Topics > Cumbria > Rivers in Cumbria > River Leven (Cumbria)
River Leven (Cumbria)
The River Leven is a short river in the county of Cumbria, falling within the historic boundaries of Lancashire. It drains Windermere from its southernmost point and flows for approximately 8 miles (13 km) into the northern reaches of Morecambe Bay. The river and its estuary are the boundary between the Cartmel Peninsula and Furness Peninsula in the area once known referred to as Lancashire north of the sands. The upriver limit of tidal flow is close to the village of Haverthwaite. Also at this point is to be found Low Wood Bridge which, until the coming of the railways, was the first bridging point across the river. The Leven is navigable upstream as far as Low Wood, and downstream from Windermere to Newby Bridge.
Apart from Newby Bridge and Haverthwaite, the only other settlements on the Leven are the villages of Backbarrow and Greenodd. The river's steep fall around Backbarrow allowed industrial use of the river for the ultramarine mill and also a small hydroelectric generator at Backbarrow ironworks.
The River Leven has one significant tributary, Rusland Pool, which drains a substantial part of Grizedale Forest and the Rusland Valley into the upper tidal section of the river. The Leven is a noted salmon river. At spawning time the fish can be seen jumping up the waterfalls at Backbarrow. The river is popular with kayakers due to the continuous grade III+ rapids found between Newby Bridge and Haverthwaite and a relatively stable water level sustained by Windermere.
Visit the page: River Leven, Cumbria for references and further details. You can contribute to this article on Wikipedia.
![Newby Bridge](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/57/60/2576011_580dd0b3.jpg)
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Newby Bridge
- Overview About Newby Bridge Map Street View Newby Bridge is a small hamlet in the Lake District, Cumbria. Historically in Lancashire, it is located several miles west of Grange-over-Sands …
![Windermere (Lake)](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/56/82/5568253_b31f299b.jpg)
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Windermere (Lake)
- Overview About Lake Windemere Map Street View Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It is a ribbon lake formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of …
![Newby Bridge (bridge)](/uploads/pics/101/101332_t.jpg)
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Newby Bridge (bridge)
- Overview Map Street View The bridge over the River Leven at Newby Bridge in Cumbria dates from the 17th century or earlier. It is Grade II* listed on the National …
![](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/06/79/1067929_d386f75d.jpg)
from Geograph (geograph)
Reflections in the River Leven beside Newby Bridge
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![Haverthwaite](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/18/62/2186238_03328e08.jpg)
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Haverthwaite
- Overview About Haverthwaite Map Street View Haverthwaite is a village in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, located near the River Leven, and about 5 miles north-east of Ulverston and …
![Low Wood Village](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/39/55/2395546_f5129fa9.jpg)
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Low Wood Village
- Overview Map Street View Low Wood (sometimes Lowwood) is a village in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, located on the south side of the River Leven, over the river …
![Low Wood Bridge, over River Leven](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/09/81/098196_8673948e.jpg)
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Low Wood Bridge, over River Leven
- Overview Map Street View Low Wood Bridge carries the B5278 road over the River Leven between Low Wood and Haverthwaite in Cumbria. The bridge is located at the upper tidal limit of …
![Backbarrow Bridge](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/22/67/1226733_066f030d.jpg)
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Backbarrow Bridge
- Overview Map Street View The bridge at Backbarrow carries the road over white water falls on the River Leven. The bridge dates from the late 17th or 18th century and …
![Backbarrow](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/18/76/2187661_7c777e4e.jpg)
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Backbarrow
- Overview About Backbarrow Map Street View Backbarrow is a village in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria. It is located by the River Leven, which is spanned by Backbarrow Bridge. …
![Greenodd](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5532/11302754644_5cfcd06248_z.jpg)
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Greenodd
- Overview About Greenodd Map Street View Greenodd is a village in the Furness area of the county of Cumbria, England, but within the historical county of Lancashire. For local …
![](/static/img/loading.gif)
![Newby Bridge](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/57/60/2576011_580dd0b3.jpg)
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Newby Bridge
- Overview About Newby Bridge Map Street View Newby Bridge is a small hamlet in the Lake District, Cumbria. Historically in Lancashire, it is located several miles west of Grange-over-Sands …
![Windermere (Lake)](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/56/82/5568253_b31f299b.jpg)
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Windermere (Lake)
- Overview About Lake Windemere Map Street View Windermere is the largest natural lake in England. It is a ribbon lake formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of …
![Newby Bridge (bridge)](/uploads/pics/101/101332_t.jpg)
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Newby Bridge (bridge)
- Overview Map Street View The bridge over the River Leven at Newby Bridge in Cumbria dates from the 17th century or earlier. It is Grade II* listed on the National …
![](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/06/79/1067929_d386f75d.jpg)
from Geograph (geograph)
Reflections in the River Leven beside Newby Bridge
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![Haverthwaite](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/18/62/2186238_03328e08.jpg)
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Haverthwaite
- Overview About Haverthwaite Map Street View Haverthwaite is a village in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, located near the River Leven, and about 5 miles north-east of Ulverston and …
![Low Wood Village](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/39/55/2395546_f5129fa9.jpg)
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Low Wood Village
- Overview Map Street View Low Wood (sometimes Lowwood) is a village in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, located on the south side of the River Leven, over the river …
![Low Wood Bridge, over River Leven](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/09/81/098196_8673948e.jpg)
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Low Wood Bridge, over River Leven
- Overview Map Street View Low Wood Bridge carries the B5278 road over the River Leven between Low Wood and Haverthwaite in Cumbria. The bridge is located at the upper tidal limit of …
![Backbarrow Bridge](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/22/67/1226733_066f030d.jpg)
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Backbarrow Bridge
- Overview Map Street View The bridge at Backbarrow carries the road over white water falls on the River Leven. The bridge dates from the late 17th or 18th century and …
![Backbarrow](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/02/18/76/2187661_7c777e4e.jpg)
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Backbarrow
- Overview About Backbarrow Map Street View Backbarrow is a village in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria. It is located by the River Leven, which is spanned by Backbarrow Bridge. …
![Greenodd](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5532/11302754644_5cfcd06248_z.jpg)