The best walks and hikes around Staveley-In-Cartmel

Yes, many trails in the area are great for walking with dogs. The woodlands and open fells offer plenty of space. However, you'll be walking through areas with livestock, so it's essential to keep your dog on a lead, especially around sheep. Always follow local signage regarding dogs.

Definitely. For a very accessible and short walk, the Gummers How — Wild Camping Spot – Gummer's How loop from Gummer's How is a great choice, taking less than an hour. Another gentle option is the Hiking loop from Staveley-in-Cartmel, which is mostly flat. For a family day out, the nearby National Trust - Fell Foot park is a popular spot with easy paths and lakeside access.

Yes, the majority of the popular routes in this area are loops, meaning you can start and finish in the same place without retracing your steps. This is ideal for planning as you can easily return to your car or starting point. The trails are well-suited for circular walks through varied terrain.

For fantastic panoramic views over Windermere, the climb up Gummer's How is unbeatable and a local favourite. The Gummer's How & Blake Holme Plantation loop incorporates this viewpoint. For a different perspective, the National Trust - Claife Viewing Station on the western shore provides stunning, framed vistas of the lake with minimal effort.

To escape the crowds, explore the trails around Cartmel Fell or the Lyth and Winster Valleys. These areas offer peaceful walks through charming countryside, damson orchards, and woodlands. The High Dam Lake – High Dam Lake loop from Staveley-in-Cartmel is often quieter than the main Windermere hotspots while still offering beautiful scenery.

Parking depends on your chosen route. For Gummer's How, there is a dedicated Forestry England car park at the start of the trail. For walks starting near the lake, National Trust - Fell Foot has a large car park, though it requires payment. For other routes, you may find smaller lay-bys or village parking, but these can fill up quickly, especially on weekends.

While most trails are through natural landscapes, many routes start or finish near villages with excellent pubs and cafes. Newby Bridge and Cartmel have several options. The cafe at National Trust - Fell Foot is a popular choice for a refreshment after a lakeside stroll. It's best to plan your walk to end near one of these spots.

There are over 60 hiking routes to explore around Staveley-in-Cartmel. These range from easy, short walks suitable for all abilities to more challenging moderate hikes up the local fells, ensuring there's a trail for every type of walker.

The area is highly rated by the komoot community. Reviewers often praise the variety of the landscape, from the stunning lake views of Windermere to the peaceful, quiet woodlands and rolling green fells. The accessibility of rewarding viewpoints like Gummer's How is also a frequently mentioned highlight.

Yes, this area is home to several of Alfred Wainwright's Outlying Fells. Gummer's How is the most famous and accessible one. Others in the vicinity include Cartmel Fell (also known as Ravensbarrow) and Hampsfell, both of which offer rewarding and often quieter walking experiences with excellent views.

The terrain around Staveley-in-Cartmel is generally hilly and features natural paths, which can be challenging for prams and wheelchairs. Your best option is National Trust - Fell Foot, which offers well-maintained, accessible paths around the park and along the lake shore, making it a reliable choice for a family outing.

These valleys offer a gentler, more pastoral hiking experience compared to the high fells. The landscape is known for its unspoiled beauty, featuring damson orchards, traditional white-washed farmhouses, and broadleaved woodlands. It's particularly beautiful in spring when the damson trees are in blossom. For more information, you can check out the Lyth Valley guide.