Grecar two

Verified Slow Way

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We walked this route in July on a fairly sunny day.

The first part of the route runs alongside the edge of a road parallel to the M6 – which makes it pretty noisy. The traffic is very busy and fast – so high attention is required at all times. Currently, work is being done on the England Coast Path and once this is complete you should be able to avoid this section via the bridge for a much nicer route.

After this first section, we joined a footpath which runs away from the road and goes underneath the train line (via the second tunnel if you’re walking south). We rejoined the road at a pedestrian-friendly bridge. From here, the route uses much smaller lanes and quieter roads through open countryside. The final approach into Carlisle is along suburban roads with pavements for easy walking and navigation.

We walked south from Gretna on a sunny day in July.

The first section is the least pleasant: you have to walk along the edge of a road running parallel to the M6, so it's noisy and fumey. Despite being on a smaller road, it's still busy and fast, so requires great care and alertness. There is currently work being done to one of the bridges on the England Coast path, and when this is finished, it should be possible to avoid this part.

After this, we joined a footpath which moves away from the road for a quieter section. It goes underneath the train line via a tunnel (the second one you come to if walking south) until rejoining the road via stairs in order to cross the river. There is a pedestrian section here with a metal barrier to protect from traffic.

After this tough section is out of the way, the rest of the walk uses country lanes and quiet roads that are pleasant to walk along.

We walked this route on a reasonably sunny day in July.

The main 'grit your teeth' portion is the initial exit from Gretna, where it is necessary to walk along the verge/edge of the smaller road running parallel to the M6. The is reasonably busy and fast and just not particularly enjoyable. Once the England Coast path is complete (there is a bridge out at present), it should be possible to avoid this section. It is then possible to join a footpath which moves away from the road until rejoining it at the (pedestrian friendly) Metal Bridge.

From here the route improves immensely, using small lanes and much quieter roads to navigate through plantations and open countryside, before joining some nice footpaths through the Solway Coast National Landscape and along the River Eden. The final approach into Carlisle is along nice suburban roads with pavements.

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