October in the Lakes:

Halloween, Bonfires & Cosy Nights at The Westbourne

October is when things start to get a little bit spooky in the Lake District. The days get shorter, the evenings get darker, the autumn colours appear on the fells and, before you know it, Halloween is just around the corner.
Then comes Bonfire Night, with crackling fires, fireworks lighting up the sky and that unmistakable smell of woodsmoke in the air.

So if you’re looking for an excuse for an autumn getaway, October and early November are looking pretty tempting from where we’re sitting!

Halloween in the Lake District

Let’s start with Halloween🎃.

The Lake District is already pretty good at creating an atmospheric backdrop for Halloween. Misty mountains, dark lakes, ancient woods and winding country lanes all feel just a little more mysterious once the evenings draw in.

And you don’t need to dress up as a vampire and disappear into the fells to enjoy it. Bowness and the surrounding area often have Halloween-themed events and activities, while local attractions get into the spirit of things with spooky goings-on, fancy dress and family-friendly fun.

It’s also a great time simply to explore during the day before heading back into Bowness for dinner and a few drinks. Although we’d probably recommend getting back before it gets too dark. Just in case…

A spooky evening in Bowness

One of the best things about an autumn break is that you can make a whole evening of it.

Head out for dinner, enjoy a drink in one of Bowness’s pubs or bars and soak up the Halloween atmosphere.

And after a day exploring the Lakes, there’s something rather appealing about returning to a warm, comfortable room while the weather does whatever it wants outside.

Rain rattling against the windows? Perfect.

Wind howling around the building? Even better.

You can tell yourself it’s atmospheric rather than slightly worrying.

Then it’s Bonfire Night

🎆And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more exciting, Bonfire Night arrives.

The 5th of November brings one of our favourite autumn traditions — bonfires, fireworks and the unmistakable sound of everyone saying “That was a good one!” …after every single firework.

There are usually Bonfire Night events taking place around the Lake District, with local communities putting on their own displays. It’s worth checking what’s happening locally before your visit, as dates and arrangements can vary from year to year.

And if you’ve never experienced a Lake District bonfire night before, it’s well worth doing. There’s something particularly magical about watching fireworks explode above the dark outline of the fells.

Autumn walks by day, fires by night

🍂Of course, you can’t come to the Lakes without getting out and enjoying the countryside.

October and early November can be fantastic for walking. The autumn colours are beautiful, the summer crowds have eased and there’s often a wonderfully crisp feeling in the air.

You don’t even need to plan a huge fell walk. There are plenty of shorter routes around Windermere and Bowness that make for a lovely few hours outdoors. Check out some of our other blogs, or ask us during check in for some ideas.

Then it’s back to Bowness for a well-earned drink, something delicious to eat and a chance to warm up.
That’s pretty much our idea of a perfect autumn day.

Make The Westbourne your autumn base

If you’re planning a Halloween break, a Bonfire Night getaway or simply fancy a few days in the Lakes while the countryside is looking its autumnal best, we’d love to welcome you to The Westbourne.

We’re right in Bowness-on-Windermere, with free on site parking, a bus stop at the end of the road and a few minutes stroll to the lake, making it easy to get out and explore during the day and enjoy everything Bowness and the surrounding area has to offer.

And after all that walking, exploring, Halloween-ing and firework-watching, you can look forward to one of the most important parts of your stay… Breakfast.

Because no matter how impressive the fireworks were the night before, we’re pretty confident our breakfast will still be the highlight of your morning.

See you in the Lakes?