Our top 4 Staveley walks – from meanders to mountains

Beginning and ending in Staveley Mill Yard (there’s plenty of chargeable parking), a place full of thriving businesses, including a choice of places to eat and drink at the end of your walk, this delightful and accessible to all circular route takes you along the tranquil shores of the River Kent – keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers and dippers as you go.

Relatively short, at 1.6km, this untaxing meander starts at a footbridge just past the Hawkshead Brewery (where you can get a fine pint afterwards) and continues past the weir before following the river until you get the footbridge that takes you back into Mill Yard.

Circular Route >

• 1.6km Length
• 22m Elevation gain
• 0h 22m Estimated time

Fancy bagging a couple of easy Wainwrights, setting off from the centre of Staveley? Right, park up in Mill Yard (or park for free in the layby by Barley Bridge) and grab yourself a fortifying cup of coffee from Wilf’s first – you can’t rush these things. It’s only about 4km all in but the route can get a bit boggy in places so make sure you’re properly kitted out in your sturdiest walking boots.

Head out of Staveley on the Kentmere Road and start the gentle zig-zagging climb to the summit of Hugill Fell.

Don’t forget to add a stone to the cairn and take in the panoramic views of the Kentmere fells.

You can now carry on to Reston Scar – something you couldn’t easily do when Wainwright was tramping the fells – via a roundabout route that takes in grass paths, kissing gates and a hidden muddy dip before reaching the summit. If it’s a clear day, you might even be able to see the Howgills and the Forest of Bowland from the top.

Hugill Fell and Reston Scar Circular

• 5km Length
• 217m Elevation gain
• 1h 38m Estimated time

This is a big one, so make sure you get a good night’s sleep before tackling the classic Kentmere Round (or the Kentmere Horseshoe). It’s long (around 22km), and it’s remote, but you will tick off 8 Wainwrights on the way (along with various Birketts, Hewitts and Nuttals), so the achy legs will be worth it. And after that, you’ll deserve a pint or two in town to celebrate.

The well-marked walk kicks off from near the village hall in Kentmere (about 4 miles north of Staveley), where parking is limited – there’s room for about 6 cars so the earlier you get there the better.

You’ll then head up towards the Garburn Pass before heading right to pick up Wainwright number one. From there you’ll encounter seven more Wainwrights, a handful of tarns, views of the Kentmere Reservoir and Haweswater, steep ascents, hard stony paths, soft grass (very welcome) and rocky outcrops before you get back to Kentmere with a job well done behind you and a cold pint ahead of you.

Kentmere Horseshoe Circular

• 18.7km Length
• 1,051m Elevation gain
• 6h 58m Estimated time

If the thought of taking on the Kentmere Horseshoe brings you out in a sweat, then this gentler, family-friendly ramble that offers pubs at both ends might be more up your street. Your legs will still get a decent workout as you walk around 9.5km on easy lanes and tracks, paved roadways and riverbanks, plus you’ll be rewarded with great views of the nearby fells.

Starting in Staveley, you walk along the banks of the River Kent, taking in fellside views as you go. After a while, you’ll head inland, rambling over open countryside to the south before crossing the A591 to reach the tiny village of Ings – stop here for a drink and something to eat at the Watermill Inn, before following the path of the River Gowan back to Staveley.

Staveley to Ings circular

• 9.5km Length
• 204m Elevation gain
• 2h 23m Estimated time