The story
Welcome to the A592, a stretch of tarmac that serves as the grand corridor to the Lake District. As you travel along Newby Bridge Road, you are tracing a route that has captivated travelers for centuries. Guests often ask where the name Newby Bridge actually comes from.
It refers to the iconic five-arched stone bridge spanning the River Leven, built back in 1651. In those days, it was a vital crossing point for trade, moving goods from the Furness Peninsula into the heart of the lakes. Right beside it sits The Swan, a former coaching inn that has been welcoming weary travelers since the 17th century.
As the road begins to hug the eastern shore of Windermere, you might hear a rhythmic chuffing and a distant whistle. That is the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. This steam line is a living piece of history, a remnant of the Victorian age when city dwellers would escape the industrial smoke of the south, arriving here by train to board the grand steamers that still ply the lake today.
To your left, look for the emerald slopes of Fell Foot Park. Once the site of a magnificent Victorian villa, it is now a National Trust treasure. Those Gothic-style stone boat houses at the water’s edge are not just for show; they are iconic symbols of the Cumbrian shoreline and offer some of the best views across the water to the Gummers How peaks.
The road itself is a marvel of the landscape, winding through ancient woodlands of oak and hazel that feel as though they’ve been plucked from a storybook. Guests often wonder about the grand white building standing proudly by the water. That is Storrs Hall.
In 1825, this Georgian mansion hosted a legendary regatta to honor the poet Robert Southey, an event attended by none other than William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott. It’s incredible to think that the very same views of the lake’s islands you are seeing now inspired the giants of English literature. This road was originally a turnpike, a private highway where travelers paid a toll for passage.
Today, the only price you pay is your concentration on its famous twists and turns. From the wandering Herdwick sheep that occasionally claim right of way to the sudden, breathtaking reveals of Windermere’s shimmering surface, Newby Bridge Road is more than a transit route. It is a three-mile introduction to the soul of the Lake District, where every bend reveals a new chapter of history, heritage, and high drama.