The Cumbria Way

The Cumbria Way

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6 nightsAverage
71.5 MILES / 115 KMTotal
11.9 MILES / 19.2 KMAverage Per Day
7,475Elevation
Inns, B&B's, Hotels.Accommodation

The Cumbria Way

Difficulty Grade
Accommodation Type
Inns, B&B's, Hotels.
Activity
Walking Holiday
Start/Finish
Ulverston to Carlisle
Average PPPN
£158
Best Months
April - October

Difficulty grade based on 1 star being the easiest and 5 star being the most difficult

Costs based on two people sharing

Overview

A 70 mile journey through the heart of Cumbria and the Lake District, linking the festival town of Ulverston with the historic city of Carlisle, crossing literary landscapes, old mining settlements, mountain passes, dedicious woodlands, and quaint villages.

Keep your eyes peeled for red squirrels, roe deer and otters to peregrine falcons, buzzards, kestrels and the occasional red kite overhead. Add in fire lit pubs, tea & cake, hearty breakfasts, chit-chatter, and some of the north’s finest scenery, and it's easy to see why the Cumbria Way is one of England's most popular long distance trails.

Highlights include Blawith Common, and Beacon Tarn sleeping beneath Coniston Old Man, Tarn Hows, entering iconic Langdale, Derwentwater’s ancient woodlands, and the lonely tracks around Skiddaw House. One day you'll be following a lakeshore into a village, the next you'll up on the mountain passes with barely a soul in sight.

Scenery on the Cumbria Way changes almost daily. The Langdale Pikes give way to remote Langstrath. Borrowdale's wooded valleys lead to Keswick’s cobbled streets, and the northern fells culminate on High Pike, the highest point on the route, with views spanning to the Lakes, the Pennines, and to Scotland.

Walking holidays on the Cumbria Way are self guided, and run from late March to mid October.

Our standard itineraries covers the route in 6 days/7 nights.

Our relaxed itineraries cover the route in 9 days/10 nights.

Our fast itineraries cover the route in 5 days/6 nights.

Dogs are welcome on the Cumbria Way but must be kept on a lead.

Your Journey

Itinerary Days

Each profile offers a different pace and day-by-day itinerary.Choose a profile to explore the day-by-day route, distances and ascent.

Standard Route

6 days

5 nights

Duration

72.7 miles / 117 km

Total distance

Total distance

6,803 ft / 6,809 ft

2,074 m / 2,075 m

Total ascent / descent

12.1 miles per day

19.5 km per day

Average distance
1Day

Ulverston to Coniston

Starting in Ulverston and finishing in Coniston, this is a long day at 15.5 miles, but it’s worth every step! Expect glimpses of the Furness Fells all day, before they creep up on you once you reach Beacon Tarn on Blawith Common. The final miles make for a much easier stroll into Coniston along the lake shore, leading to a beautiful old mining village nestled beneath Coniston Old Man, with plenty of pubs waiting at the finish for a well-earned reward.

Distance

15.6 miles

25.1 km

Ascent / Descent

1,358 ft / 1,296 ft

414 m / 395 m

Elevation profile

2Day

Coniston to Great Langdale

A shorter day than yesterday, but one packed with classic Lake District scenery. Starting in Coniston, it’s a sharp climb to start through fields and farm tracks, onto quiet lanes and up a (rather steep) hill to the magnificent Tarn Hows, before continuing along a stony track to High Park. From here it’s another mixture of fields, woodland tracks and roads all the way into Skellwith Bridge, with its impressive waterfall and excellent café by the river. From Skellwith Bridge you’ll one of the Lakes’ brilliant Miles Without Stiles routes through to Elterwater, with the option to finish here or continue deeper into the depths of Great Langdale…

Distance

11.4 miles

18.3 km

Ascent / Descent

1,143 ft / 975 ft

349 m / 297 m

Elevation profile

3Day

Great Langdale to Rosthwaite

A short but demanding day through some of Cumbria Way’s most remote landscapes, climbing to Stake Pass before descending beside Stake Ghyll into Langstrath. Expect mountain views, valley walking and a sense of solitude as you make your way to Rosthwaite.

Distance

8 miles

12.8 km

Ascent / Descent

1,239 ft / 1,261 ft

378 m / 385 m

Elevation profile

4Day

Rosthwaite to Keswick

A gentler day following the Derwent from Rosthwaite to Keswick, passing through ancient woodland historic estates, and of the Lake District's most iconic scenery! Plenty of points of interest along the way and easy walking throughout.

Distance

7.8 miles

12.6 km

Ascent / Descent

363 ft / 398 ft

111 m / 121 m

Elevation profile

5Day

Keswick to Caldbeck

One of the best days on the Cumbria Way, with magnificent views all day, a well-earned pit stop at Skiddaw House and a crossing of the northern fells. The reward is High Pike, the highest summit on the route, before a gentle descent into the charming village of Caldbeck.

Distance

14.9 miles

24 km

Ascent / Descent

2,448 ft / 2,193 ft

746 m / 668 m

Elevation profile

6Day

Caldbeck to Carlisle

A flat and easy final day following the River Caldew from Caldbeck to Carlisle through peaceful countryside. Easy walking, abundant birdlife and a few hidden gems along the way provide a fitting end to the Cumbria Way.

Distance

15.1 miles

24.2 km

Ascent / Descent

251 ft / 686 ft

77 m / 209 m

Elevation profile

Estimated Cost Calculator

6 Days / 7 Nights
2

Your Selection

6 Days / 7 Nightsstandard

Cost Per Person

£1,050

Based on 2 people sharing

Total Cost

£2,100

Capture The Moment

A glimpse into the breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable experiences awaiting you

Getting There

How to reach your starting point

Travel by By Train

From London Euston, fast and direct trains run to Lancaster with (average journey time of 2.5 - 3 hours). From Lancaster, you will change for the scenic Northern Rail Service along Morecambe Bay to Ulverston (average journey time 40 minutes).

If flying into Manchester, trains run hourly to Ulverston straight from the airport (average journey time 2hrs 14 minutes). Occasionally this will require a change at Lancaster.

Travel Tip: Consider taking the train for a more sustainable journey

Need help with travel arrangements?

Route Map

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Start/Finish

Ulverston to Carlisle

Interactive Map

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Elevation Profile

See the terrain and climbs along your journey

Points of Interest

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