Walks in Cumbria
Every route here is drawn on real paths with its distance and climb worked out from the line. Each one has parking, dog and stile notes, a GPX to download, and a link that takes you to the start in Google Maps.
Easy · 1.5 km · 50 m up
Aira Force waterfall loop
About 30 minutes
A short woodland loop on National Trust land above Ullswater to the foot and top of Aira Force, one of the Lakes' best known waterfalls.
Moderate · 5.4 km · 312 m up
Alcock Tarn from Grasmere
About 1 hour 30 minutes
A short, steep climb from Grasmere to a quiet fellside tarn, with one of the best views of the vale on the way down past Dove Cottage.
Moderate · 9.9 km · 286 m up
Arnside Knott and the shore from Arnside
About 2 hours 30 minutes
Arnside's best walk: along the Kent estuary shore to Far Arnside, then up to the toposcope on Arnside Knott for a view over Morecambe Bay.
Hard · 7.1 km · 559 m up
Black Combe from Whicham church
About 2 hours 30 minutes
The great sea-facing fell at the south-west corner of the Lake District, climbed on a clear bridleway from Whicham's church.
Mountain · 9.4 km · 840 m up
Blencathra via Sharp Edge from Scales
About 3 hours 30 minutes
The Lake District's sharpest ridge: up from Scales to Scales Tarn, along the knife edge of Sharp Edge to Blencathra's summit, and down Scales Fell.
Easy · 7.6 km · 199 m up
Borrowdale valley loop: Seatoller, Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite
About 2 hours
A low-level ramble through the heart of Borrowdale: Johnny Wood, the River Derwent, Rosthwaite and the quiet side valley to Stonethwaite.
Hard · 13.1 km · 844 m up
Bowfell from the Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band and Three Tarns
About 4 hours
The classic Langdale round: up The Band to Three Tarns, a rocky climb to Bowfell's summit, then down by Ore Gap, Angle Tarn and Rossett Gill to Mickleden.
Easy · 6.7 km · 11 m up
Bowness-on-Solway and Port Carlisle
About 1 hour 30 minutes
The end of Hadrian's Wall: from Bowness-on-Solway along the Solway shore to the old canal port at Port Carlisle, back by farm lanes.
Easy · 5.6 km · 175 m up
Brant Fell from Bowness
About 1 hour 30 minutes
A short loop from Bowness over Post Knott to the rocky top of Brant Fell, with one of the best views over Windermere, returning on the Dales Way.
Easy · 8.8 km · 122 m up
Buttermere lake circuit
About 2 hours
A level walk all the way round Buttermere, with a lakeshore tunnel, a beach at the head of the lake and the High Stile ridge towering above.
Easy · 3.9 km · 6 m up
Carlisle riverside: Bitts Park, Rickerby Park and the Eden
About 1 hour
A flat city loop from the castle side of Bitts Park, over the Eden into Rickerby Park and back by the Memorial Bridge and riverside paths.
Moderate · 8.3 km · 257 m up
Carron Crag trail, Grizedale Forest
About 2 hours
Grizedale's purple waymarked trail from the visitor centre to Carron Crag, the forest's highest point, with views to the Coniston fells.
Moderate · 10.2 km · 195 m up
Cartmel, Speel Bank and How Barrow
About 2 hours 30 minutes
From Cartmel Priory and the racecourse through Park Wood to Speel Bank, south along the Ellerside ridge past How Barrow and back by the lanes.
Moderate · 6.2 km · 279 m up
Castle Crag from Grange
About 1 hour 30 minutes
The smallest Wainwright with the biggest personality: up through old slate workings to Castle Crag's summit memorial, then down past Millican Dalton's cave.
Easy · 6.3 km · 130 m up
Castlerigg Stone Circle from Keswick
About 1 hour 30 minutes
An easy walk from Keswick to Castlerigg, the stone circle ringed by fells, out along the old railway line and lanes and back through farmland.
Moderate · 7.1 km · 422 m up
Catbells from Gutherscale
About 2 hours
Keswick's favourite little fell: up the north ridge of Catbells to a rocky top over Derwentwater, down from Hause Gate and back along the terrace path.
Hard · 8.7 km · 678 m up
Causey Pike and Scar Crags from Stoneycroft
About 3 hours
Newlands' best short ridge: up the rocky steps of Rowling End to the knobbly top of Causey Pike, along to Scar Crags, and back past the old Stoneycroft mines.
Hard · 10.4 km · 593 m up
Cautley Spout and The Calf from the Cross Keys
About 3 hours
England's highest cascade above ground, climbed beside its falls, then a round of the Howgills' high tops by Cautley Crag and The Calf.
Moderate · 5.0 km · 382 m up
Dodd from Dodd Wood (Old Sawmill)
About 1 hour 30 minutes
A steep woodland climb from the Old Sawmill to a summit with a view over Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and across the Solway to Scotland.
Easy · 2.1 km · 111 m up
Dunmallard Hill from Pooley Bridge
About 30 minutes
A short woodland loop from Pooley Bridge over the wooded knoll at the foot of Ullswater, with the remains of an Iron Age fort on top.
Moderate · 8.6 km · 227 m up
Easedale Tarn from Grasmere
About 2 hours
Grasmere's classic tarn walk: up beside the white cascades of Sourmilk Gill to a big mountain tarn, back by Far Easedale.
Easy · 5.4 km · 36 m up
Elterwater to Skelwith Force
About 1 hour
A level riverside walk from Elterwater village, past the lake and through meadows to the falls at Skelwith Force. No stiles.
Easy · 3.2 km · 6 m up
Friar's Crag and the Derwentwater shore from Keswick
About 30 minutes
Keswick's favourite short stroll: from Theatre by the Lake to the Friar's Crag viewpoint, then on along the shore and boardwalk. Mostly step-free.
Moderate · 9.1 km · 204 m up
Gelt Woods and Greenwell from Low Gelt Bridge
About 2 hours
Field paths over Watch Hill to Greenwell, then home through the wooded gorge of the River Gelt below the old Brampton quarries.
Hard · 9.7 km · 822 m up
Great Gable from Honister via Moses' Trod
About 3 hours 30 minutes
A big-mountain day from a high start: out along the old smugglers' track of Moses' Trod to Beck Head, up Great Gable, and home over Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts.
Hard · 12.5 km · 855 m up
Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head from Braithwaite
About 4 hours
Braithwaite's big fell: straight up the ridge to Grisedale Pike, along the rim of Hobcarton Crag to Hopegill Head, and back down Coledale past the old Force Crag Mine.
Easy · 2.0 km · 115 m up
Gummer's How above Windermere
About 30 minutes
The quickest big view of Windermere: a short climb from a free Forestry England car park to a trig point looking up the whole length of the lake.
Easy · 5.1 km · 78 m up
Hadrian's Wall: Birdoswald to Willowford and Gilsland
About 1 hour
The best short stretch of Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria: from Birdoswald fort over the Irthing to Willowford's wall and bridge, and on to Poltross Burn milecastle.
Moderate · 5.0 km · 266 m up
Hallin Fell and the Ullswater shore from Martindale
About 1 hour 30 minutes
Ullswater's best small fell: a 20-minute pull to a huge summit cairn, then a loop round the wooded shore past Kailpot Crag.
Moderate · 7.8 km · 362 m up
Hampsfell Hospice from Grange-over-Sands
About 2 hours
Grange's own hill: through Eggerslack Wood to the 1846 Hospice on Hampsfell, with a rooftop view indicator and Morecambe Bay below.
Hard · 7.7 km · 529 m up
Haystacks from Gatesgarth
About 2 hours 30 minutes
A small fell with a big character: from Gatesgarth over Scarth Gap to the craggy top of Haystacks, past Innominate Tarn and down Warnscale.
Moderate · 6.6 km · 326 m up
Helm Crag from Grasmere
About 2 hours
Grasmere's own fell: a short, steep climb from Easedale to the rocky crest known as the Lion and the Lamb, with an exposed summit block for those who want it.
Hard · 20.4 km · 1132 m up
Helvellyn by the Pony Path from Glenridding
About 6 hours
Helvellyn without the scrambles: up the old pony path from Glenridding via Keppel Cove, along the summit ridge to Dollywaggon Pike and home down Grisedale.
Mountain · 13.3 km · 955 m up
Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge
About 4 hours 30 minutes
England's most famous ridge scramble: from Glenridding over the knife edge of Striding Edge to Helvellyn, then down Swirral Edge past Red Tarn.
Hard · 18.4 km · 586 m up
High Cup Nick from Dufton
About 4 hours 30 minutes
The great U-shaped chasm of the North Pennines, reached over wild moorland from Dufton and followed home along its rim on the Pennine Way.
Hard · 9.6 km · 632 m up
High Street from Mardale Head via Rough Crag
About 3 hours
High Street's finest side: up the long ridge of Rough Crag and Long Stile above Haweswater, then down by Mardale Ill Bell, Nan Bield Pass and Small Water.
Moderate · 4.5 km · 109 m up
Hoad Hill and the Sir John Barrow Monument from Ulverston
About 1 hour
Ulverston's landmark walk: up The Gill and over Flan Hill to the lighthouse-shaped Barrow Monument on the Hoad, with Morecambe Bay below.
Easy · 2.2 km · 47 m up
Kirkby Lonsdale, Devil's Bridge and Ruskin's View
About 30 minutes
A short loop from the medieval Devil's Bridge into Kirkby Lonsdale, to Ruskin's View over the Lune, and back along the river.
Moderate · 6.7 km · 115 m up
Lanercost Priory and Hadrian's Wall
About 1 hour 30 minutes
A gentle loop from Lanercost Priory up to the line of Hadrian's Wall at Hare Hill, west along the Wall and back beside the River Irthing.
Moderate · 4.9 km · 292 m up
Latrigg from Keswick
About 1 hour 30 minutes
Keswick's own small fell: up Spooney Green Lane and the zigzags to a grassy top with one of the finest views of Derwentwater in the Lakes.
Moderate · 11.6 km · 536 m up
Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike from Elterwater
About 3 hours
A small fell with a huge view: from Elterwater through old slate quarries to Lingmoor's ridge, over Side Pike above Blea Tarn, and back along Great Langdale.
Moderate · 9.3 km · 135 m up
Long Meg and Lacy's Caves from Little Salkeld
About 2 hours
Eden's finest short walk: a great Neolithic stone circle, a riverside wood and the red sandstone chambers of Lacy's Caves above the Eden.
Moderate · 10.2 km · 413 m up
Loughrigg Fell from Ambleside
About 2 hours 30 minutes
Ambleside's own fell: over the knobbly top of Loughrigg, along Loughrigg Terrace above Grasmere, past Rydal Cave and home by the River Rothay.
Easy · 3.8 km · 5 m up
Loweswater and Holme Wood from Maggie's Bridge
About 1 hour
A level, fully accessible walk along the quiet south shore of Loweswater into the oaks of Holme Wood. A Miles without Stiles route for all.
Easy · 5.7 km · 47 m up
Maryport harbour, the sea brows and the Roman fort
About 1 hour
From Maryport's harbour up the Georgian town to the Senhouse Roman Museum, along the sea brows above the Solway and back on the promenade.
Moderate · 9.6 km · 303 m up
Muncaster Fell from Ravenglass to Irton Road
About 2 hours 30 minutes
A one-way walk from Ravenglass past the Roman bath house and over Muncaster Fell, returning on the Ravenglass and Eskdale steam railway.
Hard · 17.5 km · 555 m up
Nine Standards Rigg from Kirkby Stephen
About 4 hours 30 minutes
Kirkby Stephen's skyline cairns, reached by the Coast to Coast path over Hartley Fell and home through Ladthwaite and the old railway viaducts.
Easy · 2.5 km · 108 m up
Orrest Head from Windermere station
About 30 minutes
A short climb straight from Windermere station through woodland to Orrest Head, a 360 degree viewpoint over Windermere and the central fells.
Moderate · 7.6 km · 542 m up
Place Fell from Patterdale
About 2 hours 30 minutes
The best viewpoint over Ullswater for the effort: up from Patterdale to Boredale Hause and Place Fell, then down by The Knight to the lakeshore path.
Moderate · 5.3 km · 356 m up
Rannerdale Knotts and the bluebell valley
About 1 hour 30 minutes
A small fell with a big view over Crummock Water, climbed via Rannerdale, the valley famous for its May carpet of bluebells.
Easy · 1.8 km · 5 m up
Ravenglass to the Roman bath house
About 30 minutes
An easy, step-free walk from Ravenglass along Walls Drive to one of the tallest Roman buildings still standing in northern Britain.
Hard · 14.1 km · 839 m up
Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag from Buttermere
About 4 hours
One of Lakeland's great ridge walks: up past Bleaberry Tarn to Red Pike, along the crags to High Stile and High Crag, then down Gamlin End to Scarth Gap and the lake.
Easy · 6.8 km · 231 m up
Rydal Water and Rydal Cave from Pelter Bridge
About 1 hour 30 minutes
A full circuit of Rydal Water: the old Coffin Route, the River Rothay to Grasmere, Loughrigg Terrace and the great slate cavern of Rydal Cave.
Mountain · 8.7 km · 969 m up
Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head
About 3 hours 30 minutes
The shortest way up England's highest mountain: from the head of Wastwater by Lingmell Gill and Brown Tongue to the summit of Scafell Pike.
Moderate · 10.3 km · 260 m up
Scout Scar and Cunswick Scar from Kendal
About 2 hours 30 minutes
Kendal's doorstep classic: over Kendal Fell to the limestone edges of Cunswick Scar and Scout Scar, with the whole Lake District skyline from the Mushroom.
Easy · 10.5 km · 5 m up
Silloth to Skinburness and Grune Point
About 2 hours
Along the Silloth promenade to Skinburness and out to Grune Point, a shingle spit with big Solway views and a wartime pillbox.
Moderate · 5.8 km · 370 m up
Silver How from Grasmere
About 2 hours
Grasmere's own little fell: a short circuit to a rocky summit with one of the finest views of the vale, the lake and the Langdale Pikes.
Hard · 10.7 km · 755 m up
Skiddaw from the Latrigg car park (Gale Road)
About 3 hours 30 minutes
The quickest honest way up Skiddaw: the old pony track from the top of Gale Road, up Jenkin Hill and along the stony summit ridge to the trig point.
Easy · 4.8 km · 34 m up
Smardale Gill Viaduct from Smardale
About 1 hour
A level walk along an old railway through a Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve to the tall stone viaduct over Scandal Beck.
Easy · 7.3 km · 14 m up
South Tyne Trail: Alston to Slaggyford
About 1 hour 30 minutes
A gentle, well-surfaced walk down the South Tyne valley from Alston, beside the narrow-gauge railway you can ride back.
Moderate · 3.2 km · 379 m up
Stickle Tarn from the New Dungeon Ghyll
About 1 hour 30 minutes
The best short climb in Great Langdale: up the tumbling Stickle Ghyll from the New Dungeon Ghyll to Stickle Tarn under the cliffs of Pavey Ark.
Easy · 2.3 km · 7 m up
Talkin Tarn circuit, near Brampton
About 30 minutes
A flat, hard-surfaced loop round the tarn at Talkin Tarn Country Park, with a tearoom at the boathouse. Good for wheelchairs, buggies and dogs.
Easy · 3.0 km · 38 m up
Tarn Hows circular walk
About 30 minutes
An easy loop on a good path around Tarn Hows, the wooded tarn between Coniston and Hawkshead with the Langdale and Coniston fells behind.
Mountain · 11.5 km · 692 m up
The Calf from Sedbergh
About 3 hours 30 minutes
The roof of the Howgills straight from Sedbergh: up Settlebeck Gill and over Arant Haw and Calders to the white trig point on The Calf.
Hard · 19.5 km · 1018 m up
The Fairfield Horseshoe from Ambleside
About 5 hours 30 minutes
One of the great Lakeland rounds: from Ambleside up Nab Scar and over eight tops around the Rydal valley, with Fairfield's summit at the head.
Hard · 21.2 km · 1157 m up
The Kentmere Horseshoe
About 6 hours
A long, classic round of nine Wainwrights from Kentmere: up the Garburn Road to Yoke and Ill Bell, over High Street, and home by Harter Fell and Shipman Knotts.
Hard · 11.7 km · 772 m up
The Old Man of Coniston via the Coppermines and Walna Scar
About 3 hours 30 minutes
Coniston's mountain by its most interesting line: up through the old copper and slate workings to Low Water and the summit, down by Goat's Water and Walna Scar.
Moderate · 11.3 km · 317 m up
Ullswater Way: Howtown to Glenridding
About 3 hours
A favourite low-level Lakes walk: steamer to Howtown, then home along the wild eastern shore of Ullswater to Glenridding.
Moderate · 10.6 km · 377 m up
Walla Crag from Keswick
About 2 hours 30 minutes
A half-day round from Keswick over Castlehead to the cliff-top of Walla Crag, down to Ashness Bridge and home along the Derwentwater shore.
Hard · 11.6 km · 602 m up
Wansfell Pike and Troutbeck from Ambleside
About 3 hours 30 minutes
Ambleside's own fell: past Stock Ghyll Force to Wansfell Pike, down Nanny Lane to Troutbeck, home through Skelghyll Woods and Jenkin Crag.
Hard · 13.6 km · 574 m up
Wild Boar Fell and Swarth Fell from Mallerstang
About 3 hours 30 minutes
The great prow above Mallerstang, climbed from the head of the dale near Aisgill and linked with Swarth Fell for a fine high circuit.
Walks by place
- The Lake District
- Eden Valley
- Carlisle and Hadrian's Wall
- West Cumbria Coast
- Furness and Cartmel
- Solway Coast
- Howgills and Westmorland Dales
- North Pennines
- Near Keswick
- Near Ambleside
- Near Windermere
- Near Bowness-on-Windermere
- Near Grasmere
- Near Coniston
- Near Hawkshead
- Near Penrith
- Near Carlisle
- Near Ulverston
- Near Cartmel
- Near Grange-over-Sands
- Near Sedbergh
- Near Brampton
- Near Borrowdale
- Near Glenridding
- Near Pooley Bridge
- Near Buttermere
- Near Wasdale
- Near Langdale
- Near Braithwaite
- Near Staveley
- Near Ravenglass
- Near Arnside
- Near Kirkby Stephen
- Near Windermere
- Near Ullswater
- Near Derwentwater
- Near Coniston Water
- Near Bassenthwaite Lake
- Near Crummock Water
- Near Buttermere
- Near Loweswater
- Near Grasmere
- Near Rydal Water
- Near Esthwaite Water
- Near Elter Water