This
scenic walk through the historic county of Westmorland and the
Lake District National Park begins at Appleby in the shadow of
the Pennines and ends at Arnside on the shores of Morecambe Bay.
Beginning
in Appleby, a picturesque town dominated by its sturdy Norman
Castle, the Westmorland Way crosses the lush pastures of the Eden
Valley through a string of pretty red sandstone villages to Shap.
After visiting Shap Abbey the trail follows the banks of the River
Lowther to Askam, a delightful village with two greens surrounded
by fine 17th century cottages, before crossing Heughscar Hill
to the attractive village of Pooley Bridge, with far-reaching
views over Ullswater. Then it follows the lakeside path through
meadows and ancient oak, birch and hazel woods to the hamlet of
Patterdale at the head of the lake, where it joins an old packhorse
track cutting through the hills of the Helvellyn range to the
picturesque village of Grasmere. From Elterwater in the beautiful
Langdale valley, the trail meanders downstream beside the River
Brathay to the lively little town of Ambleside. It visits Jenkin
Crag, which provides glorious views across Windermere to the Langdale
Pikes, and Troutbeck, famous for its named wells, bank barns and
beautiful 17th century farmhouses with mullioned windows and the
tall cylindrical chimneys so characteristic of Westmorland. After
exploring the medieval market town of Kendal, with its interesting
yards, ginnels and alleyways, the Westmorland Way leaves the town
beside the River Kent. Several lovely riverside miles later, it
leaves the river and follows the Lancaster Canal to the village
of Holme, where woodland paths lead over the hillocks of Fairy
Steps and Arnside Knott to Arnside on the shores of Morecambe
Bay.
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Ullswater
from Gowbarrow Crag © CWH |