In July 2023, we decided to set out on our second ever self-supported long distance hike – The Cumbria Way.
The Cumbria Way is a 71 mile (112km) route which travels north from Ulverston to Carlisle. It cuts through the Lake District via Coniston Water, Great Langdale, Borrowdale, Derwent Water, Skiddaw Forest and Caldbeck. It’s a generally low-level route (by Lake District standards), with a few big mountains thrown in for good measure.
On our previous hike, we’d relied on campsites and B&Bs to give us shelter, but this time, we decided to up the ante and try a spot of wild camping along the way. Most people do the route in 5 days, but we took a leisurely 6 to allow for some extra walking to find camping spots.
Below is a summary of the posts that tell you all about how it went. Paul Kelly took most of the photos used in the illustration of this blog.
Summary of Posts
- Day 0: Getting set for the Cumbria Way
- Day 1: Ulverston to Beacon Fell
- Day 2: Beacon Fell to Lingmoor Fell
- Day 3: Lingmoor Fell to Castle Crag
- Day 4: Castle Crag to Keswick
- Day 5: Keswick to Caldbeck
- Day 6: Caldbeck to Carlisle
Cumbria Way Stats
- Total distance travelled: 142km (88 miles)
- Total elevation gain: 3,375m
- Total time spent walking: 34 hours 50 minutes
Around the World a Bit at a Time 