A steam train travels 3.5 miles from Haverthwaite to Lakeside Pier at the southern end of Windermere. Also on offer are the circular walk around Haverthwaite Heights and several historical sites. During your stay, you can choose between a rail journey, a route through woodland and fields, and places connected with church architecture and remembrance.
Through the Leven Valley by Steam Train
The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway runs a steam train for 3.5 miles from Haverthwaite to Lakeside Pier at the southern end of Windermere. Steam locomotives pull traditional carriages from the 1950s through the Leven Valley landscape. The journey brings together historic railway technology and the valley route; anyone interested in the train itself can take note of both the steam locomotives and the carriages from a particular era. The terminus at the pier gives the route described a specific connection to Windermere.
Collection and Station Visit
At Haverthwaite station, visitors can view a collection of steam and diesel locomotives in the Engine Shed. This offers a different perspective on the railway than the ride: the collection takes centre stage in the Engine Shed, while the route and carriages define the journey. The Tea Room at Haverthwaite station is wheelchair accessible; you can ask staff for assistance. Fairburn Ale, brewed locally by the Ulverston Brewing Company, is also served at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.
A Date in Railway History
The first sod for the railway extension to Newby Bridge was turned in Haverthwaite on 22 November 1866. The location and destination are clearly distinct: Haverthwaite was where the ceremony took place, while Newby Bridge was the extension’s destination. This precisely dated event differs from today’s visitor journey and gives the railway’s history its own point of reference in time.
Church Architecture and War Memorial
St Anne’s Haverthwaite is a stone-built Georgian church; the chapel was built between 1823/24 and 1825. The Georgian classification describes its architecture, while the dates record the chapel’s construction period. The Haverthwaite War Memorial marks a different historical theme: it is a 1920 memorial to the First World War, with additions commemorating the Second World War. The two sites can therefore be distinguished by subject: one concerns a place of worship and its history, the other remembrance of two wars.
Holy Communion at St Anne’s is open to everyone, including visitors. Service times may change. If you would like to attend, check the current service schedule.
Circular Walk Around Haverthwaite Heights
The circular walk follows woodland paths, crosses fields and includes a short stretch of road. This mix gives you a clear impression of the character of the route; however, conditions can vary, so it is worth checking the current conditions before setting out. In contrast to the train journey, the points of reference are different: the railway has a stated distance and destination, while the varied paths and landscape sections define the character of the walk. You can weigh up a steam train ride against a circular walk featuring woodland paths, fields and a short section of road.
Discover more destinations: Keswick, Carlisle, Wheyrigg, Embleton, Uldale, Sedgwick, Milnthorpe, Rusland
For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.
