Walking and Climbing

hi all plan to walk the cumbria way with my 11 year old son towards end of august..any one got any handy info as in places to buy reasonable bar meals buy food for the walking day plan to camp along the way ..any info cud help ta peter....p.s labrador will be coming along aswell  ta peter

We live near the end of the Cumbria Way between Caldbeck and Carlisle. It's pleasant low level walking, but not spectacular. Personally I'd go North to South so that you get the better stuff later on

The only bit I've walked is in Great Langdale, once you're down Stick Pass and in the valley floor, places to refuel will come thick and fast, be it pubs/hotels at first (ODG and Brittania Inn spring to mind) but also shops in Chapel Stiles/Elterwater.

I did south to north last year, the very first time in the Lakes and I've never looked back.

The end on the Carlisle cycleway (if it's actually called that) is a big letdown, just a bit boring on a concrete track next to a trainline.

Otherwise it's a very nice route, best day from Keswick in the back of Skiddaw and the walk through Great Langdale valley is spectacular viewing of the Pikes in good weather.

I didn't camp so can't comment there. If possible I would camp at ODG not Elterwater as while very nice food, the Britannia pub has a bit of a monopoly being the only place really serving food in the area and I found the prices a bit high. Though I haven't eaten at ODG so it may be the same there!

Hope that helps

Not sure about that Laura! The Stickle Barn Tavern in Langdale serves good grub at a fair price in my experience.

I've never eaten at Stickle Barn so don't take my comment to mean there I was only referring to the Britannia. Whereabouts is the Stickle Barn exactly?

It's right next to the National Trust car park, a few hundred yards down the raod from the ODG.

I started and completed N TO S.The year the Carlisle YHA closed.
The first day was totally boring.I would not wish to have that
section for my last day.I wild camped, as it's called nowadays,
all the way through no real problems that I can recall.Cheers.