Westmorland Way

Cumbria

A relatively low-level route across the historic county of Westmorland and the Lake District National Park, it follows footpaths, tracks and country lanes along river valleys and across farmland and the open fells via Shap, Pooley Bridge, Patterdale, Grasmere, Ambleside, Troutbeck and Kendal to reach Morecambe Bay at Arnside.

The descent of Fairy Steps can be avoided in bad weather with a waymarked alternative route.

The gps files follow the route described in the 1998 guidebook which is significantly different to earlier editions.

November 2024: It has been reported that the two minor road bridges which also serve as pedestrian and other non-vehicle traffic routes between Kendal and the ridge above Barrowfield Wood, Cumbria, have been closed due to the unsafe nature of their (‘half-joint’ bridge) construction. The closures involve all traffic including pedestrians and cyclists. Brigsteer Bridge carries the Westmoreland Way, Friends Way 2 and the Fairtrade Way. There is a footbridge to the north, and what may be two pedestrian underpasses to the south. The closures were initially for 18 months from June 2024.

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Details:

Path Type:	Other Paths
Attributes:	Other Paths Challenging Canal Lake/Reservoir/Loch Moorland National Park River
Start:	NY683204 - Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria
Finish:	SD456788 - Arnside, Cumbria
Web Sites:	A walker's journal - The Westmorland Way [blog] Trailwalker - Westmorland Way [blog]

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook

Westmorland Way  (Hillside Publications  - 1998 )

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