Description
This route is based on LakLev Two, with some alterations to straighten and simplify it. This modified route took me 6 hours.
I walked this route on a calm, overcast day in October and enjoyed it. The highlights for me were the view looking back over Lake Windermere on the long climb to 200m elevation, and the contrasting woodland and grazed fell sections over the tops.
The route Summary:
1) A gated but accessible, gravel path has been built between Lakeside and Newby Bridge. Fast progress and more interesting (alongside the railway and lake) than the woodland walks used by earlier Lakeside routes. The Newby Bridge has no footpath, is single carriageway, and has a strong camber. On the A590 turn left and cross at the footpath-signposted bollard.
2) The next section along the country road and through the caravan park is quiet, pleasant. As you leave the caravan site, look out for the footpath sign to the left as you approach the right hand bend on the exit drive. After a field comes the A590 crossing which is likely the most hazardous part of the route.
3) The climb up to the fells starts here. Over (sometimes muddy) farmland, into woodland and after crossing a road, take care over a broken stile (see photos). A steep section through bracken where the path isn't well defined. Then enjoy the views over Windermere as you continue to climb, and then emerge at the top from conifer plantation into beautiful sparse woodland.
4) The section starting at SD3875 8565 (start of fell tops) is a footpath meandering either side of the main forest track. It wasn't well way-marked and I found myself wading through (admittedly very beautiful) undergrowth on part of the first section. So I stayed on the gravel track until I reached the cairn that marks the start of the more distinctly waymarked path at SD 3926 8555.
5) The well marked but faint woodland path gives way to open grazed fells after a gate. The path is very obvious until you cross a road. The path here is along the left edge of the right hand field. For this whole section, until you reach Height Road on the way back down, the path can just about be made out but isn't obvious. My GPS came in handy.
6) After Height Road, the descent through the conservation woodlands was a welcome break from navigation.
7) Back at sea-level (very wet underfoot) this section crosses open farmland. This route differs from LakLev Two here, going straight on at the footpath crossroads (SD 42447 85772) instead of turning right. Be aware that the farmer had subdivided one of the fields with wire fencing on the LakLev Two route. Though the route wasn't blocked it was confusing. (GPS useful again!)
8) Once I was on the road to Witherslack I stuck to Church Road all the way, except for the deviation via Latterbarrow. I walked past the school at 3pm on a weekday but despite this there wasn't much traffic. At Latterbarrow, the partly-overgrown path goes through two residential properties.
9) After leaving Witherslack on the quiet cycle route 70 (turn left by the Derby Arms), I followed this all the way to Levens.
When you finally arrive at the route end in Levens, the Hare and Hounds Inn looks very inviting. However, if you're catching a bus home, check whether your bus stops in the village, or on the A590 about 1 mile either side of Levens (at Gilpin and Heaves). The walk through the village to the Heaves A590 bus stop is over a hill, and, with tired legs, was possibly the hardest part of the entire route!
This route is based on LakLev Two, with some alterations to straighten and simplify it. This modified route took me 6 hours.
I walked this route on a calm, overcast day in October and enjoyed it. The highlights for me were the view looking back over Lake Windermere on the long climb to 200m elevation, and the contrasting woodland and grazed fell sections over the tops.
The route Summary:
1) A gated but accessible, gravel path has been built between Lakeside and Newby Bridge. Fast progress and more interesting (alongside the railway and lake) than the woodland walks used by earlier Lakeside routes. The Newby Bridge has no footpath, is single carriageway, and has a strong camber. On the A590 turn left and cross at the footpath-signposted bollard.
2) The next section along the country road and through the caravan park is quiet, pleasant. As you leave the caravan site, look out for the footpath sign to the left as you approach the right hand bend on the exit drive. After a field comes the A590 crossing which is likely the most hazardous part of the route.
3) The climb up to the fells starts here. Over (sometimes muddy) farmland, into woodland and after crossing a road, take care over a broken stile (see photos). A steep section through bracken where the path isn't well defined. Then enjoy the views over Windermere as you continue to climb, and then emerge at the top from conifer plantation into beautiful sparse woodland.
4) The section starting at SD3875 8565 (start of fell tops) is a footpath meandering either side of the main forest track. It wasn't well way-marked and I found myself wading through (admittedly very beautiful) undergrowth on part of the first section. So I stayed on the gravel track until I reached the cairn that marks the start of the more distinctly waymarked path at SD 3926 8555.
5) The well marked but faint woodland path gives way to open grazed fells after a gate. The path is very obvious until you cross a road. The path here is along the left edge of the right hand field. For this whole section, until you reach Height Road on the way back down, the path can just about be made out but isn't obvious. My GPS came in handy.
6) After Height Road, the descent through the conservation woodlands was a welcome break from navigation.
7) Back at sea-level (very wet underfoot) this section crosses open farmland. This route differs from LakLev Two here, going straight on at the footpath crossroads (SD 42447 85772) instead of turning right. Be aware that the farmer had subdivided one of the fields with wire fencing on the LakLev Two route. Though the route wasn't blocked it was confusing. (GPS useful again!)
8) Once I was on the road to Witherslack I stuck to Church Road all the way, except for the deviation via Latterbarrow. I walked past the school at 3pm on a weekday but despite this there wasn't much traffic. At Latterbarrow, the partly-overgrown path goes through two residential properties.
9) After leaving Witherslack on the quiet cycle route 70 (turn left by the Derby Arms), I followed this all the way to Levens.
When you finally arrive at the route end in Levens, the Hare and Hounds Inn looks very inviting. However, if you're catching a bus home, check whether your bus stops in the village, or on the A590 about 1 mile either side of Levens (at Gilpin and Heaves). The walk through the village to the Heaves A590 bus stop is over a hill, and, with tired legs, was possibly the hardest part of the entire route!
Status
This route has been reviewed by 2 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Laklev three
Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.
Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 2
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (2)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 1
Surveys
What is this route like?
Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.
| Grade 4X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Note | ||
| Grade 4: Route includes very rough surfaces including deep ruts, steep loose gravel, unmade paths and deep muddy sections. Wheelchairs may experience traction/wheel spin issues. Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users. |
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys. | ||
| Full grading description | |||
Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.
Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
The narrowest part of the path is 20.0cm (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking East 47.0% (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking West 84.0% (1)
The steepest camber gradient across the path 9.0% (1)
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear (1)
Successfully completed
We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.
Recommended by an expert
We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.
Terrain
We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.
There is no data on how much of this route is on roads
There is no data on how much of this route is lit at night
Thereis no data on amount of route paved
There is no data on muddiness
There is no data on rough ground
There is no data on long grass
Report a problem with this data
1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Lakeside
Grid Ref
SD3785487394
Lat / Lon
54.27840° / -2.95594°
Easting / Northing
337,854E / 487,394N
What3Words
plates.film.reserving
Levens
Grid Ref
SD4843385628
Lat / Lon
54.26371° / -2.79319°
Easting / Northing
348,433E / 485,628N
What3Words
acquaint.adjusted.townhouse
| Lakeside | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SD3785487394 |
| Lat / Lon | 54.27840° / -2.95594° |
| Easting / Northing | 337,854E / 487,394N |
| What3Words | plates.film.reserving |
| Levens | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SD4843385628 |
| Lat / Lon | 54.26371° / -2.79319° |
| Easting / Northing | 348,433E / 485,628N |
| What3Words | acquaint.adjusted.townhouse |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Mary Oz
31 Oct 2023I agree with practically everything Jenny said in her overview of this route. I walked it from Lakeside to Levens on an overcast, damp autumn day. Despite the weather, the autumn colours were spectacular, and it was a very beautiful walk. It was also quite tiring, particularly because almost all of the second half was road walking, which becomes very wearing on the feet. Hence 4* not 5*. I will submit an alternative to offer a slight alternative, but this is basically a very nice route, and deserves a third positive review.
In particular, I loved the initial, newly-constructed track from Lakeside to Newby Bridge. Totally accessible too, although I was bemused by the fact that the signage specifies No Horses yet the track provides bridleway-type gate-openers and mounting blocks!!
Be aware that there are no facilities at all (apart from the campsite and a holiday let cottage in Witherslack) between Newby Bridge (10% of the way) and the Derby Arms (at 69% of the way).
The route had every type of stile imaginable, including a pair of very unusual metal ones just before Chapel House after crossing the A590, south of Staveley-in-Cartmel, OS Grid Ref: SD 37897 85618, for you stile hunters out there! By the way, crossing the A590 needs to be done with care. It is a fast, one-lane-each-way road, but there is excellent visibility and the traffic tends to come through in clumps with gaps, so it’s not too difficult to cross.
The forests and woods were lovely, although a bit tricky to navigate. Heading up through the bracken towards Barrow Banks, the communications mast was a helpful marker to aim for until I reached the more obvious track to the left. Later, the big cairn was particularly useful as the path off was a bit unclear to start with.
The descent through a field to Height Road was not easy. It was grassy, rocky, and steep, and I needed to pick my way around.
The quiet roads through Witherslack and on past the Derby Arms were picturesque and easy, but there was a constant drone from the A590 nearby.
Mostly a really enjoyable route.
Jenny Sanderson
19 Oct 2023See the route Overview for my experiences when walking this route.
-
Share your thoughts
Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.
Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.
You can add up to 15 photos.
Other Routes for Lakeside—Levens See all Slow Ways
Review this better route and help establish a trusted network of walking routes.
Suggest a better route if it better meets our methodology.
Share your thoughts