Cumbria Way

The Cumbria Way runs through the heart of the Lake District from the attractive market town of Ulverston on the shores of Morecambe Bay to the historic city of Carlisle close to the Scottish Border. Along the way it passes through some of the finest scenery of this much loved area. The Cumbria Way is essentially a low-level walk through the Lake District. It follows old packhorse tracks along valleys and over passes and provides breathtaking mountain views without actually going to any of the summits.

From Ulverston the Cumbria Way heads towards the hills across rolling farmland with the scenery becoming more dramatic with every step. It follows the shores of Coniston Water, beneath the craggy slopes of ‘The Old Man', visits the famous beauty spot of Tarn Hows and the thunderous cascades of Slelwith Force before heading up the Langdale valley to the pretty little lake of Elterwater, with glorious views up the valley to the towering peaks of the Langdale Pikes. At the end of the valley, the trail crosses Stake Pass, with some marvellous views of the mountains, before descending through the remote valley of Langstrath to the lovely old village of Rosthwaite in the upper reaches of the Borrowdale valley. From here, the Cumbria Way follows woodland and riverside paths along the valley to Derwentwater and then follows the shores of the lake to the old market town of Keswick. Then it meanders through the remote, rolling hills ‘Back O' Skiddaw' to the charming village of Caldbeck, before following riverside paths through rich farmland to the historic Border city of Carlisle.