Bike Route: Ambleside to Kendal 15mi 800ft of climb
Bike Route: Kendal to Levens Day Loop 16mi 900ft of climb
Accommodation: Secluded Cottage (Airbnb); host Sara. One-bedroom cottage with fully equipped kitchen, wifi, no washer.
Dinner: Supplies from a farm shop, eaten in our cottage
The route from Ambleside to Kendal was mostly along very busy A and B roads. We had hoped for some nice views around Lake Windermere, but we had just one opportunity to stop and look. We had been warned of traffic in the Lake District, and this was apparently what everyone had in mind. But the weather was nice and the mileage was low, and we made it to Kendal easily in a few hours.
Our cottage was down a quiet lane behind a church on the road to the castle. It was ready when we arrived a little after noon. We dropped off our packs and grabbed cold water, and headed right back out for a day loop to Levens, to tour the manor house and gardens there.
The route to Levens was perfect. We traveled about four miles on a gravel trail, then another four on small country roads, meeting up with quite a few other cyclists. A couple miles before Levens, we passed a farm shop with a cafe, and decided to return on the way back and buy supper supplies.
As we pulled into the drive at Levens Hall, we were both thinking it looked really familiar. When we turned the corner at the ticket booth, we were both thinking how funny it was that this entrance was so similar to one we had stopped at a couple of weeks ago, on our way from Halton to Haverthwaite. Then it dawned on us: this was the same hall! We had planned to have lunch at the on-site restaurant that day, and maybe tour the hall, but we weren't really in the mood so we ended up going on to the town of Levens and having a light lunch at a little shop there.
We knew we were coming back very close to the same route, but for some reason just hadn't made the full connection. We think maybe we are getting a little road weary. Anyway, this day, we were in the mood for a tour of the hall, and we really enjoyed it.
On the way back to Kendal, we did stop at the farm shop, and bought all kinds of bread, cake, meat, cheese, yogurt, and other good things for supper and breakfast.
After dinner, we walked up the hill to the Kendal castle ruin, watched a mother and daughter launch kites, and strolled back down the hill.
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| Windermere was another busy tourist town. |
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| The views around Lake Windermere were pretty. We were able to find just one spot to pull off the busy road and look back for a photo. |
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| The gardens at Levens Hall were formal yet whimsical. The gardeners clearly had their own style and sense of design. |
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| The ruins of Kendal Castle look out over the town from atop a broad hill. |
