Fell Foot Park Short Loop
An accessible, stile and step free circular route around the Fell Foot parkland, taking in Windermere lakeshore with views across the lake to Fairfield Horseshoe.
Near to
Fell FootStart point
South Car Park (Listed in the leaflet as the Meadow Car Park), Fell Foot Park, Newby Bridge, Windermere, Cumbria, LA12 8NN. Grid reference: SD 3801 8678 what3Words: thrones.laminate.presentedTrail information
*Although it is a short route, this trail does have a 7ft (2m) stretch of an uphill 20% gradient which forms part of a 109yd (100m) uphill section. For further details, please see the terrain tab.
**Blue Badge parking is available at the start of the trail. A changing place with a disabled toilet is located halfway along the route. The trail does include significant uphill and downhill gradient change. For further details, see the Access tab.
Steep gradients
There are short and steep uphill and downhill slopes. The largest section of gradual incline is 109yd (100m) with an average gradient of 11% and a 7ft (2m) stretch at 20%.
Total stages: 13
Total stages: 13
Start point
South Car Park (Listed in the leaflet as the Meadow Car Park), Fell Foot Park, Newby Bridge, Windermere, Cumbria, LA12 8NN. Grid reference: SD 3801 8678 what3Words: thrones.laminate.presented
Stage 1
Leave the car park on the path next to the parking machine. The path has a downhill slope of 5%. Halfway along is the steepest section at 15% for 16ft (5m).
Downhill slope with protruding rocks and drain, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 2
At the crossroads, take in the view and continue straight on the path as it continues downhill towards the lake. Here the steepest gradient is 13% for 52ft (16m).
Sloping path from the car park towards lakeshore, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 3
Turn right at the junction and continue to the boathouse. The path surface is made up of very fine compacted gravel and the steepest uphill gradient is 4%. There are 5 metal benches along this stretch of footpath which provide great views of the lake. There is a 1m space next to the fifth bench for a wheelchair.
Lakeshore retaining wall, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 4
At the boathouse complex, continue straight onto the cobbles to the picnic benches.
Cobbled surface outside the cafe, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 5
To continue on this route, you must go through the café. Enter the Boathouse Café and exit through the door on the right at the counter. Here you will find a changing place and disabled toilet accessed by a radar key- one of which is available from the café. The door into this space has a width of 36in (92cm) and opens away from you.
Boathouse Cafe entrance, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 6
Turn right and walk past the winch and leave through the door at the end of the building on the right-hand side. Go straight ahead uphill for 13yd (12m) to the path junction. The steepest gradient is 15%.
Winch Room exit, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 7
Take the gravel path on the immediate left going past the sign for Active Base.
The uphill slope out of the Winch Room, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 8
Go straight ahead across the wooden decking to the tarmacked path to the car park machine.
Wooden decking at Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 9
At the car park machine turn right onto the tarmacked road. Keep left of the fork until the wooden gate on your right.
Start of an uphill slope extending for 109yd (100m), Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 10
Turn right and go through the gate. Keep on this tarmacked path to the junction ignoring one path on the right.
Speed bumps across the path, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 11
At the fingerpost, take the path on the right which slopes downhill. The path is made up of compacted gravel material. The steepest gradient is 14%.
Path junction at stop 11, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 12
At the beech tree continue straight ahead. Ignore the path on the left and continue towards the play area.
Footpath below the House Lawn, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird Stage 13
Before the wooden shed on the right-hand side there is an adapted picnic bench next to the path. There are different seating options but the narrowest gap between the seats is 29in (75cm). At the wooden shed, turn left and make your way back up to the car park where you began.
Protruding rocks and drain on path surface, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © National Trust/Lucy Baird End point
South Car Park (Listed in the leaflet as the Meadow Car Park), Fell Foot Park, Newby Bridge, Windermere, Cumbria, LA12 8NN. Grid reference: SD 3801 8678 what3Words: thrones.laminate.presented
Trail map
Fell Foot Park Short Loop route, Fell Foot Park, Cumbria | © Ordnance Survey
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