British Rail Tours Know which side to sit
Lakes Line
Scenic lineNorth West England

Lakes Line

Oxenholme Lake District → Windermere
Either side is good Photos
Photo: Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Journey timeApprox 20 min
  • Distance10 miles
  • FrequencyHourly, with some through trains from Manchester Airport (TPE) and London (Avanti)
  • Rover ticketCumbria Travel Pass, £40 one day
  • OperatorNorthern

The short branch from the West Coast Main Line at Oxenholme through Kendal and Staveley to Windermere, the rail gateway to the Lake District.

The Lakes Line is only ten miles long but is the only railway into the heart of the Lake District. Leaving the West Coast Main Line at Oxenholme, it drops into Kendal, the market town with its castle ruins, then follows the River Kent past Burneside paper mill and Staveley, a village popular with walkers and cyclists, before climbing over a low ridge to Windermere.

The views open up on the final approach, with the Langdale Pikes and the central fells visible ahead. Windermere station is a small terminus beside a supermarket; the lake itself is a mile downhill at Bowness, reached by bus or on foot. Boats, the Lakeside and Haverthwaite steam railway and Beatrix Potter's Hill Top are all within reach.

Northern Class 195 units provide the hourly shuttle; TransPennine Express runs through trains from Manchester Airport and Avanti West Coast one or two a day from Euston.

Which side to sit

Oxenholme Lake District → Windermere

A short run with fells on both sides: the Howgills and Kentmere hills to the right, the central fells ahead and to both sides near Windermere.

Either side0 sights on the left · 2 on the right
  1. 0mi
    Junction · on the lineOxenholme Lake DistrictBranch leaves the West Coast Main Line
  2. 1mi
    MountainHowgill FellsRounded fells to the north-east
  3. 2mi
    StationKendal
  4. 4mi
    StationBurnesidePaper mill village
  5. 5mi
    River · both sidesRiver Kent
  6. 7mi
    StationStaveley
  7. 7mi
    MountainKentmere fellsHills at the head of the Kentmere valley
  8. 9mi
    Mountain · both sidesCentral Lakeland fellsFells rise ahead on the approach to Windermere
  9. 10mi
    StationWindermereLake and Bowness a short walk downhill

Sides are given facing the direction of travel. Miles are approximate from the start of the journey.

Good to know

  • Dogs welcome
  • Bikes carried
  • Great walks
  • Rover tickets

Highlights along the line

  • Kendal
  • River Kent and Staveley
  • Langdale Pikes on the approach
  • Windermere and Bowness

Photos of the Lakes Line

3 photos · tap to enlarge
Class 156 waiting at the Windermere terminus
Class 156 waiting at the Windermere terminus
Yachts moored in Bowness Bay on Windermere
Yachts moored in Bowness Bay on Windermere
Northern Class 195 calling at Burneside on the Lakes Line
Northern Class 195 calling at Burneside on the Lakes Line
Ticket tip: off-peak and advance fares are usually cheapest, and a Railcard takes a third off most tickets. Rover and ranger tickets let you break your journey and explore stations along the way.

Frequently asked questions

Is the line electrified?

No; electrification was cancelled in 2017, so diesel and bi-mode trains are used.

How do I get to the lake?

Bus 599 or 508 from the station forecourt to Bowness pier in ten minutes, or walk downhill for about 20 minutes.

Are there direct trains from London?

Avanti West Coast runs a small number of through trains from Euston; otherwise change at Oxenholme.

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