Itineraries

There are plenty of options to enjoy a superb walking experience along the Westmorland & Furness Way.
Choose a single day walk, complete a section for a weekend adventure or take on the full route for a brilliant long-distance journey.
Read on for inspiration on itineraries for the Westmorland & Furness Way:

Jump to: Weekend walks | Full route - relaxed pace | Full route - holiday pace | Full route - expert pace

Day walks – suggested itineraries

Alston to Garrigill

Explore the pretty market town of Alston high up in the North Pennines National Landscape and enjoy a stroll along the River South Tyne to Garrigill (4.3 miles / 7km). Return the same way or organise a taxi back to your accommodation.

Stroll along the River South Tyne

Appleby-in-Westmorland to Kirkby Stephen

Arrive via the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway. From Appleby-in-Westmorland stroll along the River Eden to Brough and onto Kirkby Stephen - 14.4 miles / 23 km. To return to your starting point, the Kirkby Stephen railway station is a short walk out of town.

Stroll along the River Eden

Sedbergh to The Calf

Climb to the highest point in the Howgill Fells, The Calf (676m). You will be rewarded with amazing panoramic views. It’s 11.6 km / 7.2 miles there and back, with 620 metres of climbing.

Enjoy amazing panoramic views

Burneside to Bowness-on-Windermere

Enjoy a section of the Dales Way along the River Kent towards Staveley. Stop for lunch before continuing onto Bowness-on-Windermere for views of the Lakeland Fells. Return on the train via the Lakes Line. 10 miles / 16 km.

View across Windermere towards Lakeland fells

The ferry from Bowness-on-Windermere to Far Sawrey

For a leisurely stroll, wander along the shores of Lake Windermere to Ferry Nab. Cross the lake and climb to Claiffe Viewing Platform to enjoy some great views - continue on to Faw Sawrey for a pub stop. A little further on you will find the home of iconic lakeland author Beatrix Potter. 2 miles / 3.2 km one way.

Windermere Ferry

Ulverston to Bardsea

Leave Ulverston via the Canal Path. You will meet the coast at Canal Foot. Enjoy views of Morecambe Bay as you pass by the Conishead Priory to Bardsea. Enjoy an ice cream before returning. 7.3km / 4.5 miles one way.

Canal Foot, Ulverston

Weekend adventures – suggested itineraries

Alston > Dufton > Appleby-in-Westmorland - 2 days - 24.6 miles / 40 km

Stay longer: Explore the charming market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland or take the bus to Brough Castle.

Take time to explore Appleby-in-Westmorland

Appleby-in-Westmorland > Brough > Kirkby Stephen - 2 days - 14.4 miles / 23 km

Stay longer: From Kirkby Stephen, take a walk to Nine Standards, along the Poetry Path or to Smardale Gill Nature Reserve.

Smardale Gill Nature Reserve

Kirkby Stephen > Ravenstonedale > Sedbergh - 2 days - 18 miles / 29 km

Stay longer: Visit Farfield Mill in Sedbergh or take a walk to Cautley Spout waterfall in the Howgill Fells.

Farfield Mill, near Sedbergh

Sedbergh > Burneside > Bowness-on-Windermere - 2 days - 27 miles / 43 km

From Burneside you can take the Lakes Line to Windermere or Kendal for plenty of accommodation options.
Stay longer: Visit the Windermere Jetty Museum in Bowness-on-Windermere or take a cruise with Windermere Lake Cruises.

Windermere Train on the Lakes Line

Bowness-on-Windermere > Satterthwaite > Ulverston - 2 days - 21 miles / 34 km

Stay longer: Visit Swarthmoor Hall, the Laurel & Hardy Museum and Shed One in Ulverston.

Laurel and Hardy Museum, Ulverston

Ulverston > Newbiggin > Furness Abbey - 2 days - 17 miles / 27 km

Stay longer: Visit the Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness and explore the beaches and trails around Walney Island.

Please note that accommodation at some of these suggested overnight stops is limited so it is worth planning your journey in advance. If no accommodation is available then we recommend enquiring with accommodation providers about booking taxi transfers in advance to return to your accommodation after your walk.

Friends walking on Walney Island

The full route – suggested itineraries

Our suggested itinerary to complete the full route in 17 days / a relaxed pace:

Alston to Garrigill 4.3 miles / 7 km - 2 hours
Garrigill to Dufton 16 miles / 26 km - 8 hours
Dufton to Warcop 10.1 miles / 16 km - 5.5 hours
Warcop to Brough 4.3 miles / 7 km - 2 hours
Brough to Kirkby Stephen 4.3 miles / 7 km - 2 hours
Kirkby Stephen to Ravenstonedale 5.5 miles / 9 km - 3 hours
Ravenstonedale to Low Haygarth 5.5 miles / 9 km - 2.5 hours
Low Haygarth to Sedbergh 5 miles / 8 km - 2.5 hours
Sedbergh to Lowgill 8.1 miles / 13 km - 4 hours
Lowgill to Patton Bridge 4.8 miles / 7.5 km - 2.5 hours
Patton Bridge to Staveley 7.2 miles / 11.5 km - 3.5 hours
Staveley to Bowness-on-Windermere 6.9 miles / 11 km - 3.5 hours
Bowness-on-Windermere to Satterthwaite 5.5 miles / 9 km - 4 hours
Satterthwaite to Water Yeat 5.5 miles / 9 km - 3 hours
Water Yeat to Ulverston 10 miles / 16 km - 5.5 hours
Ulverston to Newbiggin 8.6 miles / 14 km - 4 hours
Newbiggin to Furness Abbey 8.4 miles / 13 km - 4 hours

Our suggested itinerary to complete the full route in 12 days / holiday pace:

Alston to Milburn 16 miles / 26 km - 8 hours
Milburn to Appleby-in-Westmorland 8.6 miles / 14 km - 4 hours
Appleby-in-Westmorland to Brough 10.1 miles / 16 km - 4.5 hours
Brough to Kirkby Stephen 4.3 miles / 7 km - 2 hours
Kirkby Stephen to Ravenstonedale 5.5 miles / 9 km - 3 hours
Ravenstonedale to Sedbergh - high route 12.5 miles / 20 km - 6.5 hours
Sedbergh to Burneside 17 miles / 27 km - 7.5 hours
Burneside to Bowness-on-Windermere 10 miles / 16 km - 5 hours
Bowness-on-Windermere to Satterthwaite 5.5 miles / 9 km - 4 hours
Satterthwaite to Ulverston 15.5 miles / 25 km - 8 hours
Ulverston to Newbiggin 8.6 miles / 14 km - 4 hours
Newbiggin to Furness Abbey 8.4 miles / 13 km - 4 hours

Our suggested itinerary to complete the full route in 8 days / expert level:

Alston to Dufton 20.3 miles / 33 km - 10 hours
Dufton to Warcop 10.1 miles / 16 km - 5 hours
Warcop to Kirkby Stephen 8.6 miles / 14 km - 4.5 hours
Kirkby Stephen to Sedbergh 18 miles / 29 km - 9.5 hours
Sedbergh to Burneside 17 miles / 27 km - 7.5 hours
Burneside to Bowness-on-Windermere 10 miles / 16 km - 5 hours
Bowness-on-Windermere to Ulverston 21 miles / 34 km - 10.5 hours
Ulverston to Furness Abbey 17 miles / 27 km - 7.5 hours

Important - Please note:

All distances have been rounded up or down. Hours are approximate and based on suggestions from the OS mapping app.
Some of these suggested stops are a short distance from the official route. We have not included this extra mileage within the daily distances.
In some cases, there will be limited accommodation options at these suggested overnight stops - we recommend booking in advance and/or speaking to accommodation providers about potential taxi transfers to return to your accommodation.

Westmorland and Furness Way