The Cumbria Way

Q. Is it easy to navigate?

A. The way-marking is ok on the Cumbria Way but as it is not a National Trail it can be quite sporadic. It is also the Lake District and for those higher sections in the fells and around Hike Pike, it is advisable that you should have had some experience using a map to navigate. However, you will have access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app so you shouldn't really have any problems finding the way.

Q. How tough is it?

A. The nice thing about the Cumbria Way is that whilst it is passes through the most magnificent mountain landscapes, it largely makes use of the lower-level valley routes, making it a slightly easier route through the Lake District. There are a couple of steep climbs around Stake Pass and High Pike (this one can also be avoided with an alternative) but the highest point is at 658m. So whilst it is certainly not a walk in the park with a couple of pretty long days, it is definitely do-able!

Q. Where do you recommend rest days?

A. If you have the time, it is definitely worth adding an extra day in Ulverston to explore this historic market town before heading off on your walk, especially if you arrive later in the day. You can visit the Laurel & Hardy museum here or there are quite a few tempting pubs to take in - just don't enjoy them too much before walking the next day! The bustling town of Keswick in the heart of the Lakes is another spot we would definitely recommend adding an extra night. It not only breaks up your walk nicely, but there are plenty of other walks you can do around Keswick (if you want to do more walking!) including the mighty Skiddaw or other short strolls around Derwent Water. 

Not that we recommend "drinking and hiking", but there are definitely a few very good watering holes on the Cumbria Way! Here we list some of them...

The Mill, Ulverston -  a bit of a Gastropub, The Mill in Ulverston features three distinctive bars next door to each other. Cask Bar on the ground floor features wood-burning fires and the Mill's original water wheel where you can sample a local pint of craft ale. There's a rooftop bar, Terrace Bar, with a relaxing outdoor area for sunny days and a Loft Bar at the top floor where cocktails can be enjoyed.  

The Yewdale, Coniston - A warm welcome is guaranteed in The Yewdale Pub where you can enjoy a refreshing drink outside on the terrace with great views to The Old Man of Coniston in the background.

Old Dungeon Ghyll, Great Langdale - a proper traditional pub very popular with climbers and walkers. Their Hiker's Bar was formerly cow sheds and they serve a great collection of real ales! 

The Wainwright, Keswick - a busy pub right in the centre of bustling Keswick, there is plenty of atmosphere in this place! A sign on their wall says "We don’t do fast food, we do good food as fast as we can" and as well as real ales, they also have a great selection of proper pub grub.

The Eltermere Inn, Elterwater - this place makes a great stop on the way from Coniston to Great Langdale and the well-stocked bar offers a great selection of ales, gins and whiskies and has lovely views over Elterwater.

Macs Adventure have been organising self-guided walking holidays on the Cumbria Way since 2010. After the success of the iconic Coast to Coast walk, and with many of the team being very fond of the Lake District it made perfect sense to add this long-distance walk to our collection. With it being a not-too-strenuous walk through amazing landscapes, we were sure it would appeal to many - and we weren't wrong!

We offer a flexible, tailor-made Cumbria Way experience staying in comfortable B&Bs, guesthouses, and inns attached to traditional pubs. We carry your bags to lighten your load so you can concentrate on simply putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the walk. You can book with confidence that we have it all covered for you. 

On the route, we use high-quality digital mapping and detailed turn-by-turn route notes to make sure you find your way, as well as providing a host of tips, facts and recommendations to enrich your Cumbria Way adventure.