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.
| Name | Location | Description | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
Walk 1 and 1A* 🗺️ Download GPX file |  | A 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* 📄 Download PDF |  | Southern lakeshore walk from Ferry House Pier to Lakeside Pier. Following the quiet western shore of Windermere. | 3 1⁄2 hours |
Walk 3* |  | Ferry House, Lakeshore, Cunsey and Sawrey loop. | 3 hours (extended by 20 minutes to include Hill Top) |
Walk 4 and 4A* |  | Bowness Pier to Near Sawrey (Hill Top, The House Of Beatrix Potter) | 45 minutes - 1 hour |
Walk 5* 📄 Download PDF |  | Bowness Pier to Near Sawrey, the Tarns and Claife Heights. | 3 3⁄4 hours |
Walk 6 🗺️ Download GPX file |  | 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* 🗺️ Download GPX file |  | Roman fort and river banks to Ambleside or Rydal. | 1 1⁄2 hours - 2 1⁄2 hours |
Walk 8* 🗺️ Download GPX file | | Roman Fort and Grasmere to Dove Cottage | 3 hours - 5 hours |
Walk 9* | | 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* |  | Brockhole to Orrest Head, Windermere and Bowness offering fantastic views of the water. | 2 hours - 4 1⁄2 hours depending on route |
Walk 13* 🗺️ 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 |  | 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 | | 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).
