A Rainy Afternoon in Ambleside: Garden Centre Treasures and a Cosy Lakeside Pub

Rain in the Lake District? There’s a surprise. But before anyone starts staring mournfully out of the window, there’s a lovely afternoon waiting in Ambleside: an unhurried browse around Hayes Garden Centre, followed by good food and a cosy welcome at The Wateredge Inn.

There will be plants. There may be shopping bags. There will almost certainly be a dog falling asleep while the humans discuss whether they have room for pudding.

Grab the umbrella. This is worth going out for.

A little shopping adventure at Hayes

Hayes Garden Centre is the sort of place where “we’ll just have a quick look” is an impressively optimistic opening statement.

Houseplants, gifts, seasonal homeware, garden furniture and gardening temptations give you plenty to investigate. One minute you’re admiring a pot; the next you’re mentally rearranging the living room to accommodate a plant that appears to need its own postcode.

It’s a substantial garden centre, with enough choice to make browsing an enjoyable part of the afternoon. Take your time. Compare things. Discover something you didn’t know you needed approximately thirty seconds ago.

Now part of British Garden Centres, Hayes has more than 200 years of history on this Ambleside site. There’s something pleasing about spending a rainy afternoon somewhere that has been helping people make ambitious gardening decisions for generations.

Dogs are welcome inside while you browse, so your shopping assistant can come along too. Their contribution may consist mainly of sniffing, accepting admiration and looking deeply concerned whenever you stop moving, but every team member brings different skills.

When the rain is really coming down, make the most of the indoor departments. There’s plenty of pleasure in a slow wander through gifts, homeware and houseplants while the weather gets on with watering everything outside.

Then, just as everyone starts wondering what’s for dinner, it’s time for the next lovely part.

Next stop: a pub beside Windermere

From Hayes on Lake Road, continue towards Waterhead and The Wateredge Inn, where the afternoon swaps shopping temptations for a lakeside pub and something delicious to eat.

And what a setting for it.

The Wateredge sits right on the shore of Windermere. Even when the clouds are hanging low and the lake is looking wonderfully moody, arriving here feels like a treat. The Lake District does dramatic weather exceptionally well; it’s particularly enjoyable when the next item on your agenda is getting comfortably indoors.

Part of The Inn Collection Group, the inn combines a traditional pub atmosphere with food served throughout the day. When it’s chilly, there’s a fire to add to the appeal, and the menu brings the welcome prospect of hearty pub favourites after your shopping expedition.

This is where you put the bags down, settle into your seat and allow the afternoon to stretch out a little.

A late lunch or an early evening meal both sound excellent. There’s no summit to reach and no packed itinerary breathing down your neck. Your most pressing decision can be what to order.

The dog gets a proper welcome too

Dogs can join you inside the designated pub and restaurant areas, with water bowls, treats and Sir Woofchester’s options available.

Which means that, after patiently accompanying the humans around a building full of things they weren’t allowed to buy, the dog finally discovers a menu with some personal relevance.

Expect a sudden improvement in concentration.

Once everyone has settled, this is the loveliest part of the afternoon: food on the way, conversation flowing and the dog relaxing beside you. Outside, Windermere can carry on looking magnificent beneath its clouds. Inside, there’s every reason to stay for another course.

A little rain, a very good afternoon

You don’t need sunshine to enjoy Ambleside. Sometimes a garden centre wander and a lakeside pub are exactly what the day calls for.

There’s the fun of finding something lovely at Hayes, the pleasure of arriving at The Wateredge with an appetite, and that wonderfully contented feeling of having gone out and made something of a grey afternoon.

You may return with a new houseplant. You may return with several.

The dog will return convinced they organised an excellent outing.

And, honestly, everyone deserves a little credit.