Staken one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

I walked this route in June 2023 but took a variation by the flat bridge above Cowan Head so that I could continue on the grassy path the other side of the river that goes all the way into Burneside. It is a delightful alternative to walking along the roads through Bowston and into Burneside. From the outskirts of Burneside I took the path across the field, which then runs paralell to the railway line before entering a small housing estate, crosses the line, heading on streets for a little before, doubling back under the railway bridge to then take the riverside path into Kendal. I suggested as a third alternative to the 2 routes already linking Staveley and Kendal but my version (mainly off-road) doesn't seem to have been uploaded on the website yet.

The route leaves Staveley on a path slightly separated from the road and next to the river. It leaves the road just before the level crossing and follows the Dales Way – but not for long. Instead, it goes along an enclosed path which has some stones and roots across it, and I believe it can be a bit overgrown in summer, but it was fine in late autumn. It ends at a difficult stone wall stile, then directly crosses a field to arrive at Cragg Farm. The path goes to the right of the buildings then across a garden via a waymarked gate and another stone wall stile. It then heads downhill crossing a rough stony pasture field, then a grassy field to arrive, via a short, walled lane, into Cowan Head. The steps to the gate here might be easy to miss in the opposite direction.
From here it is B roads nearly all the way. Mostly these are paved, sometimes via a path separated from the road by a hedge. The route passes through Burneside, which apparently has toilets at the church, and has a station and a pub. The pub appeared to be closed when I passed it, but its website suggests it is normally open every day, including lunchtime. The walk into Kendal is nothing special, although the final riverside section is pleasant.

Only two stars because there is a section of this route for which there are significantly better choices.

The problem section is from Staveley to Cowan Head, which takes the footpath from the road out of Staveley (just before the railway crossing) and navigates via Cragg Farm.

Difficulties start at the path junction at 477975, where the Slow Way departs from the DalesWay by forking right along a little used footpath between parallel walls. This section is overgrown and was a nightmare in shorts.

The parallel wall section ends at a knee-high stone stile (Photo 1) that drops awkwardly and unexpectedly far down to the field (Photo 2) and a confusion of yellow arrows on the telegraph pole (Photo 3). Even as an experienced navigator, I took the wrong direction from here and had to track back. The Slow Way goes directly across the field to the opposite corner.

At Cragg Farm, the footpath skirts the buildings (not through the farmyard as indicated on the OS map) and then goes across the neat garden (not signposted) to open ground beyond. Not wanting to trample across someone's garden, the walker is drawn to the more obvious track towards the cattle grid, but this is wrong.

Finally, the descent to Cowan Head is again on an overgrown / underused path.

For the sake of a couple of hundred metres extra walk, I would recommend taking the Dales Way from the original path junction at 477975, which follows a clear and well-used path along the bank of the Kent and rejoins the original path at Cowan Head.

Alternatively, stay on the roadside path at 476975 and follow the cycle track / footpath beside the A591 to Plantation Bridge, then negotiate a couple of bends on the quiet road that is Winter Lane before strolling down to Bowston.

This an easy steady flat route, mainly following the route of the Dalesway along the River Kent.

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