Cumbrian Coast Line: Good walks between stations?

[Iskra]

Can anyone recommend any good (fairly scenic) walks between stations on the Cumbrian coast line at all from previous experience? Ideally, I'd prefer something with a coastal stretch. Distance and terrain not an issue but I'd be doing it as a return trip with Northern so probably limited to 4-5 hours actually on the Cumbrian Coast. A good pub and any cultural or historical interest would be a bonus.

Starting from Chapeltown, I'd be travelling to Leeds, then Carlisle and any suitable station on the coast before returning home via Barrow and Manchester.

Thanks in advance

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Have walked from Arnside station to Silverdale station, a few years ago, mostly alongside the coast (i.e. via Blackstone Point). It's around 5 miles. Could also loop back to Arnside via Arnside Knott (small hill).

Technically it's not actually on the Cumbrian Coast Line, but it's certainly in that part of the world. Facilities are available at Arnside and (to a lesser extent) at Silverdale but not much in between apart from the scenic views of Morecambe Bay.

Sure other forumistas will, no doubt, have even better suggestions.

 

[S&CLER]

I keep meaning to do the new 11-mile section of the Engllsh Coast Path between Silecroft and Green Road, but I haven't had a free weekend yet, and the unreliability of the trains means that I think it will probably be best to split it at Millom to allow plenty of time for my return journey. The thought of being stranded at Green Road is not pleasant. I will report on it when I do it. I can recommend a walk between Kirkby in Furness and Ulverston, which are nowhere near as far apart as the crow flies as they are by rail. You could plan several scenic routes between the two stations, e.g the Kirkby Slate Road track up to the quarries. I don't recommend Kirkby to Askam as there is a very rocky stretch of beach near Soutergate. The beaches around Braystones and Nethertown are also rocky in a different way, lots of boulders. Cark to Kents Bank or Grange is a nice short walk, but it requires you to walk on (quiet) roads for a bit near Flookburgh. Kirkby in Furness to Foxfield is OK if you want a flatter walk across the Duddon Mosses National Nature Reserve.

 

[Iskra]

Have walked from Arnside station to Silverdale station, a few years ago, mostly alongside the coast (i.e. via Blackstone Point). It's around 5 miles. Could also loop back to Arnside via Arnside Knott (small hill).

Technically it's not actually on the Cumbrian Coast Line, but it's certainly in that part of the world. Facilities are available at Arnside and (to a lesser extent) at Silverdale but not much in between apart from the scenic views of Morecambe Bay.

Sure other forumistas will, no doubt, have even better suggestions.

Thanks for the suggestion, but as you point out it is on the Furness Line and I actually did this walk recently so it's not a contender this time, it was however a very good walk so thank you anyway and maybe someone else who reads it might give it a go

 

[Iskra]

I keep meaning to do the new 11-mile section of the Engllsh Coast Path between Silecroft and Green Road, but I haven't had a free weekend yet, and the unreliability of the trains means that I think it will probably be best to split it at Millom to allow plenty of time for my return journey. The thought of being stranded at Green Road is not pleasant. I will report on it when I do it. I can recommend a walk between Kirkby in Furness and Ulverston, which are nowhere near as far apart as the crow flies as they are by rail. You could plan several scenic routes between the two stations, e.g the Kirkby Slate Road track up to the quarries. I don't recommend Kirkby to Askam as there is a very rocky stretch of beach near Soutergate. The beaches around Braystones and Nethertown are also rocky in a different way, lots of boulders. Cark to Kents Bank or Grange is a nice short walk, but it requires you to walk on (quiet) roads for a bit near Flookburgh. Kirkby in Furness to Foxfield is OK if you want a flatter walk across the Duddon Mosses National Nature Reserve.

Some excellent ideas there, there's certainly plenty of options in that part of the world.

I think having looked into it, I'm going to get off at Harrington with the intention of walking to Whitehaven, which leaves me the option of cutting the walk short at Parton to have my first ever use of a request stop.

 

[Hardcastle]

St Bees to Whitehaven is worth a look at if you have time it's a very varied coastal walk with lots of intrest.

 

[_toommm_]

I’ll add in Sellafield to Parton - fifteen miles to Whitehaven, I didn’t record the bit from Whitehaven to Parton, two-ish miles if I remember correctly. On the beach until Braystones, a road until St. Bees, then on the cliffs until Whitehaven. I’m relatively fit and it took me four and a half hours.

I did it (mostly) on a free Northern ticket from Leeds as follows:
• 06:00 Leeds to Manchester Victoria
• 07:46 Manchester Piccadilly to Barrow
• 10:22 Barrow to Sellafield
• 18:44 Parton to Carlisle
• 20:13 Carlisle to Leeds (although on the day this was 90 minutes late, meaning I got another two free returns).

(The photos below are a screenshot from Apple Fitness showing the route I took on the above walk, plus five photos of the views on the walk, mainly out to the sea):

 

[Iskra]

I’ll add in Sellafield to Parton - fifteen miles to Whitehaven, I didn’t record the bit from Whitehaven to Parton, two-ish miles if I remember correctly. On the beach until Braystones, a road until St. Bees, then on the cliffs until Whitehaven. I’m relatively fit and it took me four and a half hours.

I did it (mostly) on a free Northern ticket from Leeds as follows:
• 06:00 Leeds to Manchester Victoria
• 07:46 Manchester Piccadilly to Barrow
• 10:22 Barrow to Sellafield
• 18:44 Parton to Carlisle
• 20:13 Carlisle to Leeds (although on the day this was 90 minutes late, meaning I got another two free returns).

(The photos below are a screenshot from Apple Fitness showing the route I took on the above walk, plus five photos of the views on the walk, mainly out to the sea):

View attachment 111904
View attachment 111905View attachment 111906View attachment 111907View attachment 111908View attachment 111909

Excellent information and beautiful photos, thank you very much!

 

[philjo]

We did a linear last year from Cark via Cartmell village (visited the Sticky toffee pudding shop!) and over Hampsfell into Grange over Sands.

Though not on the coast line itself, we did a couple of walks from the Ravenglass & Eskdale railway a few years ago. One involved alighting at one of the intermediate stations, and up along the ridge looking down onto Wastwater. Descend to Dalegarth for Boot for the return train back to Ravenglass. Need a clear day for that walk.
Also a good circular walk from Ravenglass via the Muncaster estate.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Sounds good. Not sure if the intermediate stops on the Ravenglass Railway are currently possible / in use in 2022, might just be end-to-end journeys.

 

[VideozVideoz]

I’ll add in Sellafield to Parton - fifteen miles to Whitehaven, I didn’t record the bit from Whitehaven to Parton, two-ish miles if I remember correctly. On the beach until Braystones, a road until St. Bees, then on the cliffs until Whitehaven. I’m relatively fit and it took me four and a half hours.

I did Nethertown to seascale last year. You can walk the beach between braystones and Nethertown too. Approaching Sellafield, don’t be tempted to be on the “wrong side of the river” as you won’t be able to cross back over and will have to backtrack