Dog Friendly Inn Way: The Central Lakes

Moderate to Challenging

How much up and down?
Every day will involve at least one significant ascent. There are several climbs of over 500m, with over 700m of climbing on the leg from Coniston to Ambleside, taking you to 802m on the summit of Swirl How.

Signposting: None. You will need to use your route description and map.

Navigation: The paths are well defined, but you will need to read a map and use the route description. You spend some time on higher ground and may encounter mist and hill fog.  While the footpaths the route follows are marked on the map, the route itself is not highlighted.

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. Remember you are spending time on higher ground, where it will be colder than in the valleys. Good clothing and waterproofs essential!

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 Inn Way to the Lake District:

Located just a short stroll from the centre of the village, Brantfell House in Ambleside is personally run by Adrian & Mandy who pride themselves on their friendly and experienced approach. Brantfell has undergone many changes, ensuring it continues to provide contemporary accommodation for today’s discerning visitor. Visit their website

The Old Kings Head, a 16th-century inn in the market town of Broughton-in-Furness, offers a charming blend of history and comfort. Six tastefully refurbished rooms cater to weary walkers, while open fires and original features add to the ambiance. Enjoy the cosy bar, inviting lounge, and unique dining experience inspired by Tudor history. Visit their website

The Coledale Inn, perched above Braithwaite Village provides stunning views of the surrounding Lake District fells. Built around 1824, its rich history spans from a woollen mill, then a pencil mill, to the licensed inn it is today. The Coledale charms visitors with Victorian prints, antiques, cosy rooms, and a relaxing beer garden. Visit their website

Nestled in the tranquil Borrowdale Valley, The Langstrath Country Inn in Stonethwaite is a charming getaway for walkers and lovers of the countryside. Originally built in 1590 as a miner’s cottage, this family-run inn offers 11 en suite rooms with breathtaking views of the surrounding fells. Visit their website

General travel information on the Inn 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 Braithwaite:
By Public Transport: You can catch a bus to either Penrith 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.

Ambleside

Ambleside is a bustling Lakeland town, with charming shops and a wide choice of good cafes and restaurants. The small town is known for its landmark Bridge House and its connections with writers, poets and artists including Beatrix Potter. There are many short walks that can be enjoyed from here, or you can wander down to Waterhead and take a ride on one of the Windermere “Steamers” on the lake.