{{Short description|70-mile footpath in Cumbria, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox hiking trail | name = Cumbria Way | embed = | cellstyle = | photo = Cumbria Way logo.svg | photo_size = | photo_alt = | caption = Waymarker and logo | title = | established = 1970s | began = | completed = | closed_date = | length_km = 112 | location = [[Cumbria]], [[England]] | designation = | trailheads = [[Ulverston]]<br />[[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] | use = Hiking | elev_gain_and_loss = {{convert|2973|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | elev_change = <!-- Use elev_gain_and_loss if the gain and/or loss is known. Use this field when only the change is known. --> |highest_name = [[High Pike]] | highest_m = 658 | lowest = | grade = | difficulty = Challenging | season = All year | months = | waymark = Name on green disc | sights = | hazards = | surface = | ROW = | maintainer = | website = {{URL|www.cumbriawaywalk.info}} | map = | map_name = | map_caption = | map_size = | map_alt = | route = {{routemap|inline=1|legend=no| \fENDEa~~ [[Carlisle]] \fHST~~ [[Caldbeck]] \fGIP~~ [[High Pike]] \fBHF~~ [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]] \fHST~~ [[Great Langdale]] \fHST~~ [[Coniston, Cumbria|Coniston]] \fENDEe~~ [[Ulverston]] }} | route_state = }}
The '''Cumbria Way''' is a linear {{Convert|112|km||abbr=off|adj=on}} [[long-distance footpath]] in [[Cumbria]], England. <ref name="ldwa" /><ref name="cicerone" /><ref name="walk" /> The majority of the route is inside the boundaries of the [[Lake District]] [[National parks of England and Wales|National Park]]. Linking the two historic Cumbrian towns of [[Ulverston]] and [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]], it passes through the towns of [[Coniston, Cumbria|Coniston]] and [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]]. The route cuts through Lakeland country via [[Coniston Water]], [[Langdale]], [[Borrowdale]], [[Derwent Water]], [[Skiddaw]] Forest and [[Caldbeck]]. It is a primarily low-level route with some high-level [[Glossary of climbing terms#E|exposed]] sections.<ref name="Ramblers Association Paths - Cumbria Way">{{cite web|url=http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/cumbria.html|title=Paths. Recreational Route: Cumbria - Cumbria Way|accessdate=2008-05-17|publisher=Ramblers Association|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516082529/http://www.ramblers.org.uk/INFO/paths/cumbria.html|archivedate=2008-05-16}}</ref>
==History== The Cumbria Way was originally devised in the 1970s by local [[Ramblers Association]] members. The [[waymarking]] of the entire route was completed by volunteers and national park staff in May 2007.<ref name="Marking the way">{{cite news|first=S|last=Crawford|title=Marking the way for walkers|url=http://beta.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.74045|publisher=Cumberland News|date=2007-05-30|accessdate=2008-05-17}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Route== The route can be walked in either direction but is described here as south to north beginning at the [[trailhead]] of [[Ulverston]] and ending in [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]].
===Stage 1: Ulverston to Coniston=== [[File:Coniston Water from Holme Fell.jpg|thumb|Coniston Water seen from the North]] The route leaves the urban area of [[Ulverston]], birthplace of [[Stan Laurel]], and heads north towards the village of [[Gawthwaite]] and the boundary of the [[Lake District|Lake District National Park]]. The trail, which consists primarily of field paths at this stage, leads to the settlement of [[Sunny Bank]] and the shore of [[Coniston Water]], the western [[shoreline]] of which is followed before reaching the settlement of [[Coniston, Cumbria|Coniston]].<ref name="stage 1" /> [[Grizedale Forest]] is visible to the east of the lake with [[Coniston Old Man]] and [[Dow Crag]] being visible to the west on approach to Coniston. This stage is approximately {{Convert|24|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in length.
===Stage 2: Coniston to Langdale=== [[File:Langdale Pikes In English LakeDistrict.jpg|thumb|[[Langdale Pikes]]]] The route leaves Coniston heading in a [[Boxing the compass|NNW]] direction through [[woodland]] towards [[Tarn Hows]]. The way involves some road walking as it passes through the [[villages]] of Colwith and [[Skelwith Bridge]]. The [[Langdale Pikes]] soon become visible as the route leaves Skelwith Bridge in a [[Boxing the compass|NNE]] direction, passing [[Elter Water]] before entering the [[Great Langdale]] [[valley]].<ref name="stage 2" /> This stage is approximately {{Convert|17.5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in length.
===Stage 3: Langdale to Keswick=== [[File:Derwent water from castle crag (229492456).jpg|thumb|[[Derwent Water]] seen from [[Castle Crag]]]] The route leaves [[Langdale]] and travels alongside Mickleden beck, with the mountain of [[Bow Fell]] to the west and [[Langdale Pikes]] to the east. After a significant gain in elevation the route crosses [[Stake Pass]] before descending via Langstrath beck and turning towards the villages of [[Stonethwaite]] and [[Rosthwaite, Borrowdale, Cumbria|Rosthwaite]]. The route subsequently follows the [[River Derwent, Cumbria|River Derwent]] before reaching [[Derwent Water]] where it follows the [[shoreline]] path to reach the town of [[Keswick, Cumbria|Keswick]]. The mountains [[Skiddaw]] and [[Blencathra]] may be visible to the north.<ref name="stage 3" /> This stage is approximately {{Convert|24|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in length.
===Stage 4: Keswick to Caldbeck=== [[File:Skiddaw borrowdale.jpg|thumb|[[Skiddaw]] seen from [[Borrowdale]]]] After some [[urban area|urban]] walking on the exit from Keswick, the route crosses the [[A591 road]] before ascending past [[Latrigg]] into the [[Skiddaw Group SSSI]] towards Skiddaw House [[Youth Hostels Association (England & Wales)|Youth Hostel]]. After crossing the area of [[fell]]s known as Back o'Skiddaw the route passes [[High Pike (Caldbeck)|High Pike]] and the [[Caldbeck Fells]] before leaving the [[Site of special scientific interest|SSSI]] and descending towards the village of [[Caldbeck]].<ref name="stage 4" /> This stage is approximately {{Convert|22.5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in length.
===Stage 5: Caldbeck to Carlisle=== [[File:Carlisle from the castle.jpg|thumb|[[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]]]] After leaving the village of Caldbeck this final low-level section of the route follows the course of the [[River Caldew]] to the city of [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]], [[Cumbria]]'s county town. The route passes through the [[villages]] of [[Sebergham]], [[Buckabank]] and [[Dalston, Cumbria|Dalston]] primarily following [[woodland]] and [[arable land|farmland]] [[Rights of way in England and Wales|public footpaths]] and [[bridleways]].<ref name="stage 5" /> This stage is approximately {{Convert|24|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in length.
==Geology and biology==
===Flora and fauna=== The [[tarns]] encountered on the route provide a habitat for a wide range of species including [[Coregonus vandesius|vendace]], [[Salvelinus|charr]], [[crayfish]] and [[schelly]].<ref name="Special Properties">{{cite web|url=http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/index/understanding/specialqualities.htm|title=Lake District Special Properties|accessdate=2008-05-17|publisher=The Lake District National Park Authority|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510084002/http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/index/understanding/specialqualities.htm|archivedate=2008-05-10}}</ref>
The [[red squirrel]] can be found in woodland encountered on the route.<ref name="squirrel" />
The high [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] in the [[ancient woodland]] encountered throughout the route provides a favourable habitat for [[moss]]es, [[Marchantiophyta|liverworts]], [[fern]]s and [[lichen]]s. The boggy areas encountered, particularly on the high-level parts of the route, provide a habitat for [[carnivorous plants]] including [[sundew]] and [[butterwort]].<ref name="Cumberland Mountain Flowers">{{cite web|url=http://www.floraofthefells.com/info/cumbmountflowers.htm|title=Cumberland Mountain Flowers|accessdate=2008-05-17|publisher=Flora of the Fells|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720162849/http://www.floraofthefells.com/info/cumbmountflowers.htm|archivedate=20 July 2008}}</ref>
== Connecting trails == The route connects with the Allerdale Ramble, [[Cumbria Coastal Way]], [[Coast to Coast Walk]], [[Hadrian's Wall Path|Hadrian's wall path]], Cistercian Way, Eden Way and [[Windermere Way]].
==Further reading== The following [[Ordnance Survey]] [[map]]s cover the route:
*Explorer 1:25k sheets OL4, OL5, OL6, OL7 and 315 *Landranger 1:50k sheets 85, 90 and 97
Other maps available: * Cumbria Way XT40 (Waterproof Route Map), Harvey Map Services {{ISBN|978-185137424-3}}.
The following [[guidebook]]s detail the route: * The Cumbria Way and the Allerdale Ramble, Jim Watson, [[Cicerone Press]], {{ISBN|978-1-85284-242-0}} * The Cumbria Way, Anthony Burton, {{ISBN|1-85410-615-5}}. Aurum Press. * The Cumbria Way, John Trevelyan, {{ISBN|1-85568-197-8}}. Dalesman
==References== <references>
<ref name="ldwa"> {{cite web |url=https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Cumbria+Way |title=Cumbria Way |publisher=[[Long Distance Walkers Association]] |access-date=29 January 2021 }} </ref>
<ref name="cicerone"> {{cite book |last=Gillham |first=John |date=11 February 2015 |title=The Cumbria Way |url=https://www.cicerone.co.uk/the-cumbria-way |publisher=[[Cicerone Press]] |isbn=9781852847609 |access-date=29 January 2021 |edition=First }} </ref>
<ref name="walk"> {{cite web |url=https://www.cumbriawaywalk.info/ |title=The Cumbria Way Walk |publisher=The Cumbria Way Walk |accessdate=29 January 2021}} </ref>
<ref name="stage 1"> {{cite web |url=http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_1.pdf |title=STAGE 1 Ulverston to Coniston |publisher=Ulverston Tourist Information Centre |access-date=29 January 2021 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413105900/http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_1.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2005 }} </ref>
<ref name="stage 2"> {{cite web |url=http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_2.pdf |title=STAGE 2 Coniston to Langdale |publisher=Ulverston Tourist Information Centre |access-date=29 January 2021 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413093919/http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_2.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2005 }} </ref>
<ref name="stage 3"> {{cite web |url=http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_3b.pdf |title=STAGE 3 Langdale to Keswick |publisher=Ulverston Tourist Information Centre |access-date=29 January 2021 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413113710/http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_3b.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2005 }} </ref>
<ref name="stage 4"> {{cite web |url=http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_4.pdf |title=STAGE 4 Keswick to Caldbeck |publisher=Ulverston Tourist Information Centre |access-date=29 January 2021 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050413093138/http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_4.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2005 }} </ref>
<ref name="stage 5"> {{cite web |url=http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_5.pdf |title=STAGE 5 Caldbeck to Carlisle |publisher=Ulverston Tourist Information Centre |access-date=29 January 2021 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051221063330/http://www.ulverston.net/pdfs/Cumbria_Way_pdfs/Stage_5.pdf |archive-date=21 December 2005 }} </ref>
<ref name="squirrel"> {{cite web |url=https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/learning/forteachers/ks2wildlife |title=Wildlife |publisher=[[Lake District National Park]] |access-date=29 January 2021 }} </ref>
</references>
==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/group-finder/areas/lake-district/the-cumbria-way.aspx Ramblers] * [https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Cumbria+Way Long Distance Walkers Association] * [https://www.cumbriawaywalk.info/ The Cumbria Way Walk]
[[Category:Long-distance footpaths in England]] [[Category:Footpaths in Cumbria]] [[Category:County-themed walking routes in the United Kingdom]]