Ambleside itself is small and best handled on foot. Waterhead is a 15-minute walk downhill, while Stock Ghyll, Bridge House, and the Armitt Museum are all within the town.
For the wider area, use the regular Lake District buses along the Windermere-Grasmere-Keswick corridor, lake steamers from Waterhead, or your boots. Many of the best routes start directly from the centre, which is the main reason to base yourself here.