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The Cumbria Way

Highlights
  • Walk across the English Lake District from South to North
  • Follow in the footsteps of poets Wordsworth and Coleridge
  • The breathtaking, rugged beauty of the Langdale and Borrowdale Valleys
  • Dramatic views of craggy mountain peaks including Skiddaw and Blencathra
  • Walk next to the glistening shores of Derwent Water and Coniston Water
  • Explore the attractive market towns of Ulverston and Carlisle
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The Cumbria Way

Cross the Lake District from South to North, starting in the attractive market town of Ulverston and finishing in historic Carlisle. Making use of the valley routes, The Cumbria Way is a classic 76 mile walk which is by and large low-level (with a couple of days in the higher fells), but is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery, making it the perfect introduction to the Lake District!

Macs Adventure have been booking adventures on the Cumbria Way for ten years now, so we know the route and all the accommodations well. As you walk from one pretty Lake District village to another, you can rest assured that at the end of the day, a warm welcome awaits at your cosy B&B or traditional inn, along with your luggage which will have been sped ahead of you. 

It is possible to do the Cumbria Way over either 6 or 7 nights, with the longer itinerary giving you an extra stop in the idyllic Borrowdale Valley, which Wainwright called 'the loveliest square mile in Lakeland'. Whichever itinerary you choose, our knowledgeable team will make sure they craft the perfect adventure for you on the wonderful Cumbria Way. Read about our Cumbria Way trip and other less-known UK trails in this UK press article.

Featured Adventures - The Cumbria Way

The Cumbria Way - 7 Days & 6 Nights
7 Days

57 Reviews
The Cumbria Way - 7 Days & 6 Nights
Walk the Cumbria Way at a more challenging pace, suited to regular walkers.
From £620.00
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The Cumbria Way - 8 Days & 7 Nights
8 Days

57 Reviews
The Cumbria Way - 8 Days & 7 Nights
Walk from Ulverston to Carlisle with an extra stop in the Borrowdale Valley.
From £730.00
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Discover The Cumbria Way

  • Cumbria Way FAQ's
    Cumbria Way FAQ's

    Q. Is it easy to navigate?

    A. The way-marking is ok on the Cumbria Way but as it is not a National Trail it can be quite sporadic. It is also the Lake District and for those higher sections in the fells and around Hike Pike, it is advisable that you should have had some experience using a map to navigate. However, you will have access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app so you shouldn't really have any problems finding the way.

    Q. How tough is it?

    A. The nice thing about the Cumbria Way is that whilst it is passes through the most magnificent mountain landscapes, it largely makes use of the lower-level valley routes, making it a slightly easier route through the Lake District. There are a couple of steep climbs around Stake Pass and High Pike (this one can also be avoided with an alternative) but the highest point is at 658m. So whilst it is certainly not a walk in the park with a couple of pretty long days, it is definitely do-able!

    Q. Where do you recommend rest days?

    A. If you have the time, it is definitely worth adding an extra day in Ulverston to explore this historic market town before heading off on your walk, especially if you arrive later in the day. You can visit the Laurel & Hardy museum here or there are quite a few tempting pubs to take in - just don't enjoy them too much before walking the next day! The bustling town of Keswick in the heart of the Lakes is another spot we would definitely recommend adding an extra night. It not only breaks up your walk nicely, but there are plenty of other walks you can do around Keswick (if you want to do more walking!) including the mighty Skiddaw or other short strolls around Derwent Water. 

     

     

  • Best Pubs on the Cumbria Way
    Best Pubs on the Cumbria Way

    Not that we recommend "drinking and hiking", but there are definitely a few very good watering holes on the Cumbria Way! Here we list some of them...

    The Mill, Ulverston -  a bit of a Gastropub, The Mill in Ulverston features three distinctive bars next door to each other. Cask Bar on the ground floor features wood-burning fires and the Mill's original water wheel where you can sample a local pint of craft ale. There's a rooftop bar, Terrace Bar, with a relaxing outdoor area for sunny days and a Loft Bar at the top floor where cocktails can be enjoyed.  

    The Yewdale, Coniston - A warm welcome is guaranteed in The Yewdale Pub where you can enjoy a refreshing drink outside on the terrace with great views to The Old Man of Coniston in the background.

    Old Dungeon Ghyll, Great Langdale - a proper traditional pub very popular with climbers and walkers. Their Hiker's Bar was formerly cow sheds and they serve a great collection of real ales! 

    The Wainwright, Keswick - a busy pub right in the centre of bustling Keswick, there is plenty of atmosphere in this place! A sign on their wall says "We don’t do fast food, we do good food as fast as we can" and as well as real ales, they also have a great selection of proper pub grub.

    The Eltermere Inn, Elterwater - this place makes a great stop on the way from Coniston to Great Langdale and the well-stocked bar offers a great selection of ales, gins and whiskies and has lovely views over Elterwater.

     

     

  • Why Book the Cumbria Way with Macs Adventure?
    Why Book the Cumbria Way with Macs Adventure?

    Macs Adventure have been organising self-guided walking holidays on the Cumbria Way since 2010. After the success of the iconic Coast to Coast walk, and with many of the team being very fond of the Lake District it made perfect sense to add this long-distance walk to our collection. With it being a not-too-strenuous walk through amazing landscapes, we were sure it would appeal to many - and we weren't wrong!

    We offer a flexible, tailor-made Cumbria Way experience staying in comfortable B&Bs, guesthouses, and inns attached to traditional pubs. We carry your bags to lighten your load so you can concentrate on simply putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the walk. You can book with confidence that we have it all covered for you. 

    On the route, we use high-quality digital mapping and detailed turn-by-turn route notes to make sure you find your way, as well as providing a host of tips, facts and recommendations to enrich your Cumbria Way adventure. 

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