Longsleddale from Staveley

The route

Start from Staveley at the head of the public road and loop through Longsleddale, following the River Sprint up the valley and the old packhorse and quarry tracks that climb its sides. The route runs 18.8km with modest overall climbing, staying mostly in and around the valley rather than tagging the high tops. It is a route about atmosphere and space as much as effort, a long, quiet outing in a corner of the Lakes most people never see.

The valley

Longsleddale runs north from Garnett Bridge on the A6 for five or six miles to Sadgill, where the road ends and the fells take over. It is a narrow, steep-sided valley of the River Sprint, hemmed by Kentmere Pike, Tarn Crag and Grey Crag, and threaded by the old route over Gatescarth Pass towards Mardale. The farms are working ones, the walls old, and the quiet is the point. This loop uses the valley tracks and lower slopes to make its circuit, with the option to climb higher if legs and weather allow.

Why it works

This is a route for a long, peaceful day on good ground. The surface is largely runnable track and path, with rougher, wetter sections on the higher lines, and the sense of solitude is the real reward. Navigation is straightforward in the valley but needs care on the open fell in cloud, where the Gatescarth track and side paths can confuse. Sadgill parking is limited roadside space, so arrive early and park considerately for farm traffic. There is nothing in the valley itself, so carry what you need and save Staveley or Kendal for afterwards. Save the higher options for clear weather to make the most of the fell views. Few valleys this close to Kendal feel so genuinely remote, which is the whole reason to come.