The ‘charming’ UK town that’s home to castles, waterfalls and England’s best restaurant
A TOWN in the UK has been praised by tourists for its range of attractions – despite there being barely any locals.
With a population not much bigger than 2,500, Ambleside could easily be missed out by tourists.
Buut there are plenty of reasons for them to visit, including England‘s best restaurant.
At the AA‘s 2023 Hospitality Awards, the Lake District dining room was named England’s Restaurant of the Year and got a 3 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence.
The AA said of the establishment: “This charming little basement restaurant is one of the Lake District’s dining destinations.
“Whitewashed walls and dark beams make for a cosy, intimate feel, and service is efficiently informal, with dishes explained as they arrive on the table.
“You can expect plenty of focus on the best of Cumbrian produce, and the style is modern, with tasting menus featuring lots of small dishes, creatively presented.”
Ambleside’s dining options may be fancy, but its outdoors are rugged and adventurous.
Included in that are the two waterfalls, Stock Ghyll Force and Rydal Falls.
The former is just a short walk from the town centre, where it drops 70ft into a plunge pool before continuing on its journey downstream into Lake Windermere.
The lake is the largest in England and is surrounded by mountain peaks and villages, with Ambleside sitting to the north.
One visitor described Stock Ghyll Force as “Absolutely awe inspiring!” on TripAdvisor.
Meanwhile, its more relaxed counterpart Rydal Falls can be found close to the former home of poet William Wordsworth, who even penned a poem about it, titled ‘An Evening Walk’.
Opposite the falls is ‘the Grot’ – a one-room building, constructed specifically for the purposes of looking at the feature by Sir Daniel Fleming in 1668.
The falls are far from the only water feature worth exploring, with tours of the nearby Rydal Cave also high on the list of things to do in Ambleside.
The walk is a 4.5-mile loop that can begin and end at the Rydal Cave car park for those who wish to explore the cavern.
The walk takes visitors through some beautiful scenery, according to Lakeland Retreats.
One previous visitor described it as “A truly beautiful find,” adding: The walk to the cave is lovely and gives you time to clear your mind.
Once you reach the cave I was amazed by the beauty of it.”
For those who aren’t so keen on getting wet, the likes of Wray Castle offer dry options.
The National Trust-owned gothic revival castle sits on the shores of Lake Windermere and has turrets, towers, informal grounds and miles of lakeshore paths.
The Trust say it offers church-like interiors and panoramic Lake District views.
It also played an important part in UK literary history, as it’s where Beatrix Potter holidayed in the Lakes for the first time as a child.
While she was there, she met Hardwick Rawnsley, a published author who helped preserve the castle.
After years of friendship and mentoring, he went on to help her publish her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Elsewhere, the Galava Roman Fort offers a further, albeit less complete, example of a fortified structure.
It was built in the late first century AD and guarded the crossing of the River Rothay on the Roman road from Manchester to Carlisle.
A UK city has recently been praised for having the friendliest people in the country.
And an amazing train route offers some of the best views in the UK.