A couple walking along the shores of Lake Windermere

Explore the local area with a cruise and a walk

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.

NameLocationDescriptionLength

Walk 1 and 1A*

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🗺️ Download GPX file
walk 01 iconA walk from Lakeside Pier through pleasant woodlands and meadows to Finsthwaite, High Dam and Newby Bridge and ending at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway.2 1⁄2 hours

Walk 2 and 2A*

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🗺️ Download GPX file

walk 02 iconSouthern lakeshore walk from Ferry House Pier to Lakeside Pier. Following the quiet western shore of Windermere.3 1⁄2 hours

Walk 3*

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Ferry House, Lakeshore, Cunsey and Sawrey loop.

3 hours

(extended by 20 minutes to include Hill Top)

Walk 4 and 4A*

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🗺️ Download GPX file

Bowness Pier to Near Sawrey (Hill Top, The House Of Beatrix Potter)45 minutes - 1 hour

Walk 5*

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🗺️Download GPX file

Bowness Pier to Near Sawrey, the Tarns and Claife Heights.3 3⁄4 hours

Walk 6

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Wray Castle to Ferry House - An easy to follow, gentle stroll along paths and tracks by the quiet western shore.1 1⁄2 hours - 2 1⁄2 hours

Walk 7*

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Roman fort and river banks to Ambleside or Rydal.1 1⁄2 hours - 2 1⁄2 hours

Walk 8*

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Roman Fort and Grasmere to Dove Cottage3 hours - 5 hours

Walk 9*

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A circular walk through woodlands, the byways of Old Ambleside, waterfalls, riverbanks and lake shore.2 hours - 2 1⁄2 hours

Walk 10, 11 and 12*

📄 Download route 10 PDF

📄 Download route 11 PDF

📄 Download route 12 PDF

🗺️ Download route 10 GPX

🗺️ Download route 11 GPX

🗺️ Download route 12 GPX

Brockhole to Orrest Head, Windermere and Bowness offering fantastic views of the water.

2 hours - 4 1⁄2 hours depending on route

Walk 13*

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🗺️ Download GPX

Sights of Bowness - A short walk of one hour around Post Knott and Biskey Howe, or an extended walk of three to four hours including Post Knott, School Knott and Biskey Howe.1 hour - 4 hours depending on route

Walk 14

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🗺️ Download GPX file

Explore the beautiful southern tip of Windermere. Fell Foot to Gummers How or a longer route using forest paths via Chapel House Plantation.

1 hour - 3 hours depending on route

Walk 15 - NEW FOR 2023

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🗺️ Download GPX file

walk 01 icon
Take a stroll along the quiet River Leven from Lakeside Pier to Newby Bridge - part of the new West Windermere Way.
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).

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