Please read the WALK NOTES tab for general instructions and advice.
Note: this is the 2023 Programme – which is left here to give an example of our programme of walks.
The 2024 Programme will be placed here at the beginning of March 2024.
| Date | Walk No | Time (End) | Grade | Description |
| Sat 22 Apr | 1 | 10am (2pm) | Easy 3½ miles | Swarthmoor Circular Walk. An easy stroll including Swarthmoor Hall (home of the Quakers), the Quaker Meeting House, and free tea at Swarthmoor Methodist Chapel. Meet at the top of the road down to Ulverston Station (LA12 0DR). No dogs please. Swarthmoor Hall currently closed but leaders are very knowledgeable. Led by David Jackson and Colin Pickthall. |
2 | 10am (3pm) | Moderate 7½ miles 285m ascent | Coniston – Torver Circuit. From Coniston we get the climbing over as we ascend via the Banks miners’ cottages up to Heathwaite Farm. We then follow paths across the fell side to below the disused quarries and down to Torver where we pick up the old railway line before turning down to Coniston Water shore and back to Coniston. Some rough and wet ground and 2 quite difficult stiles to negotiate. Meet at Coniston Tourist Information Centre (LA21 8EH) by the bus stop or car share from Stockbridge Lane car park in Ulverston (LA12 7BG) at 9.15am (Not at Ford Park due to clash with Park Run.) Regrettably bus timings do not fit in with this walk. Led by Dave Hughes and Stephe Cove. | |
3 | 10am | Moderate Plus 8½ miles 245m ascent | Outgate – Latterbarrow – Wray Castle – Skelwith Fold Circuit. A great walk with spectacular panoramic views after a fairly steep ascent of Latterbarrow (150m) – taken at a gentle pace with a break at the summit to recover. A careful descent and walk along the shore of Windermere takes us to our second break at Wray Castle before a wooded section leading to another excellent vista for lunch; with a further mainly wooded section back to the start. Meet at the large free layby (Grid: SD 356 003), 400m north of the Outgate Inn (LA22 0NQ) on the B5286, or car share from Stockbridge Lane car park in Ulverston (LA12 7BG) leaving at 9.15am (Not at Ford Park due to clash with Park Run (suggested contribution to driver – £3.80pp)). Led by Sheila Bull and Keith Raine. | |
| Sun 23 Apr | 4 | 10am (1pm) | Easy 4 miles | Ulverston Maritime Heritage Walk including the Canal and Rope-Walk. Meet at Ford Park car park (LA12 7JU) (donations box). Suitable for wheel/push chairs, except for a short extension to Ainslie Pier. Led by Andrew Hudson and John Dennis. |
5 | 10.25am (2.30pm) | 6½ miles | Cark, Flookburgh, and the Cartmel Shoreline. A circular walk, packed with fascinating reminders of bygone years, including two lovely old villages, a 17th century mill (now a pub), an early 19th century sea embankment, a limekiln, and a 16th century hall. We’ll walk on minor lanes, footpaths and lonely stretches of (sometimes wet and rugged – walking boots advised) coastline. Meet at Ulverston Station (LA12 0DR) to catch the 10.10am train to Cark, or meet at Cark Station at 10.25am. Return on 2.47pm train (with a 3.36pm train as back-up and Café opposite station reopened). Led by Neil & Julia McLaughlin-Cook. | |
6 | 10am (3pm) | Moderate 6 miles 300m ascent | Blawith Beacon Trek. A walk over Torver Common to the summit of Beacon Fell visiting some sites of great antiquity as well as more recent times, belying the tranquil deserted landscape. Some steepish uphill sections. Meet at Torver Parish Room (Grid: SD 284 943) with a reasonable parking fee or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9.30am (donations box). Led by Lindsay Harrison and Mervyn Cooper. | |
| Mon 24 Apr | 7 | 10am (1.30pm) | Easy 4 miles | A walk into Broughton’s past. A figure of eight circuit of the town and surrounding parklands taking in an ancient peel tower, hidden courtyards with secrets to reveal, a ruined windmill, the Eccleriggs mansion and its strange pepper pots and Broughton’s ancient church. Meet at the obelisk in The Square or car share from Ford Park car park (LA12 7JU) at 9.30am (donations box). For safety reasons there is a limit of 12 on this walk. Led by Stan Aspinall and Mick Shaw. |
8 | 10.30am (3.30pm) | Moderate 5½ miles | Grange – Hampsfell Circuit. Walk through Eggerslack Woods, hopefully replete with bluebells and other spring flowers and up onto the slopes of Hampsfell where we will visit the Hospice. Fabulous views across Morecambe Bay and into the Lakes. Continue across the tops before heading down into Grange and finishing off with a walk along the promenade. Includes some road walking. Catch 9.52am Bus to Grange from Ulverston Victoria Road. (LA12 0BT), returning from Grange on the 3.30pm bus (or 4.30pm if delayed or taking refreshment).For those not catching the bus, the meeting place for the start of the walk is Grange Railway Station at 10:30. Led by Simon Hughes and Peter Quiggin. | |
9 | 10am (3pm) | Moderate Plus 5 miles 500m ascent | Settlements, Sheep and Slate. A walk through the history of the Duddon Valley. There is a steady climb to the highest point at Walna Scar Quarries. Note that some of the walk will be through old slate workings so a walking pole and a torch may be appropriate. No dogs please. Meet at the Parish Room, Seathwaite (Grid: SD 230 961) or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9am (donations box). Led by Stephe Cove and Dave Hughes – both local experts. | |
| Tue 25 Apr | 10 | 2pm (4.30pm) | Easy 2 miles | Textile Trail. On this very slow walk learn how the Industrial Revolution affected Ulverston through cotton, linen, silk and wool. See how sewing and knitting have been kept alive over the years. This walk includes a visit to Oubas Knitwear, a small local company keeping tradition alive with superb quality women’s wear. Limited to 15 walkers and no dogs please. Meet at Ulverston Market Cross in Market Street (LA12 7AY). Led by Jean Povey and Jane Carson. |
11 | 10am (3pm) | Moderate 6 miles 320m ascent | High Dam Hike. A circular walk including High Dam, Rusland Heights, Boretree Tarn, through woods to Tom Crag and across fields back to Finsthwaite Church. Includes great views over the Rusland Valley. Meet at High Dam car park (NP charges apply) (Grid: SD 368 882),with cheaper option as you turn off the road, or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9.15am (donations box). Led by John Wealthall and Martin Cooper. | |
12 | 10am (3pm) | Moderate Plus 9 miles 260m ascent | Levens Hall/Sizergh Castle Walk. A lovely circular walk taking in the estates of both iconic houses. From Levens Hall, we walk through the deer park, then meander along the banks of the River Kent to Hawes Bridge, up to Prizet village and on to our lunch stop at Helsington with spectacular views of the Lyth Valley. We then drop down to Sizergh Castle, taking in Sizergh Fell, down to the Force Falls fish ladder before crossing the suspended river bridge and under the road near to Park Lodge, returning through Levens’ Deer Park. Graded Moderate Plus due to distance but easy walking throughout – mix of fields, riverbank, tracks and minor roads with a few stiles. 20 walkers accepted. Meet and park on the A6 slip road across from Levens Bridge (Grid: SD 496 853) or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9.15am (donations box). Led by Julie Smith and Neil McLaughlin-Cook. | |
| Wed 26 Apr | 13 | 1.30pm (4pm) | Easy 3 miles | Ambling Along to Conishead Priory. An easy, no-stiles ramble at a pace suitable for all walkers, taking in aspects of local industrial history and the background of Conishead Priory. A pause at the Priory café halfway for refreshments. Walk is aimed at individuals who wish to introduce walking as regular exercise into their lifestyle or those recovering from an injury or medical condition. Park and meet at Ulverston Leisure Centre car park, corner of West End Lane and Priory Road (LA12 9HT). Walkers must bring ‘In Case of Emergency’ contact details. Group size limited to 12 walkers. No dogs please. Led by Linda Marshall and Jean Povey. |
14 | (3pm) | Moderate 6½ miles | The Sculptures of Grizedale Forest. A circular walk taking in some of the more remote and, in some cases, hidden sculptures in the beautiful southern part of the forest. It consists of a mixture of forest roads and trails, footpaths, bridleways and short sections of quiet road. There is the option to venture off-piste to look more closely at some of the sculptures. Can be muddy in places, boots recommended. Meet at 10am at the Blind Lane car park NE of Force Mills (Grid: SD 344 913) or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9.15 am (donations box). Led by Dave Robson and Keith Raine. | |
15 | 10am (4pm) | Hard 8 miles 850m ascent | Exploring the Dunnerdale Fells. A spectacular walk, taking in some of Lakeland’s most beautiful but little-visited fells, including Great Stickle, Little Stickle, Stickle Pike, Stickle Tarn, Caw and The Knott, before heading back to Broughton Mills on minor lanes. Be prepared for steep gradients and rough terrain, but your efforts will be rewarded by a succession of breathtaking views. Meet at the car park at Broughton Mills (Grid: SD 223 905) just past the Blacksmiths Arms and opposite the village hall (donations box) or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9.15am (donations box). Led by Neil McLaughlin-Cook and Tony Page. | |
| Thu 27 Apr | 16 | 10am (1pm) | Easy 5 miles | Plumpton Landscape. The influence of man on the landscape with a wildlife interest. Led by member of The Wildlife Trust. Meet at Ford Park car park (LA12 7JU) (donations box). Binoculars useful. Led by Jane & Mark Carson. |
17 | 9.45am (2.30pm) | 9.45am (2.30pm) | Lowick – Beck Bottom – Lowick Common – Knapperthaw – Gawthwaite – Lowick Green. A relatively easy walk with mixed terrain of minor roads, open fell and common land through the villages and farms around Lowick. Meet at the car park of The Farmers’ Arms, Lane Head, Lowick Green (LA12 8DT) on the A5092 (Please park back/right of the car park – agreed by owners), or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) leaving at 9.30am (donations box). Recommended contribution to driver – £1.50pp. There are 2 difficult stiles so no dogs unless you can manhandle your own dog. Refreshments at the end of the walk at the Farmers’ Arms would repay them for allowing parking. Led by Sheila Bull and Judy Pickthall. | |
18 | 10am (3.30pm) | Moderate 7½ miles 200m ascent | Ulverston – Urswick – Birkrigg Limestone Circuit. We start from the south end of Ulverston and use field paths past limestone outcrops to Great Urswick and its lovely tarn, and then on to Little Urswick Crags and back via Birkrigg, with great views over Morecambe Bay. Meet near the ‘Lancastrian’ bus stop at the junction of Bigland Drive and Mountbarrow Road on the Croftlands Estate, near where the Mountbarrow Service Station is now and where the Lancastrian Pub used to be (Grid: SD 284 763 – LA12 9NX). Led by Christine & Peter Quiggin. | |
| Fri 28 Apr | 19 | 10am (2pm) | 4½ miles | Rusland Valley & Ospreys Nest. A walk taking in the delights of both the Rusland Moss and parts of the Hay Bridge Nature Reserves. If they are about, there will be an opportunity to view the ospreys nesting in the Rusland Valley so binoculars will be useful for this and other wildlife. In addition, the walk will take in a stone circle and visit a site linked to iron making from a bygone era. The route is low level on public footpaths, boardwalks, tracks and minor roads. There is one stile. It can be muddy in places, so boots are recommended. Meet at Rusland Church (Grid: SD 338 897) or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9.15 am (donations box). The Parish Rooms car park opposite the Church will be open, including the toilets. Led by Dave Robson and Mick Shaw. |
20 | 10.30am (3.30pm) | Moderate 5 miles 240 m ascent | Spectacular Trees. Lovely circuit from Coniston via Tarn Hows and the Monk Coniston Estate seeing examples of the oldest, tallest, largest, rarest and most unusual trees in the UK. Good rural and woodland paths. Note change of start to National Park car park at Monk Coniston (Grid: SD 316 979) with National Park parking charges, so car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9.30 am (donations box) is advised. Led by Martin Cooper and John Wealthall. | |
21 | 10am (3.30pm) | Hard 7 miles 730m ascent | Wetherlam Fell Walk from Coniston. A lovely fell walk up Wetherlam, the Old Man’s lesser known but equally rewarding near-neighbour, giving superb and even better views to the Langdale Pikes and the central fells. Note: the planned route has been changed to now use a lovely quiet path along the Black Sails ridge instead of the awkward boulder-strewn path from Levers Water via Swirl Hause. This gives lovely and quiet routes for both ascent and descent, using the Ladstones and Black Sails ridges (nothing scary), and still takes us through the Coppermines valley past several mining history sites. Meet by the Tourist Information Centre in Coniston main car park (Grid: SD 303 975, LA21 8EH), or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 9.30am (donations box). Led by Peter Quiggin and Tony Page | |
7pm (9.30pm) | Slides & Supper Talk – | The Cumbria Way. Hot meal at 7pm followed by a talk by Ulverston’s Paddy Dillon author of Cicero walking guide books, including the Cumbria Way. Cost £15.Book on Ford Park website (https://www.ford-park.org.uk/events/) – open from early April. | ||
| Sat 29 Apr | 22 | 9.15am (4pm) | Moderate Plus 9 miles | ‘A nod to the ‘Cistercian Way’. From Furness Abbey back to Ulverston via Dalton Castle and Swarthmoor Hall. A change from the original description, to avoid having to tie in with infrequent Saturday buses for the return journey, the walk will now start at Ulverston Bus Station in Victoria Road (LA12 0BT) and get the 9.26am No 6 bus to near Furness Abbey at Rating Lane, Barrow, from where the walk will return to Ulverston, via the Castle in Dalton. A longish walk ,and hence up-graded to Moderate Plus, but flat and easy going, except for a couple of stiles, that will test all but the very agile, and with bags of interest. The number of walkers remains at 20. The route is not the traditional Cistercian Way throughout, due to some stiles deemed even impossible for the very agile. After a very wet March parts of the walk were very wet and muddy but we hope they will have returned to their usual good-going. That said, stout footwear is recommended. Also a change of leader to John Wealthall and Lindsay Harrison.’ |
23 | 11am (3.15pm) | Moderate Plus /activity 4 miles | Map Reading in Wild Country. For those with some basic map-reading experience. Practise use of compass, measuring distance, speed of walking and use of contours. Meet at lay-by near Gawthwaite (Grid: SD 267 847) or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7arrisonJU) at 10.45am (donations box). Some quite rough terrain (hence Moderate Plus) but nothing dangerous. Limited to 8 walkers. (Contact leader on 07792422160 if you want more details. Suitable for someone doing Gold DofE or preparing for Summer ML, or just interested in more advanced navigation techniques.) Led by Martin Cooper. | |
24 | 10am (4pm) | Moderate Plus 8 miles | Two Outlying Wainwrights – Gummers How (320m) and Ravens Barrow (160m). An undulating walk apart from 130m climb up from the start up to Gummers How with good views in several directions and varied and easy going terrain. No dogs please. Meet at Gummers How car park above Windermere (Grid: SD 389 876) or car share from Stockbridge Lane car park in Ulverston (LA12 7BG) at 9.15am (Not at Ford Park due to clash with Park Run.) Led by Alan Robinson and Marion Danson. | |
| Sun 30 Apr | 25 | 1.30pm (4pm) | Easy 4 miles | Ambling Along to The Falls and Gill Banks. An easy, no-stiles ramble at a pace suitable for all walkers taking in aspects of local industrial history, a ‘Grand Designs’ house and wonderful views of Morecambe Bay. Walk is aimed at individuals who wish to introduce walking as regular exercise into their lifestyle or for those recovering from an injury or medical condition. Park and meet at Ford Park car park (LA12 7JU) (donations box). Walkers must bring ‘In Case of Emergency’ contact details. Group size limited to 12 walkers. No dogs please. Led by Linda Marshall and Jane Carson. |
26 | 10.30am (4pm) | Moderate Plus 8 miles 300m of ascent | Askam, Dunnerholme and Bank House Moor. We start along the north shore of the Duddon Estuary to Dunnerholme. After a visit to Marsh Grange, birthplace of Margaret Fell one of the founders of the Quakers, we cross a number of fields before a steep ascent to Bank House Moor. Here we should get fine views of North Walney and across to Black Combe. We descend through a wind farm and back to Askam via Ireleth. There are several stiles and parts of this walk can be very muddy after rain. Meet at Askam beach car park (Grid: SD 210 780) or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) at 10am (donations box). Led by Mick Shaw and Lindsay Harrison. | |
27 | 10.15am (3.45pm) | Hard 8 miles 850m ascent | Goats Water Horseshoe. 8th in the UK’s 100 best walks. Includes Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man. Meet at Torver Parish Room, (Grid: SD 284 943) with a reasonable parking fee or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) (donations box) at 9.30am. No dogs please. Led by Keith Raine and Tony Page. | |
| Mon 1 May | 28 | 10am (1pm) | Easy 4 miles | Herb Walk with Sarah Atkinson – Medical Herbalist. Our most popular walk. A gentle walk starting at Ford Park car park (LA12 7JU) (donations box) and walking down the canal to the Bay Horse, along the beach and then back via Next Ness to Ulverston (or return to the pub for refreshments if preferred). Easy, flat walking throughout. Led by Judy & Colin Pickthall. |
29 | 10.30am (3.30pm) | Moderate 8 miles 300m ascent | Ulverston to Broughton Beck Circular Ramble. A lovely walk, exploring the wonderfully varied countryside just north of the town. Our route takes us to Broughton Beck across the western flank of Hoad Hill and then a mixture of field and meadow paths and minor lanes. We return to Ulverston via the Cumbria Way. Note there are many stiles. Meet at the car park in Ford Park, Ulverston (LA12 7JU) (donations box). Hot drinks provided to accompany your lunch at St John’s Church, Osmotherly – at the halfway point. Led by Neil McLaughlin-Cook and Martin Cooper. | |
30 | 10am (3.30pm) | Moderate Plus 8½ miles 100m ascent up to Scout Scar | Helsington – Scout Scar Circuit. A mixed terrain walk including fields, woodland paths, open blocky limestone, minor roads, stony bridleways with some muddy and potentially wet areas. From the Church we go to Helsington Barrows and up onto Scout Scar to the ‘Mushroom’ shelter for a break. Then along the top and across to Cunswick Scar and the side of Knott Hill for lunch and back to start. Meet at the ‘gravel apron’ outside Helsington Church (Grid: SD 489 889, LA9 5JY), with great views across the Lyth Valley, or car share from Ford Park car park in Ulverston (LA12 7JU) leaving at 9.30am (donations box). (Recommended contribution to driver – £4.60pp.) Dogs welcomed provided owner can cope with a few awkward stiles on their own. (Helsington Church is 1¾ miles N of Levens and 500m SE of Brigsteer.) Led by Sheila Bull and Keith Raine. |
Ulverston WalkFest 