Stunning landscape 120-mile walking trek unveiled
English HeritageA multi-day trail taking in miles of spectacular scenery has been announced.
The Westmorland and Furness Way will cover 120 miles (193km) from Furness Abbey in the south to Alston in the north.
The route has been designed to showcase the area's best countryside including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Lake District National Park.
Councillor John Murray, Westmorland and Furness Council's cabinet member for transport, said he hoped it would become as popular as the Coast-to-Coast walk or the Pennine Way.
Murray said: "This new walking route will celebrate that stunning landscape in all its many forms and make it even more accessible, creating a connected path from Alston all the way to Furness Abbey.
"People will be able to walk just a few miles of one section, tackle a couple of sections at a time or undertake the ultimate challenge of walking the whole 120 miles over several days."
Westmorland and Furness CouncilStages of the walk:
- Alston to Milburn - 16 miles (25km)
- Milburn to Kirkby Stephen - 23 miles (37km)
- Kirkby Stephen to Sedbergh - 16 miles (25km)
- Sedbergh to Bowness - 27 miles (43km)
- Bowness to Ulverston - 21 miles (33km)
- Ulverston to Furness Abbey - 17 miles (27km)
It is estimated that walking the whole route will take eight to 17 days.
Murray said: "As well as being an excellent way to exercise and keep fit and healthy, the route will also provide opportunities for regenerative tourism and economic boosts for communities, with walkers looking for places to eat, drink and sleep.
"We're looking at lots of creative ways to make sure local communities really feel the benefit of this exciting project."
He also said it was also hoped to add "loops" to the route to take in larger towns such as Kendal, Penrith and Barrow.
