Cumbria Way

69.6 miles (112 km)

Travel through the beautiful Lake District National Park on this stunning walk. The path runs from Ulverston to Carlisle, passing dramatic mountainous scenery, beautiful lakes and a series of delightful Cumbrian towns and villages.
We have split this trail into five stages of around 15 miles each in length.
Stage 1: Ulverston to Coniston
Stage 2: Coniston to Langdale
Stage 3: Langdale to Keswick
Stage 4: Keswick to Caldbeck
Stage 5: Caldbeck to Carlisle

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Cumbria Way Ordnance Survey Map - view and print off detailed OS map

Cumbria Way Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map

Cumbria Way OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Cumbria Way Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

On the western side of Derwenwater, near the famous Catbells, you will find the delightful Lingholm Kitchen. It's one of the premium refreshment stops on the route and well worth some further investigation. The splendid cafe also includes the Kitchen gardens which Beatrix Potter credited as her inspiration for Mr McGregor’s garden in�The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The Victorian style garden has herbaceous borders while it’s central areas are for vegetable production that is then served fresh daily in the Kitchen. Within the walled garden there is the splendid bonus of an outdoor gallery dedicated to Beatrix Potter’s work in the Derwentwater area, much of it undertaken whilst she stayed at Lingholm. The gallery takes a journey through her years at Lingholm and the Northern Lakes and how she wrote and illustrated some of her best known stories here. From the kitchen there are tremendous views towards the surrounding mountains. It's a lovely place to get a bite to eat and then enjoy a little stroll around the gardens afterwards.
Also on the estate is an Alpaca Farm where you can take part in feeding time and ask the keepers all about these beautiful animals.
The Borrowdale Gates Hotel is located on the route in Grange, just south of Derwentwater. The hotel is in a lovely spot and includes a terrace and some pretty gardens with fine views of the surrounding fells.�During the colder months, open log fires are lit in the lounges all day, providing warmth and cosiness for reading and drinks. The restaurant is open to non residents and includes panoramic windows offering captivating fell views to complement the imaginative menu. It's a fine place to enjoy a meal and then stroll around the pretty gardens surrounding the hotel. You can find the Borrowdale Gates in Grange at postcode CA12 5UQ.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Another notable route attraction can be found near Catbells at Brandlehow Park, considered the birthplace of the National Trust. The lakeside park has some interesting wooden sculptures including the cupped hands (below) which commemorates the centenary of the National Trust's first ever land purchase, 108 acres of the Brandlehow estate. Octavia Hill, one of the founders of the Trust, planted a tree at the official opening of Brandelhow to the public in October 1902. It's another very pleasant place for a stroll, with peaceful woodland paths and lots of interesting flora and fauna. Look out for kingfishers, woodpeckers, nuthatches, roe deer, red squirrels and, if you're very lucky, perhaps even an otter.

Above: The wooden sculptures in Brandlehow Park. You will often see children climbing on them!
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cumbria Walks andLake District Walks pages.