Walks you can reach from Oxenholme Lake District by train

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).

Recommended: The magnificent Lune Aqueduct; a canalside view of the sea, with mountains beyond. A long but very easy route, canal towpath nearly all the way, with short street sections at each end and no stiles, gates or steps. The towpath contours above the Lune valley over the magnificent Lune Aqueduct; surface is tarmac (partly broken) or fine gravel and lumpy in places with a couple of short muddy patches and a short cobbled section. Views across the fields, Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland hills; kingfishers sometimes seen. Cafés at St John's Hospice (Lancaster end) and a shoreside café and micropub at Hest Bank.

Waterway: nine tenths along the Lancaster Canal.

Time: 4h–7h30

Lunch: Canalside pubs and a supermarket at Bolton-le-Sands and a canalside pub at Hest Bank.

1 end-of-walk reward: the Canal Turn

Warnings: The towpath surface is lumpy where the tarmac has disintegrated, with a couple of slightly muddy patches.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

Recommended: Stunning views of the full Lake District fell panorama. Leaves Windermere via residential roads, then climbs onto grassy low fells on stony, sometimes rocky tracks, before dropping farm to farm through lush agricultural fields and quiet lanes into Staveley. Largely follows a well-signposted national trail; gentle for the Lake District with only mild ups and downs and though boggy and uneven underfoot in places. A delightful stepping-stone stream crossing. Largely follows the Dales Way national trail, though not throughout, so keep an eye on the map.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: A network of paths over the open fell around Grandsire requires care with navigation despite the signposting.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

The views from the trig point (and some distance before and after) are incredible, covering Lancaster, Morecambe Bay, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales including Ingleborough, and the Forest of Bowland. A long route over Whit Moor, with remote middle miles of muddy to quite wet peat bog, open access land, trodden moorland tracks and a final well-maintained tarmac cycle track into Lancaster. Stiles, gates and steps and short steep sections. Designed to avoid the wet fields and busy roads of the alternative route. Main facilities are about 5 miles from each end, at Wray and at Brookhouse/Caton. Passes the Halton eco-village, Lune Aqueduct, Priory and Castle into Lancaster.

Lancaster Castle: A medieval castle above the city, long used as a court and prison.

Time: 7h30–14h30

3 lunch spots: the Station pub, licensed café at Wray, or the Woodie's

Warnings: The middle 7 miles are remote and can be wet peat bog; navigation on the moor relies on trodden tracks and waymark posts. The A683 at Brookhouse is fast but has big gaps for safe crossing. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Very nice views especially on the Dales Way; the beautiful Lakeland mountains in the background. A lovely riverside route on good paths, following the Dales Way along the River Kent, with a field path and a section parallel to the railway. Relatively flat and easy and though there are some stiles and steps. Follows the Dales Way along the River Kent; good bus links to central Kendal from the housing estate.

Waterway: two thirds along the River Kent.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Warnings: The marked route on the outskirts of Kendal is overgrown with an out-of-action stile; cross the railway bridge and go through the housing estate instead.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

An absolute joy. A great rural route of two halves: a fantastic upland off-road stretch using footpaths, grassy tracks, rough rocky bridleways and field paths (the joyful Dales Way section) as far as Crook, then more roads and tracks to Kendal. Grassy tracks can be muddy, there are stiles, gates and fords and rough terrain throughout. The terrain undulates over fells with great views. Follows the Dales Way for a long stretch. Notices explain about tree-planting and grazing by belted Galloway cattle. Crosses Cunswick Fell and Kendal Fell with great views of the Lake District fells.

Time: 5h–10h

1 lunch spot: the Sun Inn

Warnings: Foot-only due to many stiles, gates and rough terrain; a railway level crossing uses a light system; crossing the often-busy A591 dual carriageway means judging gaps in traffic (a nearby road bridge can be used instead). Navigation over the little hill of Grandsire and the fields from Low Crag needs care. The route through Kendal's shopping centre is only passable during trading hours.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 6h–12h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long route with a very enjoyable, good-surfaced opening section to Bamber Bridge and with a minor road to cross and a narrow 62 cm gap. Avenham Park near the start has free toilets.

Time: 5h30–10h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Beautiful forest views and rock sculptures; Lovely very varied route. A long, varied route through woods, fields, riverside and forest tracks, with some road walking. Parts are a bit up and down, after heavy rain there can be a fair amount of mud, plus some difficult steps over tree roots near Armathwaite. Some fast sections of road between Cotehill and Cumwhinton and the motorway junction. Coombs Wood near Armathwaite is a highlight, with rock sculptures. The route can be tackled over two weekends, breaking at Armathwaite, with good facilities at either end and several points on the way.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 7h30–14h30

Lunch: Pubs at Armathwaite, Cotehill and Cumwhinton along the way.

Warnings: Some fast road sections between Cotehill, Cumwhinton and the M6 junction. Difficult steps over tree roots on the exit from Coombs Wood into Armathwaite. The riverside path along the River Petteril may flood in high rainfall. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.