Kendal Castle

Kendal Castle makes a good short outing if you want a mix of town-edge walking, riverside paths and a climb up to one of Kendal’s best-known historic landmarks. The route takes in the ruined medieval castle on Castle Hill, with wide views over the town and towards the surrounding countryside, before returning by lower paths near the river.

You can expect a varied walk with a mix of surfaced sections and rougher ground on the way up to the castle. The climb to the ruins is likely to feel steeper and more uneven than the riverside stretches, so sensible footwear is a good idea, especially in wet weather. Wooded lower slopes and open hilltop areas add some variety to this route.

For dogs, off-lead walking is currently noted as generally permitted, but please follow local signs and keep dogs close where needed. No livestock is currently noted for this route. Stiles are present, which may make parts of the walk trickier for some dogs and handlers. The River Kent is part of the setting here, but it is not currently noted as suitable for dogs to swim in.

A café and a pub are noted nearby if you want to combine the walk with a stop in Kendal afterwards.