ULVERSTON WALKFEST
The 26th Ulverston Walking Festival will be held from Saturday 25th April to Monday 4th May 2026. It will be our biggest festival to date with 42 walks across the South Lakes.
The programme for the 2026 Ulverston Walking Festival can be found under the ‘2026 WALKS’ tab. You will see that under each walk is a link to full details of that walk. This will enable walkers, in particular those using a mobile phone, to find the walk they are interested in and then go to the details of that walk without having to scroll through potentially the details of 42 walks.
Booking should be sent to Sheila on bookings@ulverstonwalkfest.com, with just the walk number and the names of all walkers you are booking-in. If you do not have a car and would welcome a lift to a walk then let Sheila know and we will try and arrange this. If you have a car and would like to car share then just follow the instructions on the walk details on the day and there is no need to tell us now. If you have a general enquire this should be directed to Martin on enquiries@ulverstonwalkfest.com.
Self-Guided Walks Our ‘Self-Guided Walks’ facility on this website, and available in paper format from local shops, is recommended. There are 2 back-to-back maps – one of Central Ulverston, including a Blue Plaque Walk, and one showing 6 walks which can be completed from Ulverston. The QR codes will present a digital map on a smart-phone, including your actual location and information on the route and notable sites encountered.
Maintenance of Rights of Way A new venture has been the establishment of ‘Furness PathFix’, currently linked to this group, although in due course it may move to become an independent community-based organisation. Its aim is to maintain and improve the Rights of Way in South Cumbria, with volunteer groups who survey them, clear paths and maintain the stiles and gates etc. If you are interested in joining this band of volunteers, please let us know.
Extract from ‘Norman Birkett – The Life of Lord Birkett of Ulverston’
‘Ulverston is a town set in one of the loveliest spots of all England – the Furness Fells, whose secret unspoiled beauty exercises a powerful attraction on people. Within a few minutes of leaving the town by either of the ancient ways of Soutergate or Daltongate, you are in the authentic English countryside, and you are surrounded by a wonderland of beauty. If, instead of turning in to the cricket pitch, you climb on past Gamswell to Kirkby Moor, you will get what I’ve always maintained is the finest view in the British Isles, with the Duddon estuary and Black Combe, and Coniston Old Man with its fellows on the one hand, and on the other the long sweep of Morecambe Bay, the distant view of the Pennines and the magical beauty of the Lakeland hills.’
He might have added:
A shorter trip up to Hoad Hill, from the foot of the Sir John Barrow lighthouse monument, will give an unapparelled panorama of distant views of North Wales (on a very clear day), the distinctive Ingleborough in the Yorkshire dales, Blackpool Tower, Scafell, Helvellyn, and Blencathra, and closer to hand, the Coniston Fells, with many summits in between.
Last updated: 7 March 2026