The
River Leven (pron.
levven) 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 eight 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.