Fair Trade Way
A 90-mile long-distance walk in Lancashire and Cumbria’s Lake District National Park starting in Garstang (England’s first Fairtrade town) and ending in Keswick. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SD 493 454
Distance: 90 miles (145 km)
Time: 38–45 hours
Duration: 6–8 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
OL4 The English Lakes – North Western Area
OL5 The English Lakes – North Eastern Area
OL6 The English Lakes – South Western Area
OL7 The English Lakes – South Eastern Area
OL41 Forest of Bowland and Ribblesdale
296 Lancaster, Morecambe and Fleetwood
Summary
The Fair Trade Way is a long-distance footpath starting in Lancashire and ending in Cumbria. Designed as a 6-day walk between Garstang (the world’s first Fairtrade town) and Keswick, stage one features Garstang, Wyre Aqueduct, Lancaster Canal, Conder Green, Lune Estuary, and Lancaster. Stage two highlights include Morecambe Bay RSPB, Carnforth (the historic railway station featured in the film Brief Encounter), Leighton Hall, Leighton Moss RSPB, Arnside Tower, Arnside Knott, and Arnside. Stage three features the Kent Estuary, Dallam Towers, Milnthorpe, Heversham (St Mary’s Well), Levens Hall and Park, Force Falls Salmon Gate, the River Kent, and Kendal. Stage four leads the way into the Lake District and features Scout Scar (viewpoint and limestone escarpment), Staveley (Hawkshead Brewery), the Dales Way, and Bowness-on-Windermere. Stage five delves into the honeypots of Lakeland, featuring Lake Windermere, the chain ferry, Hill Top (home of Beatrix Potter), Latterbarrow (viewpoint), Loughrigg Tarn, Rydal Mount (Wordsworth’s home), the Coffin Route, Dove Cottage (Wordsworth’s home), and Grasmere. Finally, stage six involves a challenging Lake District hike to Keswick via Greenup Edge, Ullscarf (viewpoint), Watendlath, Ashness Bridge, and Derwent Water.