Cumbria Way

OVERVIEW

The Cumbria Way is in many ways the perfect trail. It heads through the Lake District, without getting into any contests over how many hills can be climbed in one day, instead focusing on the core reason for visiting the Lake District in the first place - the beauty.

The route is often fairly quiet - but picks up in popularity as it passes through busier locations such as Keswick - but whilst rarely getting an over-whelming stream of other walkers.

The route starts in Ulverston, then heads up and passes along Coniston Water, before passing very close to Ambleside at Skelwith Bridge.

From here it takes on a fairly remote section to Rosthwaite - and then heads up along the edge of Derwent Water to Keswick. 

After Keswick there is another remote (and hilly) section to Caldbeck - after which the path generally follows the River Caldew to Carlisle.

PRACTICALITIES

Access to the trail is easier than it appears at first glance, because in addition to train stations at Carlisle and Ulverston, you also have easy exit points at Keswick and Ambleside. From Ambleside you can get a bus down to the train station at Windermere, and from Keswick there is a bus down to the train station at Penrith - and both of these bus services are very regular.

There is also a late exit point from the trail at Dalston (by train), although this is too close to Carlisle to be of much use.

From south to north you have accommodation options at Coniston, Ambleside, Keswick, Skiddaw House and Caldbeck - along with accommodation options at each end of the trail.

In the end I split the walk in two and did Carlisle to Keswick (you may prefer to stop in Caldbeck as that was a long walk) in one go. Then I plan to stay in Coniston and Windermere (branching off from Skelwith Bridge to have an explore), before finishing in Keswick again.

This is one of those trails where taking it slow, and adding meanders to sites along route has significant value - so there is no need to rush the trip. It also does a good job of clearing up in your head where everything is in the Lake District.

USEFUL SITES

Guidebook : The Cumbria Way : Ulverston to Carlisle
LDWA Page : Cumbria Way - LDWA Long Distance Paths

STAGES

Ulverston to Coniston

Planned to walk in 2026...

Coniston to Skelwith Bridge

Planned to walk in 2026...

Skelwith Bridge to Keswick

Planned to walk in 2026...

Keswick to Carlisle (★★★★★)

This was a long stretch I did north to south - but walked south to north you head up from Keswick up along the edge of Lonscale Fell - and then head out following a stream, surrounded by steep hills.

After a long (and incredibly pretty) walk along here), you turn left and head up onto the ridge above along the path of a stream, and then turn and head to High Pike.

From here you descend down into Caldbeck, and then turn to the east to head through a wooded section that lines a stream that flows into the River Caldew. That river is then followed round to Carlisle, passing Dalston along the way.

This section totaled 29.5 miles, with nearly four thousand feet of ascent walking north to south, but this drops to nearly four thousand feet walking south to north.