Day 1 – Saturday 11th May 2024
As I clicked ‘book’ for my first solo trip, a mixture of excitement and doubt washed over me. I wasn’t even sure I’d go through with it. Yet, here I was a week later, after a stressful day of travelling, ready to explore an unfamiliar place on my own.
It was around 2 p.m when I left the guest house, locking my bedroom door and tucking the key safely into my rucksack. As I walked down Thornbarrow Road, I turned back to look at the house, and took a picture, my home for the next few days. It was on a quiet street, and I felt safe here; the house and neighbourhood had a welcoming feel.
If you’re not familiar, Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere are two separate towns about a mile apart, and where I was staying was around halfway between the two. Bowness offers direct access to Lake Windermere itself, so that’s where I decided to go first. I love being near water – whether its a river, a lake, or the sea. I find a sense of calm and tranquility in it.
I had directions ready on my phone using Google maps, though the route seemed straightforward: I just needed to turn left out of Thornbarrow Road and then take a straight walk down Lake Road to reach the town.
The weather was beautiful; the sky was blue, and it must have been around 20°C. As I walked, I took in the surroundings. The area felt open and welcoming – people smiled as they passed by, and guest houses were everywhere I looked; I passed so many! It seemed like this was a very popular spot for tourists. I felt a bit nervous heading toward the town, visibly a tourist myself with my rucksack and walking boots on. Would it seem strange to others that I was here on my own?
I soon arrived in the town, walking past independent shops, small supermarkets, and a few outdoor gear and clothing stores. As I ventured further in, I noticed it was bustling with little pubs and restaurants on every corner, along with fish and chips shops that you could smell long before you saw them. There were also plenty of gift shops and confectionery stores, selling all the things you might want to take home for a loved one or as souvenirs from your trip.
There were so many people here. Usually this would make me feel nervous and out of place. Have you ever been somewhere so packed or crowded that it creates a stuffy vibe, making the experience feel less enjoyable – almost ‘too touristy’? Well, It didn’t feel that way here, even though the majority of people were likely on holiday. There was a buzz about the place. The atmosphere was fun and friendly, and I really liked it. I felt ‘at home’. Nobody seemed bothered by the fact that I was there by myself as I walked through the town, they were all wrapped up in their own day, taking in the sights and enjoying their holidays.
I walked down a hill and around a corner, and suddenly, the lake came into view. I took a sharp breath and smiled to myself – it was beautiful! There were moored boats along the waters edge, small rowing boats and larger boats offering tours of the lake. In the distance, mountain ranges towered above the water, creating a stunning backdrop. I took my phone out and snapped a few photos. And at this moment I suddenly wasn’t sure what to do with myself.
I felt a bit overwhelmed. Should I look in the shops, keep walking along the lakes edge, or grab something to eat? I noticed the large boards near the booths selling tickets for the boat tours. That could be a nice way to start my adventure, a tour of the lake! I walked towards one of the booths to queue up, then hesitated and walked away. Asking for a ticket for just one person felt ridiculous; what would they think of me? I sat down on a bench, and felt my face flush and a tightness forming in my chest. Anxiety was rearing its ugly head. Suddenly I felt acutely aware of my solitude; everyone else was queuing in groups and couples, and I couldn’t see anyone else alone.
I sat for a few minutes, scrolling aimlessly on my phone, until I thought, this is stupid. The only thing standing in my way is me – nothing and no one else. I just need to do it. I’d made it all the way here, and I was worried about how it would look to go on a boat by myself. I just need to do it, I repeated over and over in my head.
I walked up to the booth, which now had no queue; the next boat was about to leave, and people were lining up to board. My mouth felt dry, and I realised how far out of my comfort zone I was in that moment. I hadn’t even thought to look at the times and tour information on the boards, so I asked the lady at the booth for details.
There were 3 different types of tours: a short one that just went round the center of the lake, one that went to Ambleside and back, and a longer one that circled the entire lake- but that one wasn’t running, so, I decided on the smallest tour.
“Just one”? the lady repeated after me, and I nodded, immediately feeling embarrassed. In hindsight, I knew she was just confirming she had heard me correctly so I’d pay for the right quantity. After paying for my ticket, I joined the queue. I breathed a sigh of relief, that wasn’t actually so bad, what was I worried about??
I boarded the boat and and found a seat up top, hoping to get a good view. The 40-minute tour took us around the small islands scattered across the lake, and I loved every minute of it. I snapped plenty of pictures and videos, the scenery was breathtaking. When the tour ended and I stepped off the boat, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I was glad I had done it.
I walked back up into the town and made my way to Costa Coffee – a familiar spot I probably visit a bit too often back home! I ordered an iced coffee, and took a seat at one of the tables outside. I put my sunglasses on and settled in for a bit of people-watching. It gave me some time to reflect too. I sat there for about half an hour, sipping my drink and soaking it all in. I thought about how I felt the day I booked this trip, or even earlier when it was just a fleeting idea I never thought would actually happen. Yet here I was.
Once I finished my coffee, I took a quick wander around parts of the town I hadn’t explored yet. Then began the mile walk to Windermere. While at Costa, I had found some information on a walk to the Orrest Head viewpoint- a hill standing 238m (784 feet) above sea level, and famously the first fell Alfred Wainwright climbed. The trail typically starts in Windermere, near the train station, so I navigated back to Lake Road, and walked until I reached the town. I found the start of the walk easily enough; there was a large signpost labeled ORREST HEAD with information indicating it would take about 30 minutes to reach the top. It was around half past five, so I figured I had just enough time to complete the walk, enjoy the view, and still grab something for tea before heading back to my room before dark.
I started along the route, which was well signposted and easy to follow. When I reached the top, I was amazed by the incredible views stretching out for miles. On one side, Lake Windermere lay in perfect view, while on the other, there were mountain ranges and rolling hills as far as I could see. I found a spot on a bench to sit and take it all in for a few minutes before I took some pictures and videos. I felt as though I wanted to share this moment with someone, so I face-timed my boyfriend to show him the view and catch him up on my day so far!
A while later, I left Orrest Head, walked back down into town, and started thinking about what to have for tea. Like Bowness, Windermere was packed with restaurants and food spots, and I thought it would be a nice treat to have a meal out at the end of my first day. But I just couldn’t bring myself to go in and ask for a table anywhere – I felt a bit silly. I noticed so many people at tables inside and outside, laughing and chatting in groups and It made me feel a little overwhelmed. I didn’t want to end the day on a negative note; I’d had such a good day despite a few challenges, so I quickly decided to just pop into Sainsbury’s and pick up some snacky bits.
I headed back to the guest house with my shopping. After a shower, I changed into my comfy pyjamas, got my tea ready, and sent a quick update to my boyfriend. Then, I put the TV on and tucked in – I was starving!
Later, I had a look through a booklet I found in the room, full of local walks. One hike caught my eye that was close by, it led to another hill, Brant Fell. I’ll do that first thing tomorrow, I thought. I didn’t dig too deep into the details – I figured I’d just follow the directions in the booklet, since they seemed easy enough.
In conclusion, my first day went well. I managed to overcome the small struggles and moments of feeling overwhelmed, handling each situation as best as I could. I felt proud of myself for making it this far and grateful for such an amazing first day. The Lake District was beautiful, and I’d only seen a small corner of it, a taste of what’s yet to come. As for the walk the next morning, well let’s just say it was a bit of a disaster, and I ended up very lost..! But I’ll save that story for the next post!
If you’ve been inspired by my journey and are thinking about starting your own solo adventures, my ebook, Alone But Never Lonely: A Beginner’s Guide to Solo Adventures, is here to help. It’s packed with tips and insights to guide you on your path to self-discovery. To make your planning even easier, check out my Trip Planners and Solo Day Out Planner – designed to help you create unforgettable solo experiences. You can access the shop easily through the menu at the top of the page!”
