Walks in Low Furness

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The Haematite Trail

You can obtain a leaflet called 'The Haematite Trail' from the Barrow Tourist Information Centre, which will guide you around some of the mining remains in Low Furness.

The trail starts at Barrow Park on Abbey Road, and follows an 18 mile circular route along footpaths and minor roads, through Newton, Stainton, Little Urswick, Lindal, Marton, Ireleth, Askam, and back to Barrow.

The trail passes by the east side of Lindal, via Whinfield Farm and up the hill to Carr Kettle. The trail then turns to the west and passes through Marton. The leaflet points out many important features, such as the Reading Room in Marton with its round-topped windows, built by the mine owners for use by their employees.

If you prefer, you can pick out part of the route, eg through Lindal and Marton, and just do that section. There are plenty of minor roads and public footpaths in Low Furness that you can explore to create alternative circular routes to suit your own capabilities.

I would recommend taking an appropriate Ordnance Survey Map and compass with you for the walk, to supplement the sketch map in the Haematite Trail leaflet.

Walking the Lakeland Fringes

Walking the Lakeland Fringes. The South-West. Mary Welsh, with illustrations by Christine Isherwood. 2000. Sigma Press. ISBN 1-85058-679-9.

The above book describes 52 walks in the area to the south-west of the Lake District. The book includes maps, illustrations, and notes on the buildings and wildlife to be seen on the way. The walks that come closest to Lindal and Marton (with the walk lengths in brackets) are as follows:

Walk No 26: Askam-in-Furness (7.5 miles)
Walk No 27: Dalton-in-Furness to Lindal-in-Furness (6.5 miles)
Walk No 28: Furness Abbey (6 miles)
Walk No 32: Gleaston (6.5 miles)
Walk No 33: Great Urswick (6 miles)
Walk No 34: Ulverston to Pennington (4.5 miles)

There are many more Lake District walking books in the Sigma Leisure series, including 'Pub Walks in the Lake District', 'South Lakeland Walks with Children', and 'Tea Shop Walks in the Lake District'. These are available from bookshops, Tourist Information Centres, and by mail order from Sigma Press.

Low Furness spiritual walks

The Explore Low Furness website is a fascinating source of information about the religious heritage of Low Furness. The site focuses particularly on Urswick Church, which contains the famous Tuwini Cross, thought to date back to 850AD. A group of local volunteers has created several walking guides, which can be downloaded from the website.

Ramblers' Association Furness Group

The Ramblers' Association promotes walking in the countryside, protects rights of way, campaigns for access to open country, and defends the beauty of the countryside.

Local groups work with the public and with local authorities to solve footpath problems, survey and clear footpaths, organise access campaigns, arrange walks for members, and publish guide books.

The Lake District Area group has more than 2,300 members in seven local groups, including the Furness group.

Ulverston Walking Festival - annually March/April

Annual Walking Festival based in Ulverston. There is a wide range of events ranging from short local history walks, up to 24km/15-mile walks, and evening entertainment. All walks are led by volunteer walkers. Information is available from Ulverston Tourist Information Centre.

Keswick to Barrow Walk

The annual 40 mile Keswick to Barrow Walk route passes through Marton. Walkers approach Marton from Snipe Ghyll, take a short break at the Marton Checkpoint, and carry on via Tarn Flatt and Dalton to the finish at Barrow.  2006 photos

Macmillan Walking Events

Visit the Macmillan Cancer Support walking events website to find a nearby guided walk, and raise some money for charity by doing so. The walks range hugely in style, from a strenuous 26 mile "three peaks challenge", to a spectacular 8 mile walk across Morecambe Bay.

John Harris's Walking in Cumbria

The Walking in Cumbria website contains more than 160 walk descriptions that you can download and print, plus details of books, maps and walking groups.

Countryside Access

The Government Countryside Access website contains information and maps relating to the open access provisions resulting from the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This has little direct impact on the Lindal and Marton area, but there are open access areas nearby, including Bank House Moor, Urswick Tarn and Birkrigg Common.