A new 120-mile walking trail crossing the Pennines, Yorkshire Dales and Lake District is set to open in the UK this month.

The Westmorland and Furness Way is a six-stage route from Alston in the North Pennines, England’s highest market town, to the ruins of the medieval Furness Abbey in Cumbria.

The long-distance footpath will launch on 15 September.

The walking route, developed by Westmorland and Furness Council, will take between eight and 17 days to complete and will utilise existing trails where possible.

All six stages have start and end points accessible by public transport; the longest stage is a 27-mile stretch from Sedbergh to Bowness-on-Windermere.

Trail highlights include the open moorland of the North Pennines, rounded fells of the Howgills and the Lake District National Park, including the shores of Lake Windermere.

According to the Westmorland and Furness Way website, the idea for the route originally “came from local walker and guidebook writer David Pitt” who was introduced to fellwalking on a family holiday in Grasmere in 1948.

Councillor Adrian Waite, Westmorland and Furness Council’s cabinet member for Environmental Services and Transport, said: “We are incredibly proud to have developed the spectacular Westmorland and Furness Way, designed to connect both visitors and local communities with our rich heritage, nature and diverse landscapes.

“This new walking route will celebrate our stunning area and make it even more accessible, creating a connected path from Alston all the way to Furness Abbey.”

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