Possibly England's best kept secret, the 73-mile Cumbria Way plots a course from the market town of Ulverston overlooking Morecambe Bay, right through the mountain heart of the Lake District, to Carlisle close to the Solway Firth. Along the way you will pass through a remarkable variety of scenery ranging from the ordered pastoral landscapes of its beginnings, the mixed woodland of the lake shores, dramatic peaks in central Lakeland and the wild reaches of the northern Calbeck fells, before finishing in the historic city of Carlisle.

Level of Difficulty

For the most part, the Cumbria Way follows the low ground through the mountains, linking existing footpaths and rights of way along lake-filled valleys. There are two significant ascents on the Cumbria Way, the first to cross the central watershed of the Lake District over Stakes Pass and the second, to cross the Caldbeck Fells where the Cumbria Way reaches its highest point on High Pike at 2159 feet. For this second ascent there is an optional low-level route.

Stage Options

The low level nature of the majority of the walk and its modest length when compared to other long distance paths, mean that the Cumbria Way fits comfortably into a week of walking with a day or two to spare, but given that you are traversing the Lake District, it makes sense to extend your time with additional walks such as the ascent of the 'Old Man' from Coniston or Skiddaw from Keswick and we provide various options for your self-guided tour.