Top 15 walks around Windermere
Categories: Days Out
Why not ditch the car and explore the local area by boat and boot?
There's hundreds of beautiful walks near to Windermere and the lake shore that are within easy reach of our piers and cruises. Whether you’re after a gentle woodland stroll, a ramble exploring Lakeland heritage or a vigorous hike up some beautiful fells, there always a walk to suit you.
Many of our boat services run throughout the year and some of our piers are only accessible by foot, so combining boat and boot is a great way to explore the local area.
All of our sailings take well-behaved dogs, so don’t forget to bring the family pet too.
Some of our favourite walks
Here’s some of our favourite walks in the local area that can be accessed by our cruises. You can download and print the guides before you set out on your walk, alternatively download the GPX file to your mobile device.
| Walk details | Location | Duration |
|---|---|---|
Walk 1 and 1A* Lakeside Pier to Newby Bridge via Finsthwaite and High Dam – woodlands, meadows, and a heritage steam railway finish. |  | 2 1⁄2 hours |
Walk 2 and 2A* |  | 3 1⁄2 hours |
Walk 3* |  | 3 hours (extended by 20 minutes to include Hill Top) |
Walk 4 and 4A* Bowness Pier to Near Sawrey – a short countryside walk to Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter. |  | 45 minutes - 1 hour |
Walk 5* Bowness Pier to Claife Heights via Near Sawrey and the Tarns – scenic and serene. |  | 3 3⁄4 hours |
Walk 6 Wray Castle to Ferry House – a flat and gentle walk by the quiet western shore, ideal for families |  | 1 1⁄2 hours - 2 1⁄2 hours |
Walk 7* Roman Fort to Ambleside or Rydal – riverside paths and ancient history. |  | 1 1⁄2 - 2 1⁄2 hours |
Walk 8* Roman Fort to Grasmere via Dove Cottage – a poetic journey through the heart of Wordsworth country. | | 3 - 5 hours |
Walk 9* Old Ambleside circular walk – waterfalls, woodland, riverbanks and quiet byways. | | 2 - 2 1⁄2 hours |
Walk 10, 11 and 12* Brockhole to Orrest Head, Windermere and Bowness – hilltop views, woodland tracks and lake panoramas. 📄 Download route 10 PDF |📄 Download route 11 PDF | 📄 Download route 12 PDF 🗺️ Download route 10 GPX |🗺️ Download route 11 GPX | 🗺️ Download route 12 GPX |  | 2 - 4 1⁄2 hours depending on route |
Walk 13* Bowness circular via Post Knott and Biskey Howe – short or extended routes with stunning viewpoints. |  | 1 - 4 hours depending on route |
Walk 14 Fell Foot to Gummers How – explore the southern tip of Windermere on hillside or forest paths |  | 1 - 3 hours depending on route |
Walk 15 📄 Download PDF | 🗺️ Download GPX file | | 1 hour |
* Walks can be accessed all year round from our piers or by using the Windermere Car/Foot Ferry
All of these walks are also available in our Discovery Walks Booklet that can be bought from any of our piers or information centres.
The booklet costs just £2.50 with a contribution paid to Nurture Lakeland helping protect the beauty of The Lake District. You can find out more about the work of Nurture Lakeland on their website (external link).
