New 120-mile Westmorland and Furness Way brings walkers within two miles of Kendal

A new 120-mile walking route has opened across Westmorland and Furness, with its longest and most challenging section passing through Burneside and Staveley, close to Kendal.

The Westmorland and Furness Way opened on 15 September. It runs from Alston, described as England’s highest market town, to the ruins of Furness Abbey near Barrow, using existing public paths wherever possible.

The route was developed by Westmorland and Furness Council from a concept by local guidebook writer and walker David Pitt. It was launched at The Black Bull Inn in Sedbergh during the town’s Walking and Wellbeing Festival, alongside a guided walk on part of the route.

The section closest to Kendal

The route does not go through Kendal itself. Instead, it crosses the area to the north of the town, passing through Burneside, about two miles away, and Staveley, about four and a half miles north-west.

Section 4, known as “From the Dales to the Lakes”, runs for 27 miles, or 43 kilometres, from Sedbergh to Bowness-on-Windermere. It includes 874 metres of ascent and is rated challenging, making it the hardest of the route’s six stages. The official guide recommends allowing up to four days to complete it.

Walkers leave Sedbergh on the Dales Way, cross the River Rawthey and follow the Lune north. Along the way are the Lune Viaduct, a disused railway line carried 30 metres above the ground on red sandstone arches, the 16th-century Crook of Lune bridge and the Grade II listed Lowgill viaduct.

The route crosses the M6, passes under the West Coast Main Line and reaches Patton Bridge on the River Mint. It then continues to Sprint Mill on the River Sprint before entering Burneside, passing James Cropper’s papermill, where paper has been made since 1845.

From Burneside, the route enters the Lake District National Park near Staveley and continues to Bowness. It is the only one of the six stages to cross the Kendal area.

Why the route could benefit Kendal

Although Kendal is not directly on the trail, the official guide points walkers towards the town for services. It warns that food choices are limited between Sedbergh and Burneside and recommends carrying a packed lunch. It also says accommodation is sparse outside the main towns.

Both Burneside and Staveley have stations on the Lakes Line. Burneside is one stop from Kendal and Staveley is two, on the branch running between Windermere and Oxenholme. This means walkers finishing a long day on the route can travel into Kendal for an evening meal or overnight stay.

The guide also highlights a local natural feature: the River Kent catchment is described as the only major river system in England where populations of white-clawed crayfish can still be found.

At the route launch, Councillor Adrian Waite, the council’s cabinet member for environmental services and transport, said:

“Beyond health and wellbeing benefits, this trail is a real investment in our local economy. As walkers journey through our towns and villages looking for somewhere to eat, stay, and recharge, they will bring direct support to independent rural businesses.”

Helen Coppin, co-founder of Muddy Boots Walking Holidays in Kirkby Lonsdale, said the route would appeal to UK and international ramblers and put “some of our lesser-known rural areas firmly on the hiking map”.

What walkers need to know

For a car-free visit from Kendal, walkers can take the Lakes Line to Burneside or Staveley and join the route from either station. Anyone tackling the full Sedbergh-to-Bowness stage should plan food in advance, as the guide says there is little between Sedbergh and Burneside, roughly 20 miles into the stage.

The council has installed new waymarking and heritage interpretation boards along the route. The displays cover subjects including lead mining, textile mills and boat building.

A Walker’s Passport is also being planned, with stamping points at participating venues. The council says profits from each passport will help keep the route open and accessible. Businesses in Burneside, Staveley and Kendal are being invited to take part as stamping points, supporting the stated aim of directing trade to places away from the main tourist strip.

The next stage, Section 5 from Bowness to Ulverston, is 21 miles long and has 1,041 metres of ascent. It begins with a crossing of Windermere on the council-operated ferry.

Pedestrians pay £1.50 for a single crossing, and the ferry accepts card payments only. The first crossing from Ferry Nab is at 6.50am from Monday to Saturday and 8.50am on Sundays because of a maintenance break.

On days when there is less than a full crew, the ferry team takes breaks from 10.10am to 10.40am and from 6.10pm to 6.40pm. The last boat before the morning break is at 9.50am from Ferry Nab. When the winter timetable begins at the end of October, the last crossing changes from 9.50pm to 8.50pm.

The published ferry information contains an apparent date overlap: it lists the summer timetable as running until the last Saturday in October, given as the 31st, while the winter timetable starts on the last Sunday, given as the 25th. Walkers travelling in late October are advised in the source material to call the ferry on 01539 713 066 rather than rely on the timetable alone.

Section 5 continues to the Claife Viewing Platform, built in the 1790s, and St Peter’s Church at Far Sawrey, dating from 1869. It then passes through Grizedale Forest, Satterthwaite and Coniston Water before crossing the River Crake, which the guide identifies as Arthur Ransome’s model for the Amazon in Swallows and Amazons.

Maps, GPX files and full details for each section are available through the official route pages. Ferry times and fares are listed on the council’s Windermere Ferry page.