Location

From the South by Road

  • Leave the M6 motorway at Junction 36 and take the first exit from the roundabout onto the A590, signposted ‘Windermere’. This becomes the A591, but follow it all the way through Windermere to Ambleside.
  • About half a mile after passing the ‘Ambleside’ town sign, you will arrive at Waterhead traffic lights. Branch left (ferries & boat quays on the left) and keep following the signs to Grasmere & Keswick all the way through Ambleside town centre.
  • With shops on both sides, take the left hand lane of this one way main street through the town and fork left at the top through the pelican crossing traffic lights. At the mini roundabout, turn sharp right up the steep hill signposted ‘Kirkstone 3’.
  • Follow this steep road up the hill. Just past The Golden Rule pub, it turns sharp left onto Kirkstone Road. After c.200 metres, the road passes a square towered church on the right with tall conifer trees growing around it.
  • Immediately after this church, take the next sharp right, which is the top of Fair View Road.
  • Drive down Fair View Road until you see the gateway on the right, signed ‘How Head Barn’. Drive in and park to the left, nose to the chimney pots. If you’re using the what3words app, the location is language.prepare.perfumes

From the North by Road

  • Leave the M6 motorway at Junction 40. Take the fourth exit onto the A66 signposted Keswick. After 19 miles, turn off left onto the B5322, signposted Thirlmere 6.
  • After four miles turn left onto the A591 and follow this south for 11 miles, all the way to Ambleside.
  • Shortly after entering Ambleside, turn left at the mini roundabout, up the steep hill called Smithy Brow and signposted ‘Kirkstone 3’.
  • Follow this steep road up the hill. Just past The Golden Rule pub, it turns sharp left onto Kirkstone Road. After c.200 metres, the road passes a square towered church on the right with tall conifer trees growing around it.
  • Immediately after the church, take the next sharp right, which is the top of Fair View Road.
  • Drive down Fair View Road until you see the gateway on the right, signed ‘How Head Barn’. Drive in and park to the left, nose to the chimney pots. If you’re using the what3words app, the location is language.prepare.perfumes

By Train

Heading north or south on the West Coast Main Line, alight at ‘Oxenholme The Lake District’. Contact National Rail Enquiries for times and fares.

Change onto the adjacent waiting train to Windermere, where the train will terminate. When boarding, please make sure this train is going towards Windermere, not the opposite direction!

Outside Windermere station, take bus No. 505, 555, 599 or 800 for the five miles north to Ambleside and alight at the Kelsick Road bus stand in the centre of town. If you are unsure where to get off, ask the driver.

If you let us know what time you will be arriving in Windermere, and again when you are actually on the bus, we can meet you on arrival in Ambleside and guide you on foot up to How Head Barn. It’s only a 10 minute walk, but the last part is up a very steep hill!

Alternatively, take a taxi from Windermere railway station to How Head Barn. This can cost between £12.00 and £17.00. However, we offer a pick up and / or return service ourselves to coincide with the arrival or departure of your train, for which we charge £10 each way, payable at the beginning of each journey.

By Coach

National Express run coaches from most UK cities which stop in Ambleside on their way north to Keswick. The journey from London for example, whilst cheap, takes 8 hours – the train from London takes just over 3 hours.

By Air

There are several direct trains each day from Manchester Airport, all the way to Windermere railway station (and vice versa).