Green Walks in England North-west (north)

This area takes in the area within the region roughly north of the Manchester-Merseyside metropolitan corridor. This area takes in postcode areas BB, CA, FY, LA and PR (excluding PR8 and PR9 districts around Southport, which are in the southern area of the region).

Neighbouring regions and areas are

Note also some of the most convenient hubs for multi-day walking on different routes.

Routes

  • Bolton Rotary Way
    A walk of 82km around Bolton.
  • Burnley Way
    A 65km circuit from Burnley.
  • Bury Village Link
    A 28km walk linking the villages in the more rural north and west of Bury borough.
  • Cumbria Way
    A 212km walk between Ulverston and Carlisle.
  • Dales Way
    A route of 127km between Ilkley and Bowness-on-Windermere, with link routes connecting Ilkley with Bradford (20km), Harrogate (27km) and Leeds (35km).
  • Hadrian Goes Loco
    A walk of 129km, linking stations between Carlisle and Newcastle.
  • Hadrian’s Wall Path
    A 146km walk between Bowness-on-Solway and Segedunum (Wallsend).
  • Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path
    A railbed walk of 8km between Keswick and Threlkeld.
  • Pennine Bridleway
    A walk (or ride) of 593km between Middleton Top and Cote Moor.
  • Pennine Way
    A walk of 422km between Edale and Kirk Yetholm; this National Trail does not qualify as a Green Walk. In addition to the 45km gap between Byrness (sketchy bus service) and Kirk Yetholm, buses connect with different settlements from the next access point in many areas.
  • Ribble Way
    A walk of 112km from Ribblehead station, via the source of the River Ribble, to the Dolphin Inn near Longton, where the Ribble meets the Irish Sea.
  • Teesdale Way
    A 148km walk between Dufton in Cumbria and Teesmouth.

Some places lend themselves to being hubs, where you may pitch up for a few days’ car-free walking, fanning out on a different route (or part of a route) each day. The hub becomes a walking-place for recreation at walking pace. Hubs in this area include

  • Ambleside
    Ambleside is one of the key local hubs for central Lakeland, with bus services in all directions.
  • Appleby
    Appleby is a hub for the upper Eden Valley, and for links through to the hills of the upper Ribble valley.
  • Barrow-in-Furness
    Barrow may seem a bit remote to be a hub, but it allows for a variety of coast and country walks between Grange-over-Sands and Millom, with Walney Island a special local resource.
  • Blackburn
    Blackburn is the natural hub for the moors to the north of the Greater Manchester conurbation. There are good public transport links in all directions, including into Calderdale.
  • Carlisle
    Carlisle is a hub for the coast between Workington and Dumfries, for Hadrian’s Wall, and for the lower Eden Valley.
  • Kendal
    Kendal is a good hub for the south-eastern part of the Lake District, with some links into the Howgill Fells. The head of Morecambe Bay is also accessible.
  • Keswick
    Keswick is the local hub for northern Lakeland, with the local fells and flatter walks (such as the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path) boosted by bus services to the east, south and west.
  • Lancaster
    Lancaster is a hub for the coast between Arnside and Fleetwood, and for the hinterland. The limestone area west of Settle is also accessible.
  • Penrith
    Penrith gives easy access to northern Lakeland, and to the hills to the east.
  • Preston
    Preston is a major hub for the entire area south of Lancaster, and also into the northern part of the Manchester/Liverpool conurbation.
  • Whitehaven
    Whitehaven is the main hub for the West Cumbrian coast, and for Cleator Moor (gateway to the fells around Ennerdale). If the interest lies only to the north, Maryport and Workington are alternatives.

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