Walking the Cumbria Way – Hints, Tips and Practicalities

If I’m in the Lake District I’m usual on a hill, on my way up, or down.  The challenge of bagging Wainwrights has been and gone.  I’ve completed the the Coast to Coast. crossing the country, and county, in a West/East direction and trekked in far away places.

With the Peaks of the Balkans imminent, I unexpectedly had a diary gap, so what better way to fill it than with  my first multi-day solo hike. Practically on the flat in generally, hilly Cumbria.  How much of a challenge could that possibly be?

If you want to be on the high fells this wont suit you but to see Cumbria from a different perspective and look at vistas you may not have from the higher fells it’s an interesting routes with pretty trails unfolding through hills and contrasting countryside.

Wetherlam and Tilberthwaite

Only two sizeable hills really interrupt the way.  Over Stake Pass from Mickelden to Stonethwaite and the final ascent, to the final night.  High Pike.

Tarn Hows

Cumbria Way is most usually split into five days with four nights en-route.

• Ulverston to Coniston
• Coniston to Langdale
• Langdale to Keswick
• Keswick to Calbeck
• Caldbeck to Carlisle

Details of each day here.

The challenge of the route in five days is merely the distances.  Especially if you carry all your worldly goods, as I did.  Then leave booking accommodation a little late.   Resulting in a hike from Coniston centre to Coniston Copper Mines YHA.  All up hill and not welcome at the end of a long day.

Beacon Tarn Blawith Fell

Thankfully Coniston to Langdale was my shortest day and somewhat more restful with a leisurely lunch at High Park, and a night at the New Dungeon Ghyll.  In retrospect a slightly longer walk to the Old Dungeon Ghyll to shorten the next would have been sensible as the trek to Keswick was the longest day, over 17.5miles / 28.3k. 

Yew Tree Farm, Rosthwaite

The Cumbria Way website has information on accommodation and the towns and villages or route, so with a little less haste and a bit more planning a more leisurely route with more time to explore could be planned. Camping is an option, the site also lists campsites but as the route is nearly always below the intake line. Wild camping not really an option.

For anyone, from the UK or abroad, who wants to see a cross section of hills and country lanes its a good introduction to multi-day hiking.  Less walked than the Coast to Coast and so much quieter.  I met only five other people who were doing the route the same direction as I,  and one couple who were travelling north to south.  Book more than three weeks in advance. Booking so late, for the first week in August meant I had little choice.  It is also worth noting than many places will only accept two nights booking in peak season.

Langstrath Valley

Sherpa Van provide a bag transfer service and of course, I offer a fully guided experience, taking the strain of navigation out of the equation.  Email me for information.

I also stayed at the Odd Fellows Arms in Caldbeck

Keswick I stayed with a friend and enjoyed homespun luxury.

More details here

More information on the Cumbria Way here