AMBLESIDE, urban district of Westmorland, England, a mile from the head of Lake Windermere. Population (1931) It is beautifully situated among the bare hills surrounding the richly wooded valley of the Rothay. The hills are Wansfell on the east, Loughrigg Fell on the west, and Rydal Fell and the ridge below Snarker Pike (2,096ft.) to the north. At the head of Wind ermere is Waterhead, the landing-stage of Ambleside, which is served by the lake steamers of the L.M.S.R. The chief roads cen tring in Ambleside are from Windermere, Ullswater, Keswick, the Brathay valley and the Langdales to the west. There are slate quarries in the neighbourhood.
Close by the lakeside the outlines of a Roman fort, the name of which is not known, are still visible. It appears to have guarded a route over the hills by Hardknott and Wrynose pass to Raven glass on the coast of Cumberland.