Cumbria Way

A walk from the shores of Morecambe Bay to the Scottish Border through the Lake District.

3 to 9 nights
16-76 miles
Easy / Moderate to Demanding

From £285 per person

About the trail

The Cumbria Way enjoys the Lake District’s mountain vistas with none of its strenuous mountain climbs. This low-level walk follows old packhorse tracks along valleys and over passes to provide breath-taking views without ascending to the summits.

Beneath towering peaks and thundering cascades, the walk follows the shores of glittering tarns. It visits charming Lake District villages, and enjoys a finale of remote, rolling hills that descend through rich farmland to the historic border town of Carlisle.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to walk the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Dog friendly tours available

Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.

Trail running available

We also organise trail running holidays along this trail. Visit Contours Trail Running Holidays.

Routes on this trail

Cumbria Way

6 to 7 nights
73 miles
Moderate / Demanding+
From £540 per person
A self-guided walking holiday from Ulverston to Carlisle through the beautiful Lake District.Find Out More

Cumbria Way via Bassenthwaite

9 nights
76 miles
Moderate
From £810 per person
A walk from Ulverston to Carlisle through the heart of the Lake District via Bassenthwaite Lake.Find Out More

Cumbria Way Highlights

3 to 4 nights
28 miles
Moderate+
Dog friendly
From £285 per person
A walk from Coniston to Keswick through the picturesque central section of the Cumbria Way.Find Out More

Cumbria Way Short Break

3 nights
16 miles
Easy / Moderate
From £285 per person
A short walking holiday from Great Langdale to Keswick through the very heart of the Lake District.Find Out More

Customer reviews from the Cumbria Way

“Guidebook was great, suitcases arrived on time. Route was beautful, especially langdale pikes. Great way to walk through gorgeous countryside. Well organized and all logistics taken cade of. This was our third and we are about to start our fourth.”
Mr Litsky, USA
“My group and I had a wonderful experience hiking the Cumbria Way.”
Mr Greisberger, USA
“Very well organised with good communication with us customers. Pre-holiday info pack excellent.”
Mrs Beveridge, UK
“Wonderful area, Contour-package without failures and good support from our initial planning days, lots of nice and friendly people.”
Mr Hove, Denmark
“This was a wonderful vacation and due so in considerable measure to Contours’ excellent support and service.”
Mr O’Brien, Canada
“All in all, the four of us were very satisfied with the whole arrangement. We had a very nice holiday.”
Ms Alming, UK
“We found the scenery stunning and enjoyed the river and valley walking.”
Ms Wood, UK
“Beautiful landscapes, meeting nice people, good accommodations. We will definitely come back!”
Mrs Petersen, Denmark
“The Cumbria Way offers a stunning variety of scenery to hold ones interest over a week of walking. We greatly appreciated the time and effort Contours staff put into planning our customized itinerary for the Cumbria Way to accommodate our 4-month-old baby. The personal attention made us feel so much more comfortable with undertaking a walking holiday with an infant.”
Ms Ristau, USA