THE first section of an extended multi-user trail along the western side of Windermere has opened.

The one-mile chunk begins at The Swan Hotel and Spa, Newby Bridge, and runs to the Lakeside ferry terminal.

The plan is to eventually unveil a longer £1.45m trail between Newby Bridge and YMCA Lakeside.

Sara Spicer, area ranger at the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA), said the trail, an LDNPA project, would allow people to travel sustainably.

"So far, we have created a new path through an area that previously didn’t have any access, constructed a new bridge over the railway, introduced raised boardwalk sections over areas that get very wet, and created a new route along the railway embankment," she said.

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"This is just the first stage of our ambitious plan."

The LDNPA says the finished route will be suitable for bikes, horses, families with pushchairs and some wheelchair users. 

It will follow the lakeshore in some areas and provide an 'off-road link to key visitor attractions'.

Nigel Wilkinson, managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises, said: "We are confident that the new, accessible multi-user trail will be popular with both visitors and local residents, offering stunning views over the southern end of Windermere."

Steve Cole, chairman of the investment panel of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), a business-led collaboration between councils and the private sector, said LEP funding had helped the project come to fruition.

 

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"Importantly, it will improve accessibility for walkers and cyclists, helping create a safe and sustainable travel option," he said.

"The trail is a great asset and one which I am very much looking forward to using with my own family."

Becky Edmondson, of The Swan Hotel, said the traffic-free route was 'ideal' for families. 

"This pathway has really opened up potential partnerships with businesses," she said.

"We also hope to introduce bike hire for our guests in the coming months which will mean they will be able to fully explore Windermere, Ambleside and beyond without having to use the car to have a truly relaxing retreat to the Lake District.”