Stage 6 of the Westmorland and Furness Way runs Ulverston to Furness Abbey — 17.7 miles (28.5 km) across the Furness Coast / Morecambe Bay, rated Easy, with around 62 m of ascent and a high point of 32 m. A free GPX download and route map are below.
Free and un-gated — no sign-up. Load the GPX into your GPS device or phone app.
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
Elevation derived from the route GPX sampled against a digital elevation model (Open-Meteo (Copernicus DEM)). Figures are approximate.
Key Takeaways
Terrain & What to Expect
The final stage is a coastal grand finale across the Furness Peninsula from Ulverston to the ruins of Furness Abbey. Leaving town along the Ulverston Canal, the route reaches the shore of Morecambe Bay near Conishead Priory and the ancient woodland of Sea Wood.
Much of the day follows or shadows the coast — sharing sections with the King Charles III England Coast Path — past Baycliff and the Rampside shoreline, with wide estuary views out towards Piel Island and the bird-rich Cavendish Dock. Some shore-edge sections are tide-dependent, so timing matters (see the conditions note below).
The trail then threads the edge of Barrow-in-Furness before arriving at Furness Abbey — a vast red-sandstone Cistercian monastery founded in 1123 and one of the most atmospheric journey's-ends of any long-distance trail in England. It's mostly easy, low-level walking, but with some road and urban-fringe navigation near the end.
Transport: Getting to the Start & Finish
Getting to the start (Ulverston): Ulverston is on the Cumbrian Coast railway line and has bus links, so it's easy to reach.
Leaving the finish (Furness Abbey / Barrow): Furness Abbey is close to Barrow-in-Furness, which has a railway station on the Cumbrian Coast line and bus services. Barrow is a short distance from the abbey — check current bus routes and rail times for your journey home.
Some details on this stage change with the seasons or the trail's ongoing development. Confirm these against a current, primary source before you set off:
- Tide times, if you use any of the shore-edge sections between Baycliff and Rampside.
- The exact line through the farmland near Moat Farm: follow the waymarks if they differ from the GPX.
Where to Stay & Eat
Ulverston (start) has a full range of shops, cafés and pubs — a good place for breakfast before setting off.
Along the coast there are pubs and refreshment options in and around the villages (such as near Bardsea, Baycliff and Rampside), but they can be spaced out and seasonal, so don't rely on a specific one being open.
Barrow-in-Furness, near the finish, has the widest choice of accommodation, food and transport for the end of your walk.
Stage 6 FAQs
It's a mix. Much of the day is easy, low-level walking on canal towpath, shore paths, quiet lanes and field paths, with some road and urban-fringe sections near Barrow at the end. It's the easiest stage on the trail, but not entirely surfaced — expect some rougher shore and field ground.
Furness Abbey is close to Barrow-in-Furness, which has a railway station on the Cumbrian Coast line and bus services. Barrow is a short distance from the abbey — check current bus routes and train times for your journey home before you finish.
Some shore-edge sections between Baycliff and Rampside can be influenced by the tide. Check tide times for the day and be prepared to use the parallel road or higher path where needed rather than committing to the beach on a rising tide (see the conditions note on this page).
Continue the Trail
More trip-planning FAQs · New to the trail? What is the Westmorland and Furness Way?
Plan the whole walk: walking tips · accommodation & transport · kit & safety · itineraries & best time to walk · the landscape & history