Kirkby Stephen Walkers are Welcome

PathKirkby Stephen is a village sized ancient Westmorland market town that has won numerous prizes for its blooms, was voted Calor® English Village of the Year in 2009 and is currently one of the government’s Big Society vanguards recognised for being innovative and forward looking. Explore the town’s conservation area of old buildings and Kirkby Stephen’s Parish Church, the ‘Cathedral of the Dales’. You will find intimate cafes, charming individual shops, hotels and bed and breakfasts.
Rights of way vary from a gentle meander along the River Eden or in a Nature Reserve to climbing over the Nine Standards on the Coast to Coast footpath or using your navigation skills on open access fells, our local Mountain Rescue Team even run courses to teach you new skills. Old drover’s ways, packhorse routes and ancient county roads are still here to be discovered anew. Enjoy the nationally acclaimed Poetry Path, Eden benchmarks or Andy Goldsworthy’s Sheepfolds. Old railway walks and industrial heritage, red squirrels, curlews and rare butterflies all await you.
 
PathThe area is steeped in mystery and heritage with legendary castles, Viking Loki stone, tunnels and history round every corner. Above all, there is a very warm welcome for all visitors who, having found us, are reluctant to leave. You can find the Kirkby Stephen 'Walkers are Welcome' web site here.

 

Kirkby Stephen is surrounded by spectacular scenery with a network of Rights of Way and open access land ideally suited for walking.In 2009, Kirkby Stephen was delighted to be accredited as the first town in Cumbria to be awarded Walkers are Welcome status. This national scheme involves a long-term commitment to surveying local paths and encouraging walkers to visit Kirkby Stephen and our beautiful countryside, whenever possible using public transport. As part of our dedication we have established a unique Rights of Way Problem Reporting System to notify us of any matter that may require attention in the nearby area. Footpath improvements are also ongoing
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