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New 120-Mile Trail Connects Pennines, Dales, Lakes
4 Sep
Summary
- A new 120-mile walking trail opens this month across three national parks.
- The Westmorland and Furness Way offers a six-stage route for walkers.
- The trail aims to boost local economies in towns and villages along its path.
A new 120-mile long-distance footpath, the Westmorland and Furness Way, is scheduled to open on September 15th, 2026. This significant route begins in Alston, England's highest market town, and concludes at the historic Furness Abbey ruins in Cumbria.
The trail is divided into six stages, with an estimated completion time of eight to seventeen days. Developed by Westmorland and Furness Council, it connects three protected areas and five distinct landscape types. The longest single stage covers 27 miles, stretching from Sedbergh to Bowness-on-Windermere.
Public transport provides access to all start and end points of the stages. Trail highlights include the North Pennines, the Howgills, and the Lake District National Park, featuring views of Lake Windermere. The initiative also seeks to act as an economic catalyst for communities like Kirkby Stephen, Sedbergh, and Ulverston.
