A relatively new Long Distance Path, the Westmorland Way begins in the the famous horse-fare town of Appleby in the Pennines and traces a sensational route through the very best of the historic Lake District county of Westnorland to finish at Arnside on Morecambe Bay.

We provide route maps and all the information you need to take the guess work out of walking the Westmorland Way. This is our local area so the information you get is as up-to-date as is possible and we know all the accommodation options available to you, so you always get the best within the budget you choose. We also give you an emergency contact number in case of any problems or difficulties.

7 days walking / 8 nights in hotels, country Inns & guest houses

Prices Include maps, route information cards and an emergency contact number.

Accommodation only: £455
Accommodation and luggage transfer: £535
Prices are per person based on twin share.

Itinerary Day 1. Arrive at your accommodation in Appleby Day 2. Begin the Westmorland Way and trek through pasture and along quiet country lanes through the beautiful Eden Valley. Above the village of Great Asby you climb the higher ground of Bank Moor and cross the River Lyvennet at Crosby Ravensworth before climbing once again to the high village of Shap. 17 miles Day 3. From Shap a gradual descent brings you to Shap Abbey situated on the the River Lowther. Following the river north west, you pass through Bampton Grange before reaching Lowther Castle and the hilltop village of Askham. The Westmorland Way uses quiet lanes and field paths to reach the tiny village of Barton where you descend to the River Eamont, which is now followed to Pooley Bridge at the northern end of Ullswater. 14 miles Day 4. Leaving Pooley Bridge the route traverses below the crags of Barton Fell to Howtown and then follows a sensational lakeside path along the quiet eastern shore of Ullswater to reach the quintessential Lake District village of Patterdale just beyond its southern shore. 11.5 miles

Day 5. Today you enter the heart of the mountains crossing the long ridgeline of the Eastern Fells through the gap of Grisedale Hause between the ranges of Hellvelyn to the north and those of Fairfield and Hart Crag to the south. Descending from Grisedale tarn you come to Grasmere, the home of William Wordsworth. 9 miles

Day 6. From Grasmere you climb across the 'Red Bank' into the Langdale valley and to the Britannia Inn at Elterwater from where you follow the River Brathay to bustling Ambleside at the northern end of Windermere. Climbing again you cross Jenkin Crag to reach Troutbeck. 11 miles

Day 7. Now heading South and skirting the town of Windermere you cross School Knott and follow footpaths and lanes to Underbarrow. A final climb to Scout Scar and a dramatic walk along the edge of the crags brings you to a descent to the market town of Kendal known as the 'Gateway to the Lakes' 15 miles

Day 8. The final day of the Westmorland Way is a long one but the terrain is getting easier as you head south away from the mountains. Leaving Kendal along the banks of the River Kent you then walk along a canal towpath and through pretty woodland. There is still some climbing to do notably up the Fairy Steps of Underlaid Wood and the final sting in the tail is a 500 metre ascent to Arnside Knott for sensational views over Morecambe Bay. Now all that remains is a short descent to the end of the Westmorland Way in the town of Arnside. 17.5 miles

 

The option below walking the Westmorland Way over 9 days, allows you to split the first two long days from Appleby to Pooley Bridge into three shorter legs and the last and longest day into two legs.

9 days walking / 10 nights hotels, country Inns & guest houses

Accommodation only: £555
Accommodation and luggage transfer: £665
Prices are per person based on twin share.

Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive at your accommodation in Appleby

Day 2. Begin the Westmorland Way and trek through pasture and along quiet country lanes through the beautiful Eden Valley. Above the village of Great Asby you climb the higher ground of Bank Moor and reach Crosby Ravensworth on the River Lyvennet. 12 miles

Day 3. Climbing gradually out of the Lyvennet valley you pass an ancient stone circle before reaching the high village of Shap. From here a gradual descent brings you to the Keld Chapel where you turn north to follow the River Lowther past Shap Abbey and on to Bampton Grange. 9.5 miles

Day 4. Continuing north through the Lowther valley you reach Lowther Castle and the hilltop village of Askham. The Westmorland Way uses quiet lanes and field paths to reach the tiny village of Barton where you descend to the River Eamont, which is now followed to Pooley Bridge at the northern end of Ullswater. 9.5 miles

Day 5. Leaving Pooley Bridge the route traverses below the crags of Barton Fell to Howtown and then follows a sensational lakeside path along the quiet eastern shore of Ullswater to reach the quintessential Lake District village of Patterdale just beyond its southern shore. 11.5 miles

Day 6. Today you enter the heart of the mountains crossing the long ridgeline of the Eastern Fells through the gap of Grisedale Hause between the ranges of Hellvelyn to the north and those of Fairfield and Hart Crag to the south. Descending from Grisedale tarn you come to Grasmere, the home of William Wordsworth. 9 miles

Day 7. From Grasmere you climb across the 'Red Bank' into the Langdale valley and to the Britannia Inn at Elterwater from where you follow the River Brathay to bustling Ambleside at the northern end of Windermere. Climbing again you cross Jenkin Crag to reach Troutbeck. 11 miles

Day 8. Now heading South and skirting the town of Windermere you cross School Knott and follow footpaths and lanes to Underbarrow. A final climb to Scout Scar and a dramatic walk along the edge of the crags brings you to a descent to the market town of Kendal known as the 'Gateway to the Lakes' 15 miles

Day 9. The terrain is gets easier as you head south away from the mountains. Today we follow first the River Kent as we pass from bustling Kendal into quiet countryside and then finish the day along towpaths of the Lancaster Canal which leads us into the village of Crooklands. 7.5 miles

Day 10. From Crooklands you continue to follow the Lancaster Canal through a pastoral landscape until the path turns west towards the pretty woodland around Beetham. There is still some climbing to do notably up the Fairy Steps and the final sting in the tail is a 500 metre ascent to Arnside Knott for sensational views over Morecambe Bay. Now all that remains is a short descent to the end of the Westmorland Way in the town of Arnside. 10 miles