The Cumbria Way runs from Ulverston to Carlisle, stretching about 117 km (73 mi) through the Lake District. Typically walked over 5–6 days (covering 18–24 km/12–15 mi per day), it’s a route of quiet beauty — crossing lakeshores, woodlands, gentle fells, and small Cumbrian towns. Though mostly low-level, it does include the more exposed Stake Pass and High Pike sections.
The trail begins in Ulverston, near the southern coast, and heads north into the hills. It skirts the edge of Coniston Water, then follows the valley north to Great Langdale, passing beneath the crags of the Old Man of Coniston and into some of the Lake District’s most dramatic terrain.
From Langdale, the route crosses over to Borrowdale and on to Derwentwater, winding through woods and old packhorse paths before reaching the market town of Keswick. Beyond that, the landscape opens into rolling upland and farmland, passing through Caldbeck and finally descending into Carlisle, where rivers and ruins mark the trail’s end.
The Cumbria Way lends itself to slow, stage-by-stage travel. Rest in lakeside towns like Coniston, stay in valley inns in Borrowdale or Langdale, or spend the night in quieter spots like Elterwater or Caldbeck. With well-marked paths and welcoming places to stay, it’s an ideal route for self-guided walking.
Take time to wander off the trail — visit Tarn Hows, follow a riverside path to Catbells, or explore the quiet charm of Derwentwater by boat or foot. The beauty of the Cumbria Way lies not only in where it goes, but in how it lets you see.
Not all trails rise to meet you. Some walk alongside you — gently, steadily, quietly. The Cumbria Way is one of them.
