Claiffe Heights, Windermere circular cycle route

The route starts at the Windermere Ferry.

The Ferry has been operating for more than 500 years. The original craft were rowed across the lake, later ferries were steam driven and the most recent ones have had diesel engines. The current ferry 'Mallard' is the largest so far; a modern craft which carries up to 18 cars and over 100 passengers.

The ferry takes people, vehicles, horses and cycles across the lake, reducing traffic on the surrounding narrow roads and easing congestion and pollution. It also links the busy eastern shore of the lake and the peaceful countryside between Windermere and Coniston on the west, where there are many attractions and facilities for walking, riding and cycling.

In the summer months there is a minibus service between Ferry House and Hawkshead, calling at Beatrix Potter's Hilltop House. The ferry offers the opportunity to leave the car behind, cross the lake on foot and catch the bus, relaxing all the while and enjoying the scenery while someone else does all the work.

Windermere, at 10.5 miles long, one mile wide and 220 feet deep, is the largest natural lake in England

Near Sawrey and Far Sawrey are two neighbouring villages in the Furness area of Cumbria. They are located between Hawkshead and the lake of Windermere.
The villages date from at least the 14th century, when Near Sawrey was known as 'Sourer', becoming 'Narr Sawrey' by the 17th century (suggesting that Far Sawrey must have been in existence by this time). Near Sawrey contains a pub, while Far Sawrey has a hotel, pub and village shop. The village shop ceased to function as a post office about 2003.

Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, is famous for the association with Beatrix Potter. She lived here, first arriving at age 30 in 1896. A number of sites in the villages were used in her books such as The Tale of Tom Kitten, The Fairy Caravan and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.

View over Esthwaite Water towards Coniston Old Man.

Hawkshead is an ancient township that has flourished since Norse times, belonging to Furness Abbey until the 12th Century. The monks owned Hawkshead Hall, just outside the village, of which the National Trust owned Hawkshead Courthouse is all that remains. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1537, Hawkshead grew as a market town, with many buildings dating from the 17th Century.

The village has maintained it's historical appearance.

This is not a real castle but a private house built in in the Gothic Revival Style in 1840. It was built for Dr Dawson, a retired Liverpool surgeon, and is now owned by the National Trust. The house was built using his wife's inheritance from a gin fortune. Apparently she took one look at the house when it was finished, and refused to live in it. The architect, H.P. Horner, drank himself to death

The beauty of this cycle route is the 4 mile stretch along the side of Lake Windermere.

In 1774 an unusual circular Belle Isle House was erected on the island, which was sold (along with the island) to the wealthy Curwen family who renamed the island after their daughter, Isabella.Iit was then sold on to Isabella Curwen by here family in 1781 for £1,720 and was perminantly renamed after her. The descendants of Isabella and her husband John Christian Curwen lived on the island until 1993.
Stranglely it is called 'Bell Island' not 'Isabella Island' because of use of the shortened form of Isabella- Bella, which lost the 'a' to become 'Bell', spelt 'Belle' by the Ordnance Survey map of 1925 over the years. It was known locally as the Great Island or Long Holme and formerly known as Longholm, befor it's renaming in 1774.
In 1996, Belle Isle House suffered serious damage following a large fire. However, it was repaired and is once again a place of residence