This page covers the older Furness Way (Arnside to Ravenglass). For the new 120-mile Westmorland and Furness Way from Alston to Furness Abbey, go to our main trail guide →
The Furness Way is a 70-mile (112 km) coast-to-coast walk across southern Lakeland. It runs east to west from Arnside on Morecambe Bay to Ravenglass on the Irish Sea, via Cartmel, Coniston and Eskdale. Devised by Paul Hannon and published in 1994, it usually takes 4 to 7 days. This guide splits it into six stages, each with a free GPX.
Quick Facts
Route Map & Free GPX
The full line of the Furness Way from Arnside to Ravenglass, with the six overnight stops marked. Download the GPX to follow it on your phone or GPS. The route isn't waymarked, so you'll need it.
Free and un-gated, no sign-up. Distances and ascent on this site are measured from this GPX.
Pairs perfectly with our GPX files: import this file into Our Fells, save the OS map offline and follow the line with live GPS. 7-day free trial, then 10% off your first year with code . Affiliate link
Elevation Profile: Arnside to Ravenglass
Elevation derived from the route GPX sampled against a digital elevation model (Open-Meteo (Copernicus DEM)). Figures are approximate.
The Six Stages
Each stage ends somewhere with beds and food, and has its own page with a map, elevation profile, GPX, transport and accommodation notes.
A gentle opening along the Kent estuary, then north through Heversham and Levens to the damson country of the Lyth Valley.
Limestone country: along Whitbarrow to Witherslack, through Lindale and over Hampsfell's viewpoint into the priory village of Cartmel.
West across the River Leven by Backbarrow and Haverthwaite, then along the Crake valley via Greenodd and Penny Bridge to Lowick Bridge.
Into the Lake District proper: up through quiet hamlets and over the open moor above Coniston Water's east shore to Coniston village.
The big day: over the Walna Scar pass to Seathwaite in the Duddon Valley, then across the wild Birker Fell to Boot in Eskdale.
A gentle final day down lovely Eskdale, past Eskdale Green and Muncaster Castle, to the Roman remains and estuary at Ravenglass.
The Route: Bay to Sea Across Southern Lakeland
The Furness Way runs along the southern edge of the Lake District. It stays below the crowded central fells for most of its length, then climbs into the quieter western valleys for a wild finish. The name comes from Furness, the old district between Windermere and the sea that was, for centuries, a detached part of Lancashire.
Arnside to the Lyth Valley
The walk begins beside the Kent estuary at Arnside, where the railway viaduct strides across the sands of Morecambe Bay. The opening miles are gentle, following the estuary through Sandside and heading north past Heversham, Levens and Brigsteer woods to Crosthwaite, among the Lyth Valley's damson orchards. Stage 1 →
Whitbarrow, Hampsfell and Cartmel
The first real highlight is Whitbarrow, a long limestone ridge and National Nature Reserve, skirted via Witherslack. From Lindale the path climbs Hampsfell, whose summit shelter, the Hospice, looks out over the whole of Morecambe Bay. Below lies Cartmel, a village built around its great medieval priory, now just as well known for its racecourse, sticky toffee pudding and restaurants. Stage 2 →
The Leven valley and Coniston Water
West of Cartmel the route crosses the River Leven at Backbarrow and Haverthwaite and follows the Crake through Greenodd to Lowick Bridge. It then climbs over the open moor of Bethecar and Parkamoor, high above the quiet east shore of Coniston Water, to Coniston village beneath the Old Man. Stage 3 → · Stage 4 →
Walna Scar, the Duddon and Eskdale
The finest walking comes last. The old Walna Scar Road crosses the pass at around 600 m, the walk's high point, into the Duddon Valley at Seathwaite, the valley Wordsworth celebrated in his River Duddon sonnets. The route then crosses the wild moorland of Birker Fell to Boot in Eskdale. This is the remotest stretch, so allow for weather. Stage 5 →
Muncaster and Ravenglass
The final day follows Eskdale down to the coast, past Eskdale Green and Muncaster Castle, to Ravenglass. It's the only coastal village inside the Lake District National Park. Its Roman bath house, part of the fort of Glannoventa, is among the tallest Roman remains still standing in northern Britain, and a fitting finish at the edge of the Irish Sea. Stage 6 →
Getting There and Back
The Furness Way is well served by rail at both ends, so no car is needed.
- Start: Arnside station is on the Furness Line between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness, with connections from the West Coast Main Line at Lancaster.
- Finish: Ravenglass station is on the Cumbrian Coast Line. Trains run south to Barrow, then back along the Furness Line to Arnside if you left a car there.
- Mid-route: Cark & Cartmel station is near Cartmel. The heritage Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway runs between Ravenglass and Dalegarth, near Boot, which is handy for splitting the last day or leaving luggage.
Always check current timetables. Services on the coast lines are less frequent on Sundays.
Where to Stay on the Furness Way
The route passes through a string of villages with inns, B&Bs and self-catering. The main overnight stops are:
Accommodation or café on the Furness Way?
If you run a B&B, inn, campsite or café in Arnside, Cartmel, Coniston, Eskdale or Ravenglass, a Trail Partner listing puts you in front of walkers as they plan their nights, on this guide and on the stage page for your village.
Become a Trail Partner →Furness Way vs the Westmorland and Furness Way
The two walks share a name but little else. The original Furness Way is shorter at about 70 miles, runs east to west, and ends on the west coast. The Westmorland and Furness Way is a 120-mile, six-stage official trail from Alston in the North Pennines to Furness Abbey, and opened in 2026. They link by train, so you can walk both. Compare them side by side →
Frequently Asked Questions
The original Furness Way is about 70 miles (112 km) from Arnside to Ravenglass. Our GPX measures 69 miles (111 km), and published figures range from 70 to 75 miles depending on variations. Our GPX gives roughly 2,400 m of ascent. Some published figures go up to about 3,450 m because they count more of the small ups and downs. Allow around 30–35 hours of walking.
It starts at Arnside on the Kent estuary at the top of Morecambe Bay and finishes at Ravenglass on the Irish Sea coast. Both have railway stations, which makes the linear walk easy to arrange.
Most walkers take 4 to 7 days. This guide splits it into six stages of between 8.6 and 14 miles, overnighting at Crosthwaite, Cartmel, Lowick Bridge, Coniston and Boot. For a seven-day trip, add a short first afternoon from Arnside to Milnthorpe or Levens. Strong walkers can combine stages to finish in four or five days.
Yes. You can download the full-route GPX and a GPX for each of the six stages free from this page, with no sign-up. GeoJSON copies are also available. The route isn't waymarked, so load the GPX into your phone or GPS before you set off.
The route was devised by guidebook author Paul Hannon and published by Hillside Publications in 1994. It is the first of a trilogy of his walks: with the Cumberland Way and the Westmorland Way, it completes a circuit of the Lake District.
No. The Westmorland and Furness Way is a separate, much newer 120-mile official trail from Alston to Furness Abbey, opened in September 2026. See Which Furness Way? for a side-by-side comparison.
The route is covered by the OS Explorer OL7 (The English Lakes, South-Eastern Area) and OL6 (The English Lakes, South-Western Area) 1:25,000 maps. It isn't a waymarked trail, so carry a map and our free GPX on your phone.