Claife Viewing Station is a stunning place to walk on a beautiful sunny day in the Lake District. With fabulous panoramic views over Windermere, surrounded by peaceful woodlands and looking across to the hustle and bustle of Bowness, this little-known historical building is situated on the shores of Windermere in Far Sawrey. For this reason, the Claife Viewing Station walk is one of my favourite things to do near Windermere on a sunny day. There’s also a unique and fun way to reach it, which I’ll tell you about in a moment!
Claife Viewing Station looks like an ancient ruin, a building that could once have been a castle protecting the shores of Windermere. But did you know that it was actually built in the 18th century as a viewing station for early tourists to the Lake District? During the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, wealthy travellers who were unable to travel abroad began visiting the Lakes instead. In its heyday, Claife Viewing Station was surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and even hosted lavish dinner dances for noble society and romantic English poets. It’s completely free to enter, and the views are well worth the trip from Bowness to the other side of the water.
When is the best time to visit Claife Viewing Station?
What I love most about Claife Viewing Station is its stunning stained glass windows, creating the perfect frame for some beautiful holiday photos. I’ve seen proposals happen up here, and it’s not hard to see why! It’s the perfect place to take in the views of Windermere, all whilst capturing those special holiday memories. For this reason I recommend visiting on a sunny day, where the colours of the stained glass really come alive in the sunlight. As an added bonus, on a clear day, the views over the lake and Lakeland mountains in the distance are spectacular. I’ve visited on a sunny day in February, and it’s beautiful , but Autumn for me is my favourite time due to the glorious gold and red-brown leaves of the Ash Landing woodlands surrounding the viewing station.
My favourite places to stay nearby:
Claife Viewing Station Cafe (Joey’s)
Whilst you’re visiting Claife Viewing Station, why not also stop at the nearby Joey’s Café? Joey’s Café serves fresh coffee, plant-based sandwiches, pastries and soups. On a dry day, it also has a fabulous outdoor seating area where you can soak in the surrounding woodland views and admire the glorious traditional Lake District building.
The Best Way to get to Claife Viewing Station
My favourite and easiest way to reach the viewing point is by cable ferry from Ferry Nab in Bowness. It’s a ferry on a cable that crosses the lake, taking around 5-10 minutes each way. As it’s on a cable, the crossing is smooth and gentle, with no rocking waves!
It’s very cost-effective too. It costs £1.50 one way per person on foot, £2.70 if you’re on a bicycle, and you can even cross with your car. Most vehicles cost £8. Payments are made by card. The cable ferry runs from 6.50am Monday to Saturday or 8.50am on Sundays, with the last crossings at 9.50pm in summer or 8.50pm in winter. For more information, click here.
Of course, you can drive if you prefer, and the nearest car park is Ash Landing Car Park.
Postcode: LA22 0LP
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Claife Viewing Station Walk
When you disembark from the ferry at Far Sawrey, follow the road around (there’s only one, the B5285) and turn right when you see the sign for Joey’s Café.
Follow the road around and Joey’s Café will be on your left. Continue along the well-laid path, and you’ll soon arrive at Claife Viewing Station.
To get back, you can either return the way you came or follow the path on the other side through picturesque Ash Landing Wood. This will lead you to Ash Landing Car Park. From here, turn left onto the road and walk carefully back towards the ferry jetty. The walk and time at the viewing station should take around 30 minutes.
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