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Paths and routes: Cumbria and the Lake District

Walking in Cumbria | Paths introduction | Paths by region | Paths by name | Info index

National Trail acornNational Trail. See Introduction for details.


Allerdale Ramble

Seathwaite to Grune Point 87km/54 miles

Waymarked route connecting the Cumbria Way with the Solway Firth. For more details see Cumbria Way.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Cistercian Way

Grange-over-Sands to Roa Island 53km/33 miles EASY

Waymarked route around the low hills and sands of the Furness and Cartmel peninsulas.

Connects with

Highway authority

Parks and countryside

Explorer maps OL6, OL7
The route is marked on recent editions of these maps.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Coast to Coast Walk

St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay 304km/190 miles CHALLENGING

Famous unwaymarked route devised by A Wainwright linking Irish and North Seas via high tops and three National Parks. For more details, click here.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Cumbria Coastal Way

Silverdale to Gretna 240km/150 miles

A walk along the fascinating Cumbria coast from the southern estuaries to the Scottish border. For more details, click here.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Cumbria Way

Ulverston to Carlisle 112km/70 miles

Mostly low-level waymarked route through the Lakes, via Langdale and Borrowdale, Coniston, Derwent Water and Caldbeck. For more details, click here.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Dales Way

Ilkley to Bowness 130km/81 miles

Inspired by members of RA West Riding Area, this waymarked, fairly easy, largely riverside trail through the Yorkshire Dales ends in the southern Lakes. For more details, click here.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Discover Barrow on Foot

Channelside Walk Dock Museum to Slagbank 60 mins
Coast to Coast Walk Rampside to Sandscale 0.5 days
Heart of Barrow Walk Dock Museum to Duke Hotel 60 mins
St George's Walk Circular from Barrow Town Hall via St George's Church and Mount Pleasant 60 mins
Walney Walk Circular from Biggar Bank Roundhouse via Jubilee Bridge and North Scale 6.5km/4 miles or 11km/7 miles

All EASY

Five short routes promoted by the Dock Museum at Barrow exploring the town and the unique local coastline. All can also be easily reached by public transport with buses connecting to Barrow rail station: details on the leaflets. [2005]

disability logoAll these walks are easy and wheelchair friendly. See publications for details.

Connects with

Local authority

Explorer map OL6

  • Free leaflets from The Dock Museum North Road, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 2PW, tel 01229 894444.
    www.dockmuseum.org.uk

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Eden Way

Rockcliffe Marsh to Black Fell Moss 126km/78 miles

Unwaymarked route along the river Eden: can be walked using Settle & Carlisle railway line.

Connects with

Highway authority

Parks and countryside

Explorer maps OL5, OL19, 315

  • The Eden Way by Charlie Emett, ISBN 1 85284 040 4. Cicerone £6.99.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail

National Trail acorn

Newcastle to Bowness 130km/81 miles

Along the line of the historic wall, built in AD 122 to mark the northern limit of the Roman Empire and now a World Heritage Site. For more details, click here.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Haematite Trail

Circular from Barrow 29km/18 miles

Signed route that explores the local iron mining heritage in the Furness peninsula.

Connects with

Highway authority

Explorer map OL6

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Inn Way to the English Lake District

Circular via Ambleside, Boot and Broughton in Furness 144km/90 miles

Unwaymarked route connecting Lakeland highlights via traditional pubs.

Connects with

Highway authority

Useful Contacts

Parks and countryside

Explorer maps OL4, OL6, OL7

Holidays, luggage transfer, accommodation booking Brigantes

  • The Inn Way to the English Lake District by Mark Reid, ISBN 1 902001 01 X. Inn Way £7.95. Much background information.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Isaac's Tea Trail

Circular from Ninebanks via Allendale, Nenthead and Alston 58km/36 miles

A themed trail along picturesque river valleys and over high heather moorlands in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, mainly in Northumberland but looping into Cumbria. Read more...

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Limestone Link (Cumbria)

Arnside to Kirkby Lonsdale 21km/13 miles

Through the limestone countryside in the south of Cumbria including woods, mosses and fells. Connects with Carnforth Connect bus services: see Arnside/Silverdale AONB.

Connects with

Highway authority

Parks and countryside

Explorer maps OL2, OL7

  • Limestone Link, Free leaflet from Ulverston TIC.
  • Walks from the Limestone Link by Lancaster Ramblers. Booklet describing whole route and 16 shorter circular walks based on it. Click here for ordering details.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Lune Valley Ramble

Lancaster to Kirkby Lonsdale 27km/17 miles EASY

A lowland walk in north Lancs that just edges into Cumbria, including trailside sculptures. Connects with Carnforth Connect bus services: see Arnside/Silverdale AONB.

Connects with

Highway authorities

Explorer maps OL2, OL41
The route is marked on recent editions of these maps.

  • Booklet 95p from Lancaster TIC, tel 01524 32878, or downloadable from www.greenwalks.net

Walking in Cumbria | Paths in NW England | Information Index


Pennine Bridleway National Trail

National Trail acorn

Carsington Reservoir or Middletop Top to Byrness 560km/350 miles (under development)

This multi-user route, roughly parallel to the Pennine Way but generally along lower-lying paths to the west of the hilltops, should be open to Kirkby Stephen in 2004. For more details, click here.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Pennine Way National Trail

National Trail acorn

Edale to Kirk Yetholm 412km/256 miles CHALLENGING

A high and wild trail along the backbone of England from the Peaks to the Scottish borders. For more details, click here.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


South Tyne Trail

Source of the Tyne to Haltwhistle 36.5km EASY

Multi-user route via Alston, using easy surfaced paths for the most part. More details.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index


Teesdale Way

E2 path

Dufton to Warrenby, Redcar 160km

The end section, through Cumbria, is largely coincident with the Pennine Way. For more details, click here.

Walking in Cumbria | Information Index