Stage 5 of the Westmorland and Furness Way runs Bowness-on-Windermere to Ulverston — 20.9 miles (33.7 km) across the Furness Fells / southern Lake District, rated Moderate, with around 942 m of ascent and a high point of 263 m. A free GPX download and route map are below.
Free and un-gated — no sign-up. Load the GPX into your GPS device or phone app.
Elevation Profile
Elevation derived from the route GPX sampled against the Copernicus DEM (Open-Meteo). Figures are approximate.
Key Takeaways
Terrain & What to Expect
Stage 5 leaves the busy central Lakes behind for the quieter Furness Fells and southern Lake District. From Bowness-on-Windermere the route crosses Windermere itself — England's largest lake — by the small vehicle-and-foot ferry at Ferry Nab, landing near the historic Claife Viewing Station.
From Far Sawrey (Beatrix Potter country) the trail heads south through the mixed woodland of Grizedale Forest towards Satterthwaite, then follows gentler country near Coniston Water and the River Crake.
It's a calmer, more contemplative stage of woodland, low fell and farmland, ending in the market town of Ulverston — birthplace of Stan Laurel and home to the Ulverston Canal.
Transport: Getting to the Start & Finish
Getting to the start (Bowness/Windermere): Windermere is well served by rail (the Lakes Line) and bus, making the start of this stage easy to reach.
The Windermere Ferry: this stage relies on the ferry across Windermere at Ferry Nab. It runs frequently for most of the year but can be suspended for maintenance, high winds or seasonal reasons. Have a contingency plan for a closure (see the conditions note below) and check its running status before you set out.
Leaving the finish (Ulverston): Ulverston has a railway station on the Cumbrian Coast line and bus connections, so it's straightforward to leave by public transport.
Some details on this stage change with the seasons or the trail's ongoing development. Confirm these against a current, primary source before you set off:
- Stagecoach bus numbers/timetables (e.g. 505, 599) for a Windermere Ferry closure bailout.
- Current forestry/logging diversions in Grizedale Forest and Parkamoor surfacing works.
- Stiles vs gates for dog walkers across the rural Furness Fells.
- Windermere Ferry foot-passenger price and frequency (Gemini says ~£1 / 20 min).
Where to Stay & Eat
Bowness-on-Windermere (start) and Ulverston (finish) both have a full range of shops, cafés, pubs and accommodation.
In the middle of the stage, facilities thin out: Far Sawrey has a pub, and there are seasonal refreshments around Grizedale Forest, but Satterthwaite and the rural miles beyond are quiet — carry supplies for the day.
Ulverston is a characterful market town with plenty of places to eat and stay, and a good spot to celebrate being one stage from the finish.
Stage 5 FAQs
The Windermere Ferry at Ferry Nab carries foot passengers for a small fee and runs frequently through the day for most of the year. Exact fares and running times change, so check the current foot-passenger price and timetable before you set out (see the conditions note on this page).
If the ferry is suspended (for weather, maintenance or seasonal reasons) you can't cross the lake directly. The usual workaround is to use scheduled buses around the lake towards Hawkshead or Coniston to rejoin the route — confirm current bus numbers and times before relying on this, as services change.
Largely yes — it's woodland, low fell and farmland — but there's grazing livestock in places, so keep dogs on a lead near animals, and note that dogs travel on the Windermere Ferry too. Check that your accommodation and any planned pub stops are dog-friendly.