally as a summer house in the gardens of Ambleside Hall. During its long life it has had many uses: initially seeing service as a cobbler's workshop, with a pigeon loft in the upper storey; then an antiques shop. In earlier days, it was the home to a man, his wife and six children, the family earning their living by basketmaking (also on the premises!). Finally, the house was purchased by local people in 1926 for the sum of £450 and handed over the National Trust, who opened their first information office in the house. Of Ambleside Hall itself, only the barn and one wing remain. It is now a cottage, which has an old staircase and a delightful balustrade.
Also not to be missed is the old Stamp House at the top of Church Street, which stands on the site of the office used by William Wordsworth when he was collector of stamps for Westmorland. He was apparently elected to the post soon after his family moved to Rydal Mount. Nearby is the Salutation Hotel, one of Ambleside's oldest Inns dating back to 1656, and which later in its life became an important coaching stop.
In the area east of Rydal Road between Stock Ghyll and the Kirkstone Road lies the oldest inhabited part of Ambleside. On roads such as Smithy Brow and Farview Road, there are many delightful cottages to be seen. They are in a good state of preservation and many date from the seventeenth century. The 19th century church of St Mary's should not be missed. It has a Wordsworth memorial chapel, and a window to Wordsworth subscribed for by English and American admirers, plus others.
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