The Cumbria Way is a 73-mile long-distance trail running from Ulverston to Carlisle — tracing a tranquil line through the central spine of the Lake District. It’s a walk of quiet contrasts, from lush lowland valleys and wooded lakeshores to remote passes, wild tarns, and open hill country.
Less busy than the classic fell routes, the Cumbria Way offers a gentler immersion into this iconic landscape. Perfect for self-guided walking holidays, it combines accessible terrain with moments of solitude, beauty, and deep connection to the land
Distance: 73 miles (117 km)
Start Point: Ulverston, Cumbria
End Point: Carlisle, Cumbria
Time Required: 5 to 6 days
Highest Point: High Pike (658 m / 2,159 ft)
Waymarking: Green discs marked “Cumbria Way”
Terrain: Lakeshores, valley tracks, woodlands, fell passes, rolling farmland
Accessibility: Mostly well-marked, though some upland sections require navigation experience and hillwalking fitness
Start in Ulverston, a traditional market town near Morecambe Bay, and walk north through green fields toward the wooded shores of Coniston Water. The route follows gentle lakeside paths with views of the Coniston Fells and quiet tarns along the way.
From Coniston, the trail heads into the spectacular Langdale Valley, where towering peaks rise around you, but the path keeps to the valley floor. A steady climb over Stake Pass leads into Borrowdale, one of the Lake District’s most atmospheric valleys.
Skirting Derwent Water, the route continues to Keswick, a lively town with literary ties and mountain views. From there, climb toward Skiddaw’s flanks and reach the high point at High Pike, before descending through the Caldbeck Fells and on to the open farmland and quiet lanes that lead to Carlisle — a historic city near the Scottish border.
Accommodation is generally well-placed, though more limited in the central fells. Stay in walkers’ pubs, cottages, and inns in Coniston, Great Langdale, Keswick, Caldbeck, and Carlisle — but book ahead, especially in remote sections between valleys.
Popular side trips include Tarn Hows, Latrigg, or short detours into the fells for more adventurous walkers. Rest days in Keswick or Borrowdale let you explore literary landmarks, lakeside trails, and quieter corners of the Lake District.
The Cumbria Way is ideal for slow, immersive travel — offering a peaceful rhythm through one of England’s most celebrated landscapes.
