During the Foot and Mouth outbreak in UK in 2001, much of the signage for this trail was removed, and has not been replaced. Evidence of this trail is hard to find but if you look it is there. Many of the wooden finger posts still have walking monk symbol. (See gallery.) There is no sign at start, because it was removed to discourage people walking during foot and mouth outbreak in 2001. Signs have not been replaced. See gallery. Instead start at Coastal Way sign visible through railway bridge at start.
See streetmap.co.uk for start (
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All current Ordnance Survey maps show the route, and the book by Ian Brodie is still available. Leaflet available from Grange-over-sands Tourist Information Centre TIC. If unavailable please contact waymark creator for a copy by pdf download. (
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This route takes you through a variety of landscapes. You start on Grange-over-sands Edwardian promenade, climb through Eggerslack woods to the only high point, Hampsfell Hospice (waymark) move through reclaimed marsh grazing, past airfield (waymark) onto the coastal embankment to end day one in medieval village.
Transfer by train across the Leven estuary.
Day two. Leave Ulverston, Victorian town, thread your way through fields, past several waymarks, to the coast to end crossing a causeway to an Roa Island.
Day Three. Leave Roa Island, walking round a tidal channel, collecting geocaches and waymarks, past new natural gas plant into large industrial town. Across lifting bridge (WM) onto Walney Island, and down towards refuse tip and bird reserve.
There is accommodation available at the end of each day and along the way. The walk links in really well with the Furness Railway. Making a return back to Grange-over-sands by rail possible. Cars parked anywhere along the way will not be vandalised. It's a quiet area.
Trailhead 1 is the path leaving Windermere Road, up through Eggerslack Woods.
Trailhead 2 is Cark Railway station. End of day 1.
Trailhead 3 is Ulverston railway station. Start of day 2.
Trailhead 4 is Roa Island. End of day 2, start of day 3.
Cistercian way can end at Roa Island, but you have to walk to Barrow railway station anyway, hence the continuation to Walney.
Map. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 7 The English Lakes - South Eastern area ISBN: 0319236595
Links
Lake District Outdoors (
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Accommodation (
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Walking Web (
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Background about Cistercian (
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Book
The Cistercian Way - A south Lakeland Walk by Ian O. Brodie: Carnegie Press, 1989, ISBN 0-948789-31-X. (
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