Cumbria Way, a 5 day point to point walk covering most of this national long distance path

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Cumbria Way 2023 Photo Gallery

DAY 1
Broughton Beck to Coniston

Mary dropped me off at the start village and I headed north.
Here I have crossed the A5092 at Gawthwaite and head north towards Coniston.

The weather remains grey and wet as I reach the southern end of Coniston Water.
I met up with John and Mary around here and we headed to the town together.
We stayed in Coniston at the Crown Inn.

DAY 2
Tarn Hows (2 miles north of Coniston) to Great Langdale.

Starting at the car park above this NT beauty spot, there's a nice view of the lake from the road.
The path around the lake looked strangely familiar - I had been here before on a walk (HF) around Christmas 2017.

Further north on the lakeside. After this the route was quite confusing, with multiple paths coming and going in different directions.
After Beacon Tarn the route was a bit better, though I continued to use my OS Maps App with its GPS to navigate.

This bridge is probably the one near Chapel Stile, where I had lunch outside the church with J & M.

John and me on the path west towards the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great Langdale, where we all stayed the night.

Likewise, John with Mary.

DAY 3
Great Langdale to Rosthwaite, Borrowdale

Today's walk covered the most remote and bleak section of the Cumbria Way.
I set out after breakfast following the path behind the hotel leading west.
As in the photo, the weather was wet and rainy - the whole day was the same.
The Langdale Pikes rise majestically on the starboard side.

The footbridge where Stake Gill joins Mickleden Beck.
After this bridge it's a long and weary slog uphill to Stake Pass.

After the slog up to Stake Pass, it's now a fairly steep descent, Stake Beck here is on the right hand side.

Now looking straight down towards the valley in which Langstrath Beck flows.

Looking back to Stake Pass from another footbridge.
It was a soggy and gloomy day, but you can't control the weather.

Gradually the route is flattening out as I pass a sheep.
Some time later I reached the village of Stonethwaite, where I had a pint in the pub there, before walking on to Rosthwaite.
There I met up with John and Mary at the hotel (the one with the useless drying room).

DAY 4
Rosthwaite to Keswick

It was a bit tricky to navigate this stretch initially.
I took a detour to view what looks like abandoned slate quarry workings, here in a wooded part of Borrowdale.

The River Derwent as it flows north, heading for Derwent Water.

Skirting around to the west of the village of Grange.

I reach the southern end of Derwent Water.
I later met Mary, who was walking down the lakeside from the north.
Later we all three met up for lunch in Keswick.

DAY 5
Keswick to Peter House Farm (2km east of Bassenthwaite)

This day was to be memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.
At this point I had crossed the A66 north of Keswick and begun the climb towards Latrigg.
Heading north, to the left is the Derwent valley towards Bassenthwaite.

After briefly taking the wrong path heading up towards Skiddaw, I decided to instead go on the correct path on the eastern side of Lonscale Fell.
This view is down into the stream called Glenderaterra Beck.

Carrying on, the path was good and even the weather was much improved.

After really getting into my stride, I came to Skiddaw House, the well known hostel.
I had a quick lunch nearby and then proceeded to seek the route home using compass and map.

Well, I missed an obvious single lane bridalway but instead followed a group of teenagers who, it later turned out, were heading for Skiddaw.

This was the second time I had erred off-route and headed for this mountain!
It must have a strange attraction for me.

So, I returned down the hill to the hostel, frustrated, and decided to use the OS Maps app on my phone, as being so tired and agitated, I couldn't rely on my map reading skills.

After losing nearly an hour on my 'Skiddaw or bust' caper, I followed the little pink arrow in my OS Maps app.
At this point in the photo, I am motoring at a good speed on the foul weather route, heading down off the Cumbrian mountains for the last time.

On the last half mile or so to the road, where John was waiting for me and Mary's car was ready to take us all to Caldbeck, where the inn was comfortable, the food and beer equally good.

I had had enough of walking, a sentiment echoed by Mary and John, so we skipped the last leg to Carlisle and instead visited a museum in the latter city.

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DAY 1 Broughton Beck to Coniston Mary dropped me off at the start village and I headed north. Here I have crossed the A5092 at Gawthwaite and head north towards Coniston.
The weather remains grey and wet as I reach the southern end of Coniston Water. I met up with John and Mary around here and we headed to the town together. We stayed in Coniston at the Crown Inn.
DAY 2 Tarn Hows (2 miles north of Coniston) to Great Langdale. Starting at the car park above this NT beauty spot, there's a nice view of the lake from the road. The path around the lake looked strangely familiar - I had been here before on a walk (HF) around Christmas 2017.
Further north on the lakeside. After this the route was quite confusing, with multiple paths coming and going in different directions. After Beacon Tarn the route was a bit better, though I continued to use my OS Maps App with its GPS to navigate.
This bridge is probably the one near Chapel Stile, where I had lunch outside the church with J & M.
John and me on the path west towards the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great Langdale, where we all stayed the night.
Likewise, John with Mary.
DAY 3 Great Langdale to Rosthwaite, Borrowdale Today's walk covered the most remote and bleak section of the Cumbria Way. I set out after breakfast following the path behind the hotel leading west. As in the photo, the weather was wet and rainy - the whole day was the same. The Langdale Pikes rise majestically on the starboard side.
The footbridge where Stake Gill joins Mickleden Beck. After this bridge it's a long and weary slog uphill to Stake Pass.
After the slog up to Stake Pass, it's now a fairly steep descent, Stake Beck here is on the right hand side.
Now looking straight down towards the valley in which Langstrath Beck flows.
Looking back to Stake Pass from another footbridge. It was a soggy and gloomy day, but you can't control the weather.
Gradually the route is flattening out as I pass a sheep. Some time later I reached the village of Stonethwaite, where I had a pint in the pub there, before walking on to Rosthwaite. There I met up with John and Mary at the hotel (the one with the useless drying room).
DAY 4 Rosthwaite to Keswick It was a bit tricky to navigate this stretch initially. I took a detour to view what looks like abandoned slate quarry workings, here in a wooded part of Borrowdale.
The River Derwent as it flows north, heading for Derwent Water.
Skirting around to the west of the village of Grange.
I reach the southern end of Derwent Water. I later met Mary, who was walking down the lakeside from the north. Later we all three met up for lunch in Keswick.
DAY 5 Keswick to Peter House Farm (2km east of Bassenthwaite) This day was to be memorable, but for all the wrong reasons. At this point I had crossed the A66 north of Keswick and begun the climb towards Latrigg. Heading north, to the left is the Derwent valley towards Bassenthwaite.
After briefly taking the wrong path heading up towards Skiddaw, I decided to instead go on the correct path on the eastern side of Lonscale Fell. This view is down into the stream called Glenderaterra Beck.
Carrying on, the path was good and even the weather was much improved.
After really getting into my stride, I came to Skiddaw House, the well known hostel. I had a quick lunch nearby and then proceeded to seek the route home using compass and map. Well, I missed an obvious single lane bridalway but instead followed a group of teenagers who, it later turned out, were heading for Skiddaw. This was the second time I had erred off-route and headed for this mountain! It must have a strange attraction for me. So, I returned down the hill to the hostel, frustrated, and decided to use the OS Maps app on my phone, as being so tired and agitated, I couldn't rely on my map reading skills.
After losing nearly an hour on my 'Skiddaw or bust' caper, I followed the little pink arrow in my OS Maps app. At this point in the photo, I am motoring at a good speed on the foul weather route, heading down off the Cumbrian mountains for the last time.
On the last half mile or so to the road, where John was waiting for me and Mary's car was ready to take us all to Caldbeck, where the inn was comfortable, the food and beer equally good. I had had enough of walking, a sentiment echoed by Mary and John, so we skipped the last leg to Carlisle and instead visited a museum in the latter city.