Windermere from Brant Fell copyright Dave Willis

West Windermere Way

The West Windermere Way is a mainly off-road route along the western shore of Windermere between Newby Bridge and the Ferry line, linking to the existing Windermere West Shore Way between Ferry House and Wray Castle.

The new route will follow the lakeshore in some areas, but will also head away from the lake to key visitor attractions. Some of the route already exists as public footpaths. This project will include building new sections as well as upgrading some existing paths.

The first section of the West Windermere Way between Newby Bridge and Lakeside is now open and can be used by walkers, horse riders or cyclists. This section of the route provides a safe off-road link between Newby Bridge and Lakeside, as it goes along a section of fenced off railway, through parkland and offers views of Windermere.

Travelling by bus, boat or bike is the best way to reach West Windermere Way - make the most of the £2 bus fare with an easy hop off point at Newby Bridge. If you are travelling by car please park at Lakeside car park or catch the ferry from Fell Foot.

We're leading the project, working closely with landowners, stakeholders and local parish councils. The work is being funded from the European Structural and Investment Funds and the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

A stone path accessible route

We will be building the path using locally sourced stone to create a hard crushed stone surface, to make it as accessible as possible. It will be between 2 and 3 m wide with grass verges on each side where possible. It will have fencing on one or both sides as needed.

We are planning to build a new bridge over the railway, a raised boardwalk over areas that get very wet, and new embankments. We'll be putting in waymarkers and information signs to help people follow the route and learn about the local areas they are passing.

We plan to make the whole route a public right of way, with a few sections having permitted agreements.

Interpretation for the route

An interpretation brief has been written for potential Design Consultants. The route will be promoted on the ground with fingerposts, and a specific waymarker. The interpretation brief has been written to design a specific waymarker that will be used to promote the route, in addition to onsite interpretation panels that will be installed at five locations along the route.

The deadline for this work will be the end of June 2023 to link with the whole route being open and useable for the summer.

  • West Windermere Way map

    Proposed route of the West Windermere Way, showing route sections

  • View across a river with swans on the water and gentle hils on the far side.

    The view across the River Leven from part of the proposed route from Newby Bridge to Lakeside.

  • Map showing the section of path from Newby Bridge to the Lakeside Hotel and Lakes Aquarium.

    Map showing the section of path from Newby Bridge to the Lakeside Hotel and Lakes Aquarium.

Progress on each section of the route

We're working on the route in sections. Each section needs to be looked at carefully to see if we need to make any changes to the planned route to help look after wildlife, like roosting bats, or to be considerate to neighbouring houses. We do this by putting each section through a planning application, so the route may change a little in some places from our original plans.

Section 2: Newby Bridge to Lakeside

This section is now open. The contractors commenced work in July 2022, installing two sections of raised boardwalk, a new bridge over the railway, carrying out surfacing works and installing a small section of fencing at the northern end of the route.

We have worked with Cumbria Bridleways Society and British Horse Society to ensure this section of the route is suitable for horses, including checking the new bridge over the railway and the raised boardwalk by the Swan. Please note the spur that leads to Lakeside over the section of boardwalk is not accessible to horses, and horse-riders need to follow the path and join the road to get to Lakeside.

  • Two horseriders on horseback, wearing high vis, on the West Windermere Way.

  • Footings for the new bridge

    Footings for the new bridge

  • New boardwalk and path leading to the railway embankment

    New boardwalk and path leading to the railway embankment

  • New path along the railway embankment

    New path along the railway embankment

  • New section of boardwalk

    New section of boardwalk being installed near The Swan hotel

  • New railway bridge

    Works building the new bridge over the railway

  • New bridge over the railway

    Works building the new bridge over the railway

  • New bridge deck

    The deck of the new bridge

Sections 3 to 4 : Lakeside to Great Knott Wood

  • Approved at planning committee on 1 March 2023.
  • Read the full planning committee report for application 7/2023/5034 South Windermere Trail, The Lakeside Hotel to the Knoll, Lakeside 2023_03_01-13-7.2023.5034-Report-and-PPT.pdf (lakedistrict.gov.uk)
  • Contractors are due to be appointed to start work on this section of the route to ensure it is completed by the end of June 2023.

Sections 5 to 6: High Stott Park to the YMCA at Lakeside

  • Leven Valley School hedgerow planting

    Help from Leven Valley School with hedgerow planting

  • Leven Valley School hedgerow planting

    Help from Leven Valley School with hedgerow planting

  • Root protection

    Root protection needed for certain sections of the path

  • Root protection 2

    Root protection needed for certain sections of the path

  • Path and drainage works at the YMCA

    Start of path and drainage works at the YMCA

  • Woodland sub-base

    Sub-base going in through the woodland

A Low-Carbon Lake District and Optimising Connectivity project

The West Windermere Way is part of Low-carbon Lake District, a partnership approach to reduce carbon in the National Park and mitigate against the effects of climate change on the landscape.

This project is also part of the Optimising Connectivity programme, a partnership approach to improving sustainable transport links and economic growth in the local area.

This project is partly funded by:

European Structural and Investment Funds

European Structural and Investment Funds

CLEP logo
Northern Powerhouse logo