Honouring the Legacy of Bluebird K7 at Windermere Manor Hotel
As part of the celebrations, we were delighted to host two distinguished car groups whose classic and high‑performance vehicles added a striking presence to the hotel grounds.
In the first half of the week, we welcomed Classic Grand Touring during their Bluebird Legacy Tour.
Later in the week, members of the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers joined us for their stay.
Both groups enjoyed a private post‑dinner presentation from Don Wales, nephew of Donald Campbell, who shared captivating stories about his uncle’s world‑record attempts and enduring legacy.
We extend our thanks to The Ruskin Museum for their extraordinary work in bringing Bluebird back to Coniston Water.
The two K7 pilots for the week were Flt Lt David John Gibbs and Dave Warby, whose dedication helped make the festival such a memorable occasion.
Bluebird K7 is an iconic part of Lake District history, forever linked with Donald Campbell CBE’s record breaking world water‑speed record which he broke no less than four times on Coniston Water. Its story captures the region’s spirit of adventure, engineering brilliance, and human determination.
Windermere Manor Hotel was proud to support the Bluebird K7 - The Festival, a celebration honouring the legacy of Donald Campbell. Throughout the week, the festival brought enthusiasts, heritage supporters, and motoring communities together to mark this iconic chapter of Lake District history.