Coast-to-Coast Walk
Devised by the late Alfred Wainwright in 1973, this demanding route runs for 190miles (304km) between St Bees and Robin Hoods Bay. It links Irish and North Seas via high tops in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks. In Eden, the route runs from Patterdale to the western shore of Haweswater and then through Shap, Orton and Kirkby Stephen. Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information and visit The Wainwright Society website.
Get help organising your walking holiday on the Coast to Coast with these two Eden-based operators Coast to Coast Packhorse and Contours Walking Holidays.
The Cumberland Way
Although now classed as an ‘old route’ this 80mile (129km) walk takes in the historic county of Cumberland and the Lake District National Park. The route begins in Ravenglass, heading through Nether Wasdale and Keswick before following the old coach ‘road' around the foothills of the Helvellyn range to Aira Force waterfall in Ullswater. The Cumberland Way then follows a path around Gowbarrow Fell, with magnificent views over Ullswater to enjoy, to the village of Dacre, before continuing to Eamont Bridge, Penrith.
Contact Penrith Tourist Information Centre for more information.
Britain's most challenging long distance route follows the Pennine mountain range for 268miles (429km) from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. You can walk short sections of the route in Eden with walks from Garrigill and Dufton.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
Alternative Pennine Way
Although an old route, now out of print The Alternative Pennine Way is a rather lower level route than the Pennine Way which passes through attractive villages and points of interest. The Way descends from the high fells to reach the River Tees then crosses the fells to High Cup, Great Dunfell and Cross Fell then descending to Alston to reach the Northumberland National Park and Hadrian's Wall.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
The Pennine Journey
This is a long-distance footpath of 247miles (398 km), of which 53miles are within Eden including parts of the Eden Valley and Pennines. The footpath is based upon a circular walk which Alfred Wainwright undertook in 1938, setting off from Settle to Hadrian's Wall and back. The following year he wrote about his 'Pennine Journey' which was published in 1986. More information is available on the Wainwright Society website.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
The Westmorland Heritage Walk
The Westmorland Heritage Walk was devised by Mark Richards and Christopher Wright and first published in 1987. It is an attempt to approximately circumnavigate the old county of Westmorland and, in doing so, enjoy the stunning scenery on offer.
By taking all the high level routes, the walk measures 200miles (322km) on the map and considerably more on the ground when all the twists and turns of the many steep paths are taken into account.
Starting in Arnside, the route travels through Kirkby Lonsdale and Sedburgh, passing through Kirkby Stephen, Dufton, Milburn, Eamont Bridge and Patterdale, before returning back through Ambleside to Arnside.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
Lady Anne’s Way
This classic long distance route runs for 100miles (161km) from Skipton to Penrith and passes through some stunning scenery on its journey. Starting from Skipton Castle, the walk passes through the Yorkshire Dales on its way into the Upper Eden Valley and through Kirkby Stephen and Appleby before finishing in Brougham, Penrith.
The route was inspired by Lady Anne Clifford who travelled repeatedly between her castles and the route takes in the ruins of these historical buildings.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
Yorkshire Dale Centurion Walk
The Centurion walk is 100miles (161km) and described as an adventure walk around the Dales and Howgills and may be split into short or long distances. No route description is available, just a set of grid references and the names of the places to visit en route. The framework is one of five stages, each with a starting point, with the choice left to the individual walker of what to visit and what to avoid. Route options include ascents of the 'Yorkshire Three Peaks' (Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent) - along with the Coum, the Calf, Nine Standards Rigg, Tan Hill, Buckden Pike, Great Whernside and Plover Hill.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
Yoredale Way
A 101mile (163km) walk starting in York and finishing in Kirkby Stephen. Between these two points the walker will pass through Yorkshire, before achieving their objective amongst the grandeur of the Pennines. Along the route are many interesting towns and villages to explore.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
Lakeland to Lindisfarne
This 199mile (320km) coast to coast walk starts from Ravenglass in the Lake District to Holy Island off the Northumberland coast. The route takes the walker over the Pennines and both high and low level alternative routes are offered.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
The Eden Way
This 78 mile (126km) route follows the River Eden from the Solway Firth through quiet countryside to the source on Mallerstang Edge, south of Kirkby Stephen. The route visits Carlisle, Wetheral, Armathwaite, Kirkoswald, Langwathby, Appleby, Warcop and Kirkby Stephen before finishing on Black Fell moss on the Mallerstang Edge.
Contact Kirkby Stephen Tourist Information Centre for more information.
The Miller's way is a 51mile walk between Kendal and Carlisle and runs through Eden. Created by Carr's Breadmaker to commemorate the company's 175th anniversary, it's based on the original journey made by Quaker Miller Jonathan Dodgson Carr, who founded the Carr's flour, bread and biscuit dynasty in Carlisle on June 29 1831 after leaving his home town of Kendal.
A route guide can be purchased at £3.99 from Penrith Tourist Information Centre. Information is also available about the launch of the walk on the Carrs Breadmaker website.
The South Tyne Trail is a 22¾mile (36.5km) route set in the North Pennine Hills. The route flows with the river, from the source downstream to Haltwhistle. The source to Alston is approximately 9½miles (15.5km). From here you can discover a rocky limestone plain. Once you arrive in Alston you start the journey to Haltwhistle approximately 13miles (21km) at the South Tyne Railway. The trail runs adjacent to the railway track. This route is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs on most of the route between Alston and Haltwhistle.
Purchase a South Tyne Trail Leaflet from Alston Tourist Information Centre.
Isaac’s Tea Trail is a 36 mile circular route within the North Pennines AONB that links Alston with Allendale in Northumberland. The trail follows in the footsteps of Isaac Holden, an itinerant tea seller and local philanthropist of the 1800's. The countryside is one of stunning landscapes of river valleys and heather moors, where reminders from Isaac’s times and even further back are never far away. The full route can be undertaken over a long weekend or more comfortably doing shorter sections and taking longer. Isaac’s Tea Trail has been described by The Guardian as "England’s last great wilderness trek."
The Isaac's Tea Trail booklet is available at Alston Tourist Information Centre and Penrith Tourist Information Centre and gives a more detailed account of his life and contains an illustrated guide to the route. For more information on the walk please visit www.northumberlandlife.org/teatrail
