Walks near Carlisle by train

Remote moorland ridge, lonely dales, upland fells, scarp edges, river pastures, commons and bucolic valley farmland.

Time: 6h

Warnings: Can be boggy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

River South Tyne valley, woodland and the South Tyne Trail along a former railway line.

The South Tyne Trail: A 23-mile recreational route along the former South Tyne railway line, following the wooded valley of the River South Tyne.

Time: 2h30

Warnings: Some navigation required; crosses the A69 twice.

Walk details: Northern Railway (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Easy-access town and harbour circular: Maritime Museum, coast aquarium, Georgian Fleming Square and the Senhouse Roman Museum (Britain's best Roman-altar collection).

The Senhouse Roman Museum: A clifftop museum at Maryport holding the best collection of Roman altars in Britain.

The Lake District Coast Aquarium: An aquarium on Maryport harbour devoted to the underwater life of Cumbria's seas and coasts.

Walk details: Community Rail Cumbria (PDF).

Upland fell, exposed moorland, peat bog, limestone country with shake holes and swallow holes, river gorge, narrow woodland path, scenic valley, heathery commons and pastures.

Time: 5h

Warnings: Can be boggy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Longer circular through Kendal and along the River Kent, past the 12th-century castle ruins, the line of the old Lancaster Canal and a riverside walk.

Kendal Castle: The ruins of a twelfth-century castle overlooking the town of Kendal.

Time: 4h

Walk details: Community Rail Cumbria (PDF).

Mainly hilly circular up to the dammed Potter Tarn and back along the River Kent on the Dales Way, through walled pastures.

Potter Tarn: A reservoir tarn in the hills above Burneside reached on a Dales Way circular.

Time: 3h

Walk details: Community Rail Cumbria (PDF).

Easy, mainly level circular along the River Kent on the Dales Way to the old mill at Cowan Head, through fields and rough pasture.

Time: 2h

Warnings: Some sections may lack way-marks; a map is recommended.

Walk details: Community Rail Cumbria (PDF).

Easy walk to Lake Windermere's shore at Cockshott Point and, via the car ferry, the 18th-century Claife Viewing Station built for the first tourists.

Claife Viewing Station: An 18th-century purpose-built viewing station on the quieter western shore of Windermere, created for the lake's first tourists to admire the landscape through coloured-glass windows.

Time: 2h30

Warnings: The full loop needs the Windermere car ferry (foot passengers, roughly every 20 minutes); the Cockshott Point section can be done without it.

Walk details: Visit Lake District / Lakes Line Rail User Group (PDF).

Moorland ridge, high plateau, boulder-filled fell tops, upland hay meadows, disused mine scars, rough pastures and engineered Pennine Way paths.

Time: 8h30

Warnings: Exposed, boggy, foggy. Avoid winter/early spring.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Coast, quiet farmland lanes and the lock-free Lancaster Canal towpath into Carnforth, the station of Brief Encounter fame.

Time: 2h

Walk details: Community Rail Lancashire (PDF).

Similar walk: Railwalks.

Limestone scenery of the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape: lanes, woodland and outcrops, climbing Warton Crag for sweeping views over Morecambe Bay. Rare butterflies, moths and lizards on the crag.

Time: 2h30

Walk details: Discover Bowland (PDF).

Linear coastal route on National Cycle Route 72 and Hadrian's Cycleway, past a Roman fort site and 17th-century Moresby Hall, on the former mineral railway.

Moresby Roman Fort: The site of a Roman fort near Parton, beside St Bridget's Church.

Time: 2h

Warnings: Parton is a request stop. One steep section on the climb into Lowca.

Walk details: Community Rail Cumbria (PDF).