Looking for easy walks in the south of the Lake District? This one-mile, relatively flat walk is a lovely leisurely option which connects the village of Newby Bridge to Lakeside, the southern terminus for boat trips on Windermere.
This walk is also a fantastic addition to a trip on the Haverthwaite and Lakeside Steam Train which stops at Newby Bridge.
The first section of the West Windermere Way opened in spring 2023 and aims to provide more accessibility to the western shoreline of Windermere. The path is suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and is one of the many designated ‘Miles Without Stiles‘ accessible walking routes across the Lake District. This first section connects Newby Bridge with the YMCA along a 3.5-mile route.
On our return trip on the Havethwaite Steam Train, we jumped off at Newby Bridge instead of riding back to Lakeside. We opted to explore the first part of the route, a 1-mile section that connects Newby Bridge with Lakeside.
The station is a short walk from the village of Newby Bridge, on the banks of the River Leven, which feeds into Windermere. Turning left out of the station, we walked along the quiet road which runs alongside the river until we reached the Swan Hotel, where we continued to head west to pick up a brand new footpath.
After leaving the marina area of Newby Bridge behind, the new footpath path travels a short distance alongside the Haverthwaite steam train track and over one of the brand new bridges with L&H on (which stand for Lakeside and Haverthwaite). There are plenty of signposts and information boards that give a taste of the history and wildlife of the area.
The tarmacked, slightly undulating path continues through wide open green spaces with majestic oak trees and views of the nearby hill, Gummer’s How. There are a few benches on this section of the walk to stop and admire the view – this would also be an excellent spot for a picnic in summer.
At this point, you can opt to head inland west towards Finsthwaite and up a hilly path to High Dam.
We continued on towards Lakeside, where the path meets the railway line again. Note how the brand new railings have been made deliberately rusting to blend in with the existing railway!
The path ends at the car park for Lakeside, with the lovely old railway signal box still intact on the shores of Windermere.
From here, you can choose to walk back to Newby Bridge or continue along the path towards the YMCA.
You could also visit the Lakeside Aquarium, have a spot of lunch at the Lakeside Hotel or continue on a car free adventure by hopping on the Windermere boats that go to Bowness and Ambleside.
Looking for more short walk ideas in the Lake District? Check out these posts:
10 of the Best Small Hills to Climb in the Lake District
Tiny Walks in the Lake District: Ambleside Bridge House to Low Sweden Bridge
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