Still at Newby Bridge, just behind the Lakeside Station, you will see the Aquarium of the Lakes. Given that the whole area is full of lakes and rivers it is probably a good idea to find out a bit more about what is in them and what you are likely to see when you peer into their depths.
Here at Lakeside you can discover the secret world of the Lakes at Britain's biggest freshwater aquarium. Set on the shore of lake Windermere, the award-winning Aquarium of the Lakes takes you on an amazing voyage of discovery.
From the rushing waters of the mountain top, the aquarium follows the amazing voyage of a Lakeland river as it winds its way through the Lake District to its final destination in the sea.
Find out what life is like both above and below the waterline for the hundreds of different creatures that call this dramatic landscape home.
Visit an otter's holt and the mysterious realm of the river at night. Then trace its meandering journey through towns and villages before it flows into Windermere, England's largest lake.
Explore the ever-changing environment of Leven estuary, the harsh rockpool world and come face to face with the sharks and rays of Morecambe Bay.
Over 30 spectacular, naturally themed habitats bring the natural history of the Lake District vividly to life. Enjoy close encounters with hundreds of incredible creatures including trout, eels, pike, perch, crabs, rays and many more.
Come face to face with playful otters in their riverbank home, discover the mysterious life of a river after dark and take a closer look at Lakeland life in AquaQuest's educational activity centre.
Then enjoy the ultimate underwater thrill as you stroll along a recreated section of Windermere's lake?bed surrounded by menacing sturgeon, gigantic carp and the amazing diving ducks.
See how many different creatures you can spot in the Seashore Discovery Zone before meeting the aquarium's most popular residents ? inquisitive rays and British sharks in the Morecambe Bay display.
It is often said that it is impossible to improve on nature, but Tarn Hows is probably an exception to this rule because it is really a man-made attraction. At the turn of the century all that was here was a large pond called Low Tarn, and a number of small pools in a wet and boggy hollow. Then the land owner dammed the stream at the south end and flooded the valley. Tarn Hows - the name means tarn hills - is the name of the cottage on the southern hillside near to Yewdale, and it gave its name to the newly created lake. The adjacent woodlands have large stands of mature spruce and larch, which are both imported species, so apart from the hills virtually everything here is unnatural or alien; but who cares? - it is all so very beautiful.
Tarn Hows is near to Ambleside, and more or less equidistant from Coniston and Hawkshead, and with more than a million visitors every year there are some problems. This is not the best place to come for solitude, yet it is surprisingly easy to get away from the hordes because most visitors tend to stay by the shoreline. The area has a maze of paths, and there are many attractive walks in and around the surrounding countryside.
Go clockwise round the tarn to the western side and, just over the footbridge, strike off up the hillside to the summit of Tom Heights. The way is mainly on sheep tracks, it is steep in places and craggy, but quite safe. There is hardly ever anyone up here and the views are simply superb. A great arc of mountains forms the background, with Coniston Old Man dominant in the west - "man" is a northern name for a cairn. The view ranges round past the Langdales to Fairfield and Helvellyn in the north, and the High Street range to the east. There is a lot of reward here for very little effort.
If ever there was a competition for the most popular Lakeland beauty spot Tarn Hows would probably be the winner. It is easy to see why, and this pretty tarn, enclosed by low and craggy hills, and surrounded by mixed woodland, meadow and scrub, encapsulates all that is so attractive about the Lakes.