West Windermere Way: Lakeside to Newby Bridge

The West Windermere Way is an accessible, mainly off road trail from Newby Bridge to Lakeside YMCA. Parts of the trail are accessible for wheelchairs, and are perfect for pushchairs too. From one end to the other the whole trail is 8km.

The west shore of Lake Windermere is generally quieter and less hectic than the east shore (although it’s still very popular and definitely not super quiet!) and is always worth an explore.

We tried out the section between Lakeside Pier and Newby Bridge, which is also a Miles without Stiles route. Here’s how we did it.

Start Point

We chose to start our walk at Lakeside, and walk to Newby Bridge and back. We drove this time, and the car park is the one for the Lakes Aquarium and the Lakeside to Haverthwaite Railway. The car park costs £3 for 2 hours (this was plenty of time for us) or £5 for all day, cash only.

You can also get to Lakeside on a Windermere Lake Cruise from all different points on Lake Windermere, or on the steam train from Haverthwaite.

The Lakeside to Newby Bridge Walk

1. Arrive at Lakeside Pier. Walk behind the Lakes Aquarium and Lakeside Train Station, in the same direction as the train track. You will cross a big car park, and head towards a gate.

2. Go through the gate, and follow the path as it follows alongside the train track. The railings here on the left are actually really new, but had to be made to look old and rusty to fit in with the environment! The path will take you under a bridge, and past some lovely houses on your right.

If you’re really lucky, the steam train might pass you as you walk along this bit! We weren’t so lucky, although we did see it when we got to Newby Bridge.

3. Keep following this flat path. You will eventually come to a turning, where the path turns into a decked walkway over a boggy section of land. Follow this path.

4. At the turning, make the most of the information boards to learn all about the local area. You can also see across the River Leven to the fells beyond from here.

5. Once you are across the walkway, the path restarts and you will go through a gate. here you will see a sign showing the way to continue to Newby Bridge (although it is very obvious, the quality of the path is so good).

6. Continue to follow the path as it leads through the fields alongside the River Leven. There are plenty of benches for stopping along the way if you need to.

I hope you have better weather than us, it was trying to snow for our entire walk and the temperature was 3 degrees C!

7. At the end of this section of path, you will come to another gate. Go through the gate (and try not to leave your dog on the other side!).

8. Head over the bridge, and follow the path as it leads round to the right, where it takes you over another wooden walkway. Keep following this path.

9. You will eventually come to the Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge, and you will walk through the small marina here. We love looking at all the boats moored up (and choosing which one we would like to have!).

10. You’ve arrived in Newby Bridge! You can spend some time having a little look around (Newby Bridge is very small), stop for a snack, or pop into the Swan Hotel for lunch.

After that, all you need to do is follow the path back again, to take you all the way back to Lakeside.

You might also like to read:

12 Things to do in Bowness on Windermere for things to do across the lake

Gummers How for a nearby hill walk

21 Best Family Campsites in the Lake District for ideas for places to stay