Lake Windermere is an eleven miles long natural lake in England. Although it’s the largest lake in England, it’s very narrow, making it seem rather like a stretched out claw shape! The bottom tip of the claw feeds the River Leven and in to the Irish Sea. Originally opened in 1869 as a branch line, the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway runs not far from the Leven up to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere.
The 3 miles from Haverthwaite to Lakeside is a gentle journey that takes about 18 minutes, which is the perfect amount of time to write a postcard in the atmospheric wooden interior of the 1950’s built carriages.
Lakeside station has a cafe and shop, but it is not exciting in itself. You can continue by boat all the way up Windermere, or visit an aquarium that’s perched at the end of the station. We wandered around the area and found a field of sheep on the other side of the road, before popping our postcards in to the postbox in the hotel gardens. After some nibbles, we watched the signals and points as the engine changed ends.
There is more to see back at Haverthwaite, with tea rooms, a picnic area, the engine shed, and a well equiped playground for kids. We indulged in a messy scone with jam and clotted cream while watching some carriages get shunted around.
After gobbling the giant scone, A-Yeuh enjoyed flying on the zip wire, and shooting down the tubey slide.
