Many paths were overgrown or boggy, resulting in difficulties finding the way across some fields. There were a couple of tricky road crossings and I encountered frisky/curious young cattle in several fields, which could be unnerving if you have a dog or young children with you....

Alison Gilchrist

South of Burneside there is a path just to the West of the road which continues until you turn Left, crossing the road to reach a path that goes through woodland to the Golf Course....

AwayO

We did the Cunswick Scar variation that takes you over the footbridge above the A591 - slightly longer but more pleasant and avoids the road crossing of the often busy by-pass....

Alison Gilchrist

This was a great walk, very nice views especially on the Dales Way, a great addition. Great walk and mainly off the road....

Patricia B

The route left Kendal via a fairly direct footpath and a bit of A6 pavement to reach a lovely path alongside then River Mint, and then a quiet lane to Patton Hall Farm. Eventually I arrived down by the noisy M6 and the West Coast Main Line railway, that follow the Lune Gorge into Tebay. The pretty-much essential detour here led to a pretty walk along the Lune, and a lane walk with views of the curving strata of rock where the M6 was carved out, to Lune’s Bridge. A lovely new off-road footpath was opened in 2023 avoiding the need to walk along the main road into Tebay, as I have done in the past....

Mary Oz

This route follows the River Kent most of the way and what a superb route it is, following the Dales Way alongside the river for a good length of the route....

Paul Chilcott

Nearer to Kendal it is necessarily less pleasant but keep an eye out for the otters (very) occasionally seen along the river bank. I agree it is more enjoyable to follow the river/Dales Way between Staveley and Cowan Head...

Pete

Or you can continue to stay high, and take in the glorious views from Helsington Church then follow the edge of Scout Scar in its entirety. Once over the bridge and onto Kendal Fell with its golf course, it is usual and perfectly acceptable to deviate slightly off the footpath to take in your third summit of the day, and enjoy some more glorious views from the perfectly positioned bench - another of my favourite places....

Alison Cairns

Continue to follow the route to Kendal, if time permits it's worth taking a small detour on Crunswick Fell up to the Cairn for more excellent views of the Lakeland Fells....

Chris Doyle

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....

Alison Gilchrist

The route makes sense and sections of it were beautiful in terms of moving through the landscape....

Alison Gilchrist

The route left Kendal through a pleasant park, easier to navigate than the labyrinth of ginnels and yards! It was well worth using this easy but longer route out of Kendal, as the original involves a scary crossing of the A591. On the last part of the route to Crosthwaite, the wide flat Lyth Valley came into view, with the ridge of Scout Scar further to my left. I am tempted to give the route 5*, but the rubbliness of Gamblemire Lane, and the presence of several herds of cows reduced it a bit for me....

Mary Oz

I decided not to risk walking this route as the Google Street View shows that where the footpath crosses the busy, fast A591, it looks quite dangerous....

Mary Oz

On leaving the wood through a gate follow the edge of the field with the woods on your left along an obvious rising path. At Parkend Lane follow the footpath signs up to Wells Garth. Footpath signs at Barrowfield Farm direct you around the buildings and up through the field to more woods and the steep path climbing up Scout Scar....

Mary Oz

Footpath signs at Barrowfield Farm direct you around the buildings and up through the field to more woods and the steep path climbing up Scout Scar. The path leads onto a long section of easy walking across open, grassy sheep pasture, and around the corner into a field which leads to a footbridge over the busy A591 Kendal Bypass. There are good views of Kendal from the golf course, but I found the footpath signposting to be unclear, and it seemed a lot easier to descend through Serpentine Wood, than try to find the path shown on the map....

Mary Oz

The route leaves Staveley on a path slightly separated from the road and next to the River Kent. It leaves the road just before the level crossing and follows the Dales Way alongside the river to Cowan Head....

Mary Oz

The route leaves Staveley on a path slightly separated from the road and next to the river. The path goes to the right of the buildings then across a garden via a waymarked gate and another stone wall stile....

Mary Oz

This was a lovely route, but there is a small diversion needed, so I have included a map of the suggested route in with the pictures. Bearing in mind that this diversion is very small, I would regard the route as being acceptable as part of the Slow Ways network. On leaving the wood through a gate, follow the edge of the field with the woods on your right along an obvious rising path (see my map)....

Mary Oz

Here the Lancaster Canal Trail is joined which leads all the way into Kendal....

Mary Oz

Several instances of obscured or blocked paths, some of them probably rarely used, with overgrown or decayed access points. Several instances of fences across paths, paths that appear not to have been used in a long time, paths that start or end at a finger post that is invisible in a thick hedge, paths that try to go through such hedges on very steep banks, completely uncurated....

simoninthelakes

Discretion got the better of me, so I skirted off-route round the house by the sharp right turn at 486888. The giant zig zag of the right of way across the next field is a bit of a local joke, just cross the field to the gate!...

simoninthelakes

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

simoninthelakes

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

JanMet

Slight confusion in Kirby House Farm, where farmer said he intended to ask National Park to improve signs between farm buildings....

AwayO