Dog Friendly Best of the Cumbria Way
Coniston to Keswick in 2 Days Walking With Your Dog Code: CWB3D
This holiday covers the most dramatic section of the Cumbria Way. If time is short these walks give a good flavour of the Central Lakes, taking in the areas two most celebrated valleys; Langdale and Borrowdale, as well as the remote Stakes Pass between them. Both of these itineraries can also be booked with dog-friendly accommodation. Please select the code ending D if you would like to bring your dog with you.
A short break for you and your dog, taking in the beautiful Lakeland valleys of Langdale and Borrowdale.
This itinerary is for fit walkers with a 16 mile day over mountainous terrain at Stakes Pass. We recommend our 3 day, 4 night itinerary if you don’t have experience of this kind of terrain.
Please be aware it is only possible to start this walk with your first night on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Starting on another day may be possible but subject to some additional charges for transfers or weekend rates. Please just ask for more information.
You may add rest days but this will affect the day of the week that you can start. Please ask us for information.
Prices do not include any charges made for dogs by the accommodation providers. These should be paid by you directly to them on arrival. The amount will vary depending which accommodations we book. Not all accommodations charge, but those that do tend to average between £10 and £15 per night.
See more useful information about dog-friendly holidays here.
| Miles | Km | ||
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| Day 1 | Travel to Coniston for your first nights accommodation | ||
| Day 2 | Coniston to Langdale | 12 | 19 |
| Day 3 | Langdale to Keswick | 16 | 26 |
| Day 4 | Depart from Keswick after breakfast |
Coniston to Langdale
The first night is spent in the Lakeland village of Coniston on the shores of Coniston Water.
The route follows green lanes and wooded paths to Tarn Hows, one of the celebrated features of the Lakes. More woods and moorland lead to the picturesque village of Elterwater before the path enters the Langdale Valley and continues to the famous Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel for your night’s stay. Overshadowed by the dramatic high crags of the Langdale Pikes and Bowfell, the Langdale Valley is perhaps the most famous place in the Lakes.
Langdale to Keswick
A steep climb up Stake Pass at the head of Langdale leads down to the long and remote valley of Langstrath, punctuated through its length by deep pools and waterfalls. This then leads down to Stonethwaite and Rosthwaite, two small villages at the top of Borrowdale.
The route continues through the densely wooded Borrowdale Valley before passing over the slopes of Cat Bells above Derwentwater and on to Keswick, a bustling tourist town and the hub of the Northern Lake District.
Moderate
The Cumbria Way uses well defined and maintained paths and tracks over nearly all of its route. Please bear in mind that the climb over Stake Pass is over relatively high and remote mountain terrain, where the paths are rougher. Although some of the route is waymarked, this section is not, so the ability to navigate is essential. You need some walking experience to do this route.
Terrain: Most of the walk follows valleys and lakeshores, but the climb over Stake Pass is relatively high and remote mountain terrain, where the paths are rougher.
What’s it like underfoot? On the whole the paths are well defined and maintained, but at times it can be rough underfoot with some muddy paths, so good footwear is essential.
How much up & down? Most days are rolling with gentle ascent and descents. The climb of Stake Pass is about 300m, on a well maintained path.
Signposting: Sporadic. You will need to use your guidebook and map.
Navigation: Pretty straightforward, on the lowland sections, but you may encounter hill fog or low cloud on Stake Pass and between Keswick and Caldbeck – so you need to be able to navigate.
Weather: You may be lucky enough to encounter warm, dry weather over the whole route and enjoy dry paths and tremendous views, but you must be prepared because the weather can change quickly. Good clothing and waterproofs are essential!
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All Holidays
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| Accommodation | Overnight Bed and Breakfast accommodation in selected hotels, farmhouses, village inns, guest houses and family B&Bs. Full English or Continental breakfast. |
| Guidebook | A detailed guidebook with route information, maps, photos and background information. |
| Information of Services Along the Route | A comprehensive Service Info sheet, including services such as cash points, banks, post offices, village shops, inns, cafes and taxis. |
| Maps | A waterproof (1:40,000) Harvey Map covering the route. |
| Personal Itinerary | A personal itinerary setting out each overnight stop, including large scale maps of each accommodation, to ensure you find it easily. |
| Emergency Telephone Support | If you get in to difficulties during your holiday, we are always available to help, even out of office hours. |
| 12.5% discount at Cotswold Outdoors | We will issue you with a 12.5% Discount Card valid at all Cotswold Outdoor stores, and online, for the whole year on confirmation of your booking. |
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Options
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| Luggage Transport | We will transfer your luggage between each overnight stop – if you leave your luggage at the accommodation when you set off in the morning, it will be moved on to your next B&B. You only need to carry a small day sack with the clothes and provisions you require during the day’s walk. |
| Packed Lunches |
Provided for each day’s walking and recommended on this holiday as there will not always be a handy shop or cafe on the route. |
| Off Road Parking | If you are travelling by car we can usually arrange off road parking for the duration of your trip. (There may be a small charge for this). |
| Arrangement of return transport | We can also arrange your transfer back to your car, (or advise you when public transport is a better option)! |
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What’s not Included
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| Evening Meals | Your evening meal isn’t included in the package, but we include full details and recommendations for each evening meal in your itinerary. You will normally be within walking distance of a pub and/or restaurant, or where there is good food available at the accommodation, we’ll book that for you. Allow about £30.00 per night. |
| Transport to the Start & Away from the Finish | Have a look at the ‘Travel Info’ tab above for suggestions. If you’re still struggling, get in touch and we’ll help you sort it out. |
| Travel Insurance | Even if you are based in the UK travel insurance is worth having. |
Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.
We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.
We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.
We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.
Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the Cumbria Way:
The Yewdale Inn, nestled in the heart of Coniston village in the Lake District, offers a traditional country escape. Its nine en suite guest rooms ensure a comfortable and cosy stay, with views of the stunning Coniston fells or the charming village church. A welcoming retreat after a day on the Cumbria Way or exploring the Lakeland fells. Visit their website
The New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in the stunning Langdale Valley enjoys a tranquil setting beneath the impressive Langdale Pikes. Once a farmhouse, the hotel is named after its location at the base of the famous Dungeon Ghyll ravine with its 40ft waterfall. Guests can savour breathtaking mountain views from every room. Visit their website
Rivendell Guest House, a charming Victorian townhouse just a stone’s throw from Keswick town centre offers a warm and friendly welcome. Guests enjoy well-appointed, comfortable rooms and legendary breakfasts. With hospitality that is second to none, Rivendell ensures every stay is both memorable and relaxing. Visit their website
The Oddfellows Arms in Caldbeck sits beneath High Pike on the route of the Cumbria Way. Run by the Whitesmith family since 2018, it offers delicious locally sourced dishes, refreshing Jennings ales, and 10 comfortable bedrooms. Guests can start their day with a hearty Cumbrian breakfast. Visit their website
General travel information on the Cumbria Way area will be in your holiday pack including train and bus timetables where available.
Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.
To view train times please visit trainline where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline
If you require secure car parking whilst walking this route, please contact us for detailed information – we can usually arrange car parking either at the start or end locations of the route.
Getting There – Coniston
By Air: The nearest international airport is Manchester (MAN) – you then travel by train to Windermere (approx 2.5 hours) followed by a bus to Coniston (50 mins).
By Public Transport: Take the train to Windermere then bus to Coniston.
By Road: Coniston is situated in the south of the Lake District National Park. The closest motorway to the village is the M6.
Returning from Keswick:
By Public Transport: You can catch a bus to either Penrith railway station (approx 30 mins) or Carlisle railway station (approx 1 hour) for onward travel on the west coast mainline.
By Road: A66 to Penrith (18 miles) for the M6 motorway.
Coniston
A pleasant Lakeland Village on the shores of Lake Coniston. Take a cruise on the lake on the steam launch “Gondola”. Visit historic Brantwood, nineteenth century home of John Ruskin. For the more energetic, Coniston Old Man is a great walk with tremendous views over the Lake District and Morecambe Bay.
Keswick
Keswick is a bustling market town centred around the historic Moot Hall, with a vast array of outdoor shops – if you need any outdoor gear, you will get it here! There is a wide choice of places to eat or have a coffee, and a range of galleries to visit. Enjoy one of the easy, short walks down to the lakeshore from where there is a regular launch service around Derwentwater. Or pop into our offices to say hello or book your next holiday!
| Prices | GBP (£) |
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| Accommodation, map & guidebook only | £517 |
| with Luggage Transport | £549 |
| with Packed Lunches | £540 |
| with Luggage & Lunches | £570 |
Other Options |
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| Extra Nights (per night) | £95 |
| Single Supplement (per night) | £63 |
| Solo Luggage Supplement (per day) | £0 |