From the highest market town in England to the ruins of a medieval abbey — 120 miles of wild, varied, unforgettable walking.
The Westmorland and Furness Way is a new 120-mile (193 km) long-distance walking trail developed by Westmorland and Furness Council. It is one of the most significant additions to the UK's long-distance trail network in recent years, scheduled to officially open in Autumn 2026.
The route begins in Alston — England's highest market town, sitting in the North Pennines — and journeys south through a remarkable sweep of contrasting landscapes before finishing at the ancient red sandstone arches of Furness Abbey, one of England's most spectacular medieval ruins, near Barrow-in-Furness.
What sets this trail apart is its extraordinary diversity. Beginning in the open moorland of the North Pennines UNESCO Global Geopark, the route crosses the pastoral Eden Valley — following England's most northward-flowing river — before climbing into the rolling rounded fells of the Howgills, described by Alfred Wainwright as resembling "a huddle of sleeping elephants".
From there the route enters the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, arriving at the shores of Windermere before turning south through quiet Furness woodland and finally reaching the coast. Three nationally protected areas, five distinct landscape types, and a thousand years of history — all in 120 miles.
The trail was conceived to celebrate the geography and identity of the Westmorland and Furness council area, formed in 2023. As well as being a walker's route, it is intended as an economic driver for the small towns and villages along its path — places like Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh, and Ulverston that richly reward an overnight stay.
Each stage has its own character and can be walked independently. All stage start and end points are accessible by public transport, making it easy to tackle the route in sections over several visits.
Starting at Alston — England's highest market town — this stage tackles the dramatic terrain of the North Pennines UNESCO Global Geopark. Expect sweeping moorland vistas, Cross Fell views, and the bracing openness that only true wilderness can offer.
A descent into the lush valley of the River Eden — one of England's few rivers that flows north. Walk through historic Milburn and Appleby, enjoying flatter riverside paths, red sandstone villages, and wide pastoral scenery with the Pennines always visible behind you.
Cross into the Yorkshire Dales and experience the Howgill Fells — Wainwright's "sleeping elephants". These unique, velvet-smooth rounded hills offer big sky walking without the Lake District crowds. End in Sedbergh, England's Book Town, a perfect overnight base.
The longest and most dramatic stage. The route transitions from the rolling Dales into the heart of the UNESCO Lake District, arriving at the vibrant shores of Windermere. Expect spectacular fell panoramas and the full grandeur of Britain's finest mountain landscape.
Head south through ancient woodland, quiet traditional farmland and the gentler fells of Furness toward Ulverston — the charming market town and birthplace of Stan Laurel. A calmer, more contemplative stage after the grandeur of the Lakes.
The grand finale — a coastal crossing of the Furness Peninsula, culminating at the magnificent red sandstone arches of Furness Abbey. Founded in 1123 and once one of the richest Cistercian monasteries in England, this is one of the most atmospheric journey's-ends on any long-distance trail in the country.
No other long-distance route in the north of England links the North Pennines, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District in a single continuous journey. You'll experience wild moorland, pastoral river valleys, iconic fell scenery and a coastal finish.
All six stages are independently accessible by public transport. Walk the whole route end-to-end, tackle a single weekend stage, or string two or three together for a longer trip — the choice is entirely yours.
Unlike high-level fell routes that pass through few settlements, the Westmorland and Furness Way visits Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh, Bowness-on-Windermere, and Ulverston — each offering excellent food, accommodation and a genuine sense of place.
Furness Abbey is one of England's most spectacular medieval ruins — and as a journey's end, it is almost unrivalled. The sense of arrival at those 900-year-old arches is deeply memorable.
As a brand new route launching in Autumn 2026, you have a genuine opportunity to walk it before it becomes well known. No tourist infrastructure yet, no busy trail cafés — just the walk and the landscape.
We've produced detailed GPX files, interactive maps and 3D YouTube fly-throughs of the entire route — all free to download and use for trip planning. See the full resource library at uklakedistrict.com.
The Westmorland and Furness Way is defined by the variety of its terrain. Here is what awaits you in each distinct landscape zone.
England's last great wilderness. A vast plateau of blanket bog, heather moor and upland grassland — one of Europe's few UNESCO Global Geoparks. Home to red squirrels, black grouse, and the haunting call of the curlew. Alston sits at its heart at 1,000 feet above sea level.
One of England's most underrated landscapes. The broad Vale of Eden offers rich red sandstone villages, prehistoric stone circles (including Long Meg and her Daughters), and a gentle river corridor that has been farmed and settled for millennia. Appleby-in-Westmorland — home to England's largest horse fair — lies just off route.
Distinctly unlike the rest of the Dales or the Lakes, the Howgills are smooth, rounded and serene — formed from ancient Silurian rocks. Wainwright devoted a dedicated guidebook to them. Relatively unknown and wonderfully crowd-free, they offer some of the finest ridge walking in the north of England.
The world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site needs little introduction. The route enters from the east and works through spectacular scenery before arriving at Windermere — England's largest lake. The landscape that inspired Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, and John Ruskin.
The quieter, more intimate south — a landscape of ancient oak woodland, traditional stone farmsteads, and the gentle hills of Low Furness. Less dramatic than the high Lakes but richly textured, with a slower pace that rewards those who have been walking for several days.
The final miles bring the sea into view as you cross the Furness Peninsula toward the abbey. Morecambe Bay — one of England's largest estuaries — shimmers in the distance. The coastal air and the sight of those ancient ruins signal that the journey is almost complete.
The Westmorland and Furness Way is 120 miles (193 km) long, divided into 6 stages ranging from 16 to 27 miles each. Note that this is distinct from the older "Westmorland Way" — a separate 91-mile route through the Lake District — and also different from the "Furness Way", a 76-mile trail in south Cumbria. The Westmorland and Furness Way is the newest of these routes.
The official launch is planned for Autumn 2026. The route is being developed by Westmorland and Furness Council. Many sections already exist as public footpaths, but the formal opening will bring new waymarking, interpretation boards, and accessibility improvements to stiles, gates, and path surfaces along the whole 120-mile route.
The route typically takes 8 to 17 days to complete end-to-end. A comfortable pace covering 10–12 miles per day would take around 12–14 days, with time to enjoy the towns and scenery along the way. Fit walkers covering 18–20 miles a day could complete it in 8–9 days, but this leaves little time to appreciate the highlights en route.
The route runs from Alston (England's highest market town, in the North Pennines) in the north, to Furness Abbey (near Barrow-in-Furness, on the Furness Peninsula) in the south. You can walk it in either direction. Walking north-to-south means you arrive at the dramatic abbey ruins as your finishing point — which many walkers consider the most satisfying conclusion.
Yes — a free GPX file for the unofficial route is available to download at uklakedistrict.com, along with an interactive map, 3D video fly-throughs of the route, and a live weather widget. These are the most detailed planning resources currently available for the route. Official GPX data from Westmorland and Furness Council is expected to be released ahead of the Autumn 2026 opening.
The overall difficulty is rated moderate, though this varies significantly by stage. Stage 1 (North Pennines) is rated High and Stage 4 (Lake District) is Challenging. Stages 2, 3, 5, and 6 are classed as Moderate or Easy. The route is not a high-level ridge walk like the Pennine Way — most of the trail follows valley paths and lower fell tracks, making it more accessible than many long-distance routes of similar length.
Three nationally protected areas: the North Pennines National Landscape (which is also a UNESCO Global Geopark), the Yorkshire Dales National Park (including the Westmorland Dales), and the Lake District National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Very few long-distance trails in England pass through such a varied collection of protected landscapes.
Absolutely — the route is specifically designed to be modular. Each of the six stages has start and end points accessible by public transport. For a brilliant weekend introduction, Stage 3 (Kirkby Stephen to Sedbergh, 16 miles) is outstanding. For a first multi-day walk, Stages 5 and 6 combined (Bowness to Furness Abbey, 38 miles over 3–4 days) offer a gentler and extraordinarily rewarding experience.
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer the best combination of good weather, manageable crowds, and beautiful light. Summer (July–August) is excellent but the Lake District stages will be busier and accommodation should be booked well in advance. Winter is possible for experienced walkers but Stage 1 and the North Pennines crossing can be harsh and remote in bad conditions.
Key overnight stops with good accommodation options include Alston, Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh, Bowness-on-Windermere, and Ulverston. You'll find B&Bs, inns, guesthouses and self-catering options at each. Wild camping is possible in remote sections of the North Pennines (with landowner permission). It is strongly recommended to book ahead, especially in summer.
The Westmorland and Furness Way is longer than the Cumbria Way (76 miles, 5–7 days) but shorter and generally less demanding than Wainwright's Coast to Coast (192 miles, 12–16 days). Its key distinction is variety — it deliberately crosses multiple landscape types rather than focusing on one. It's an ideal next step for walkers who've completed the Cumbria Way and want something more ambitious.
Essential kit includes: waterproof hiking boots (non-negotiable in Cumbria), waterproof jacket and trousers, layered clothing, OS Explorer 1:25,000 maps (or a phone with offline mapping), a compass, and a first aid kit. Trekking poles are highly recommended for the North Pennines and Lake District stages. Keep your pack under 10kg if possible — it makes a significant difference over 120 miles. Download our free GPX file to your device before you go.
Everything you need to consider before setting off on the Westmorland and Furness Way.
Download our free GPX file from uklakedistrict.com. For paper maps, the OS Explorer 1:25,000 series is essential. Key sheets include OL5, OL7, OL19, OL31, and sheets covering the North Pennines. Mobile signal can be unreliable on the higher sections.
Alston is served by bus from Hexham (with trains to Newcastle). Furness Abbey is close to Barrow-in-Furness railway station. The Cumbrian bus network and DalesBus (summer) serve many points along the route, making linear and staged walks practical.
Book ahead, especially for summer. Key overnights: Alston, Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh, Bowness-on-Windermere, Ulverston. Many B&Bs on walking routes offer drying rooms, packed lunches and early breakfasts — ask when booking.
Waterproofs are essential in all seasons. Sturdy waterproof boots, layered clothing, trekking poles, first aid kit, and a portable charger for your phone. Aim for under 10kg total pack weight to protect your knees and enjoyment over the full distance.
The Lake District is England's wettest region. Always check the Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) for fell forecasts before the higher stages. The route's live weather widget is available on uklakedistrict.com. Sunshine and showers are simply part of the experience.
Dogs are welcome on the route — keep them on lead through farmland and near livestock. Many pubs and B&Bs along the route are dog-friendly. Avoid the route March–May during lambing season, or take particular care to keep dogs under close control.
Choosing the right long-distance route is personal. Here's how the Westmorland and Furness Way fits into the wider picture of northern England walking.
| Route | Distance | Est. Days | Difficulty | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmorland & Furness Way ★ | 120 miles | 8–17 | Moderate | Pennines, Eden, Dales, Lakes, Coast |
| Cumbria Way | 76 miles | 5–7 | Moderate | Classic Lake District valleys |
| Coast to Coast (Wainwright) | 192 miles | 12–16 | Challenging | Lakes, Dales, North York Moors |
| Pennine Way | 268 miles | 16–21 | Strenuous | Remote Pennine moorland |
| Westmorland Way (original) | 91 miles | 6–8 | Moderate | Lake District & Arnside coast |
| Lakeland Way | 108 miles | 7–10 | Moderate | Lake District circuit |
Get the free GPX download, interactive maps, 3D video fly-throughs of every stage, and hundreds more Lake District walking routes — all at uklakedistrict.com.