The River Kent North 11.6 to 2.8 Miles

The Villages of Burneside & Staveley via the River Kent.

 This walk follows the River Kent upstream visiting two villages. The close proximity of the railway line makes shortening the walk a simple task if time is short. This is also the route of the 555 bus at Staveley and Kendal with its various stops. Refreshments are to be found in both villages, and the fish and chip shop in Burneside is excellent as well as being generous in its portions. The full walk is 11.6 miles and following the river does not involve a lot of climbing. There are though a lot of ladder stiles, and in periods of heavy rain, especially during a wet winter, the ground can become waterlogged, with areas of surface water by the wall stiles along the river.

Full walk 11.6 miles or 19.7Klm Shortest 2.8 miles or 4.8Klm

Standing in front of Kendal Town Hall looking out turn right and continue down through the town centre until you reach a major junction, bear right here and continue on to cross Blackhall Road by the pelican crossing keeping straight on, just before Victoria Bridge is reached turn left crossing by another pelican crossing to walk alongside the River Kent on a tarmac path.

For anybody taking the shorter routes this is a good a place as any to explain where the train and bus stations are. Turning right down Blackhall Road takes you to the bus station, whilst keeping on over Victoria Bridge and then after the right hand bend ahead opposite the County Hotel is the station, accessed by a narrow entrance road.

Continuing the walk keep along the tarmac path bearing right at a fork keeping next to the river. The suspension foot bridge on your right was re-sited here in 1993, prior to that it had been the Romney Road footbridge at the southern end of Kendal since 1907.

For anybody staying at the Camping and Caravanning Club Site in Kendal the walk can been joined at this bridge as follows. Leaving the site by either the gate or the wall stile at the rear of the site by the river turn right and follow the marked path between some cottages and through into two fields. Climb up the steps at the bridge turning left and crossing over to take the path on the left hand river bank. On reaching the confluence of the Rivers Mint and Kent where the rivers becomes more like a lake, turn left down a broad track and when it finishes at a T junction onto a road turn right, and then at the road bend turn left following the blue sign at high level on the lamppost to Dockray Foot Bridge.

Keep on passed the bridge until after an almost 180 degree turn a path junction is reached, bear right here keeping on until Aikrigg Road is reached, turn left here and then immediately right. This broad road runs uphill but we are going to avoid this by turning right into Kentrigg Walk and taking the signed footpath by the fence, walk down to the river, bearing left keeping alongside the river again. When you reach the top of a short raise the path splits, take the right hand path back down to the river which has now become a lake as the River Kent is joined by the River Mint at this point.

 I have reached this point in the winter and the path has been under water, if so retrace your steps to the top and turn right onto the path continuing to the main road and crossing over by the golf club entrance to take the raised pavement into Burneside.

The path is clear from here and follows a loop in the river and enters into a golf course, ignore the bridge to the right, we are leaving the river for a little while, and keep straight on slightly up hill to the number 2 drive, head out from here half right on a cut grass path which brings you to a kissing gate by the road. Opposite is an opening onto the raised pavement mentioned above if the flooded route is taken, turn right here keeping on into Burneside until Junction Cottages are reached, the first houses on the right. Cross over here walking down the no through road until the vehicle barrier is negotiated, at which point turn right through the hedge gap keeping straight on and through an impressive tree arch, more like a tunnel,

to emerge on a pleasant green with picnic benches beside the river. Burneside village has a few shops, a public house, a fish and chip shop and an impressive church, plus some interesting nooks and crannies, it is worth exploring. You have now covered about 3 miles and the train or bus can be used to shorten the walk, or you could pick up the return route instructions and return to Kendal on foot.  On exiting the green we need to turn right over the river, to your left is the James Cropper Paper Mill, a major employer in the area producing specialist paper including that used by the Royal British Legion to produce the poppies. Keep on slightly uphill on a walled pavement until the path splits opposite the first of two bungalows on the right, there is a short section of road walking until a path is taken on the left uphill, just past the second bungalow. A finger post directing you to turn left is soon reached signed to Bowston. The path from here is clear and obvious, and once round the edges of the mill a field is reached. The only instruction needed here is to keep to the left of the high ground in front keeping straight on descending to a ladder stile unseen until you are almost there. This section is part of the Dales Way, a long distance foot path from Ilkley to Bowness on Windermere.  You now continue alongside the river, over ladder stiles until the stone bridge at 

Bowston is reached, turning right at the top of the stone stairway, away from the Dales Way arrows. After twenty meters turn left by a wooden garage opposite and over the stile into the field turning left to follow the river. Shortly after reaching your second golf course of the day a rather comfy bench is reached on your left by the weir. This useful resting spot used to have a shelf like table but that has rotted away, but a good foot rest still remains and helps to keep your back ramrod straight if the ladder stiles have strained it. Continue on until a track is reached by a little bridge, cross over the bridge and turn right, keeping on the river now on your right.

You are now again on the Dales Way. When, after some distance, a right hand bend in the river is reached at a junction of paths, bear left away from the river, it is clearly marked. Keep on in the same direction until the road is reached, turn right here and follow the pavement into the village of Staveley, ignoring the left hand footpath marked the Dales Way. Once in the village just past the Spar shop turn right into Staveley Mill Yard.

Staveley boasts two original pubs with gardens, the Hawkshead brewery, again with outside seating, several good cafes, various shops including the largest cycle shop in the U.K. and a large number of thriving businesses. It is a little gem of a village. You have now covered about 6.5 miles and either the train or bus can be taken to return to Kendal.

To continue turn right in front of the Hawkshead Brewery and then left by the bowls club crossing the bridge and turning right, and then taking the right hand footpath at the signed post. The route passes to the right of the farm ahead and continues on down a walled lane to a field gate. At the time of writing an oak framed building was being constructed to the right of the farm house,
it will, I imagine, be a construction of some interest when completed. Once inside the field bear left keeping to the same side of some erratic rocks

standing sentry over a possible tarn, depending on recent precipitation. This section is well signed and makes its way over a ladder stile into the next field, keep to the left path in this pasture, and keep on this path through a gate and a wall stile until a quiet narrow lane is reached, turn right here and after less than half a mile turn right into Beckmickle Woods. These woods maintained by the Woodland Trust are a pleasant walk any time of the year, and even have a bench thoughtfully provided in them. Providing you keep the river on your right you will end up at the little bridge we crossed earlier. Turn right here this time over the bridge and then left keeping straight on passing through the housing on the access road until it turns right up to a main road. Here go straight on and take the footpath through to Bowston Village, the path passes the front and backs of some houses keep on to the end of what becomes a narrow path leading to a finger post on the road. Cross over towards the boat yard here and take the pavement through the village and on to Burneside. The pavement is for most of the route well off the road and in parts behind hedging and trees.

 Once in Burneside a sign to your right directs you to the station, you have by now walked 9.5 miles and if you wish to rest your legs and ride back then the train from the village is an option to be considered.

If continuing the walk into Kendal, keep on through the village, where you will pass at least two places for refreshment. Keep straight on the main road, passing the little village school on your right and retracing your steps over the raised pavement, ignoring the now left turn back into the golf course, keeping on until you reach the Kendal boundary sign. Crossing over at this point there is shortly a left turn by a bus stop and a finger post, take this turning and keeping on until the lane turns left and in front of you is a narrow footpath, take this path which eventually becomes a road way. At the top of the short rise there is an interesting road sign on two concrete poles,

here keep on turning left at the main road and  on under the railway bridge to traffic lights at an angled T junction. Turn left here and carry on, crossing over at the pelican lights just before the road bears left and continue back up to the town hall.