Miles without Stiles

What are Miles without Stiles?

These are 39 routes across the National Park suitable for people with limited mobility. Wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, dogwalkers with less active dogs and the visually impaired can choose from the list on the left.

Conditions update after the floods of November 2009

Route 11 Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge – completely washed away at the Elterwater end with further water damage alongside Great Langdale Beck to Elterwater. Not suitable for wheelchair or pushchair users at present.

Route 15 Yewdale Bridleway – short sections have been washed away completely and longer stretches have suffered surface water damage. Pushchair users will find it difficult to cross the washed out sections.

Route 25 Buttermere Lakeshore – flood debris on the route at the end of the access for all section and water damage of varying degrees of severity on the lakeshore path to Peggie’s Bridge. Some sections may be difficult to pass.

Route 31 Portinscale Riverbank Loop – very wet and inundated with flood debris. This needs to be cleared to assess further damage.

Route 32 Stair Riverside. This route does not exist anymore as Newlands Beck has washed away most of the footpath. The road bridge at Little Braithwaite has also been washed away.

It is best to assume that all walks in the Miles Without Stiles series may have been damaged in some way and prepare accordingly. Please report any damage you encounter to David Robinson at david.robinson@lakedistrict.gov.uk or 01768 871409.

Route grades

Grading is based on gradients and surface conditions. Distances shown are in kilometres for a return trip. Please take special care on roads. In general, you should use the right side of the road to be seen by oncoming traffic.

Routes for all

Means suitable for everyone, including pushchairs and people operating their own wheelchairs. Gradients will be no more than 1:10. The surface will be tarmac or smooth, compacted stone with a diameter of 10 mm or less. Path width will be a minimum of 1 metre with passing places.

For many

Means suitable for assisted wheelchair users and those with more robust, all-terrain type buggies. Existing gradients no more than 1:10, although newly built gradients can be up to 1:8. The path surface will be rougher stone of 4 cm diameter or less.

For some

Gradients are not limited, but slopes greater than 1:8 will have improved surfacing, or handrails. There may be some low steps or breaks in the surface up to 10 cm in height. Stone surface material may also be up to 10 cm in diameter.

Strong and confident wheelchair users and helpers may find routes ‘for some’ within their abilities. But please weigh up your route choice carefully.

Facilities such as toilets or bus timetables are subject to change. Path conditions can change and be damaged, or eroded, by rain and bad weather. We do our best to carry out repairs quickly, but occasionally a route is closed, or diverted, for essential repairs.

Useful links

Getting around for details on public transport. Please check with Traveline if the bus is wheelchair accessible.

Weatherline local weather forecast (opens new window) - although Miles without Stiles do not take you into the fells, with the exception of Latrigg and Blea Tarn, weather is changeable, no matter where you are. Be prepared. Wear appropriate footwear and consider taking waterproofs, food and a drink if you are tackling any of the longer walks.

Like the routes? Buy the lot!

All the Miles without Stiles routes are available as removable A5-sized sheets in a cardboard ring binder that includes a plastic wallet for protection from the rain. It costs £6.99 and is available from our Information Centres, head office - see contact details below - and all good bookshops in Cumbria.

Sign up for updates

Major changes to routes or new routes will appear on this website. If you'd like to know about them, please give us your:

Name
Address including postcode
Main telephone and mobile numbers
Email
Any general comments

Please also let us have your comments on the routes. Feedback is invaluable.

You can either email us at hq@lake-district.gov.uk, call 01539 724555 or post to:

Lake District National Park Authority
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7RL

This information will only be held for the purposes of circulating Miles without Stiles information. Your details will not be used for any other purpose by the LDNPA and will not be given to any other organisation.

Thank you

Thanks to the many organisations who have helped us create these routes including:

Cumbria County Council, National Trust, Forestry Commission, Tourism and Conservation Partnership, Bassenthwaite Reflections, Environment Agency, Friends of the Lake District, United Utilities, Parish Councils and private landowners