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Rambles

Discover some of Eden's beautiful countryside, scenic routes and history with some of these rambles.

Walker crossing river photo courtesy of the Nurture Eden photo library


Acorn Bank to Temple Sowerby walk

The National Trust website has a walk which takes in the industrial heritage of 

Acorn Bank, as well as offering panoramic views across the Eden Valley to the Lakeland mountains.

Appleby Riverside Walk

Enjoy waterside walking along the River Eden and Hoff Beck on this circular walk around Appleby-in-Westmorland. The route runs for about 7 miles on fairly flat paths, with wonderful views of the Eden Valley and nice woodland trails.


Armathwaite and Coombs Wood, Armathwaite

This route starts from one of the loveliest of the Eden Valley's villages and then enters pretty woodland beside the river. Having visited the hamlet of Longdales, the route heads along a seemingly forgotten track between hedgerows that are a riot of colour in the early autumn.

This walk has been extracted from the Cicerone guidebook 'Walking in Cumbria's Eden Valley' by Vivienne Crow. 

The book is available to buy from Penrith Tourist Information Centre.

 

The Eamont Way

The Eamont Way (5.5 mile/8.8km) is walking route from Penrith Railway Station to Pooley
Eamont Way signpostBridge Steamer Pier, offering an ‘Active Travel’ alternative to the car, bus, or taxi.  

The route closely follows the course of the river Eamont, crossing it twice. It starts with a series of signed pedestrian crossings from the railway station to the edge of the town, then follows a series of signed footpaths, bridleways and ‘permitted paths’ to exit at ‘The Sun Inn’ in Pooley Bridge. From there it is less than 1/2 mile to the pier for the Ullswater Steamers where onward lake travel to Howtown and Glenridding is on offer and onward from Glenridding to Aira Force.

 

Ullswater

Enjoy the beauty of the Lake District National Park with walks around Ullswater.

The National Trust website lists some great walks around Ullswater:Walker at Ullswater

  • Aira Force and Gowbarrow trail (4.5 miles / 7km / 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours) has some dramatic walking routes, renowned in Victorian times as a beauty spot situated by Lake Ullswater near Watermillock. There is a tearoom and dogs on leads are welcome. There are Information boards situated in the car park which describe the walks or visit the Aira Force website.

  • Patterdale and Glenamara Park trail (2 miles / 3.2 km / 1 hour) this walk offers stunning views of mountains and water and is suitable for all - but bring waterproof boots depending on the season as it can get pretty wet underfoot!

  • Aira Force Glencoyne Farm trail, 3 miles (4.8km / 2 hours). Glencoyne is one of the largest hill farms in the Lake District. This circular trail will take you through the Grade II listed farm buildings (the earliest part built in 1629) and along to the remains of old charcoal pitsteads.  It passes Glencoyne wood, before bringing you back to the car park.

  • Hayeswater Gill trail, 2 miles (3.2km / 2 hours). Hayeswater Gill runs down from Hayeswater Reservoir, which once fed into north-west England's water supply. From Hartsop village near Ullswater, follow the beck up to the reservoir on a circular walk surrounded by towering Lake District fells. Discover local mining and milling history as you go.

The Ullswater 'Steamers' website lists some great walks around Ullswater.  This includes walks from Howtown to Pooley Bridge, Howtown to Glenridding and a circular walk to Aira Force.

Westmorland Dales Geotrails

 

Westmorland Dales Geotrails

Discover three geology walks in the Westmorland Dales produced by the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme with grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Written by Elizabeth Pickett and designed by Marcus Byron with contributions from Cumbria Geoconservation.

The three walks include a Smardale Geology Walk, Orton Scar and Knott and Kirkby Stephen and Stenkrith. 


Walks in Eden's Nature ReservesWalkers photo by Tony West, courtesy of the Nurture Eden photo Library

Why not explore one of the Nature Reserves in Eden? This gives you the chance to see meadows, ancient woodlands and grasslands as well as flowering plants, butterflies and dragonflies, birds and lots more wildlife.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Natural England manage several Nature Reserves in Eden including:

North Pennines National Landscape

Visit the Explore North Pennines website for a selection of walks, exploring the spectacular landscapes, geology, flora and fauna of this wonderful area. 

Walks include:

  • Ashgill Force Waterfall
  • Garrigill Round (14km)
  • Geology and Landscape around Dufton (6km)
  • Knock Geological Trail (10km)
  • North Pennines Bird Walk: Garrigill
  • North Pennines Bird Walk: Dufton Pike
  • Tynehead Geological Trail (4km)
  • Whitesyke and Bentyfield Mine (4km)
  • Whitely Castle: Alston Through the Ages (12km)

Discover more of the Eden Valley with one of the Walking booklets from the Discover Eden Series.  The booklets are available from most Eden Tourist Information Centres. 

Visit our Walking leaflets and OS Maps webpage for details of the walks available.