Windermere islands

There are 18 islands on Windermere. Many are called ‘holme’ after the local word for ‘island’, which originates from the old Norse language.

Visiting the islands

• You can hire a boat from Bowness and row or sail yourself around the central islands. Remember Belle Isle is private.
• The cruise boats on Windermere offer ‘Round the Lakes’ cruises.
• The car-passenger ferry passes many of the central islands. Foot passengers can look southwards down the lake.

Lady Holme

• Also known as St. Mary Holme
• Named after the chapel that used to exist on the island

Belle Isle (privately owned)

• Largest island on the lake, lies across Bowness Bay in the centre of Windermere
• One mile long. Used to be known as the Great Island.
• It is rumoured that the Roman commander at Ambleside, four miles away, built a villa here as a pleasure house.
• During the Civil War it was a Royalist stronghold of the local Philipson family.
• The unusual circular house was started in 1774. Wordsworth was deeply unimpressed, describing the house as looking like a tea canister in a shop window.
• Seven years later the island was bought on behalf of the heiress Isabella Curwen by her cousin John Christian, who later became her husband.
• Formerly known as Long Holme, the island was renamed by John Christian in honour of his new wife.
• The island is privately owned, so please do not attempt to land on it.

Hen Holme

Used as a starting point for yacht races in the summer

Crow Holme

Once used to kennel the local hounds of the Windermere Harriers

The Lilies

• Named after the wild flowers that once grew there
• In the 18th century tourists rowed there to pick the flowers

Silver Holme

Was the inspiration for Cormorant Island in Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” books.