Eden is a wonderful area for walking and sightseeing. Kirkby Stephen was the first town in Cumbria to be awarded the Walkers are Welcome status.
SMARDALE GILL
Explore the National Nature Reserve of Smardale Gill with an abudance of wild flowers including several types of orchids, rare species of butterflies, red squirrels and many types of bird life.
NORTHERN VIADUCT ROUND
The Northern Viaduct round is a fully accessible path following the disused Stainmore Railway. The walk starting at Stenkrith Park where from the Millenium Bridge you can experience spectacular views of whirlpools and rapids below as the river passes through a rocky gorge. The footpath then takes you over magnificent viaducts and through the charming village of Hartley and then back to Kirkby Stephen over Franks Bridge.
POETRY PATH
The Poetry path takes you on a short walk through the amazing landscape surrounding Kirkby Stephen. A circular route of public paths either side of the River Eden. Twelve short poems have been carved in blocks of stone, they tell of a hill farmers year month by month.
MALLERSTANG VALLEY AND WILD BOAR FELL
Mallerstang is a glorious valley running south from Kirkby Stephen, steeped in history but also beautiful and unspoilt and now part of the new Yorksire Dales National Park extension. The castles of Pendragon and Lammerside are crumbling reminders of the difficulties living in medieval times in northern England. Wild Boar fell lies on the eastern edge of Cumbria and according to legend the fell is the place the last wild boar was killed.
NINE STANDARDS RIGG AND COAST TO COAST WALK
Alfred Wainwrights famous Coast to Coast walk passes through Kirkby Stephen and marks just below the half way stage at 83 miles, in total it covers 190 miles from St. Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hoods Bay on the Yorkshire coast. The quality and variety of this walk was recognised in 2004 when it was voted the second best walk in the world. From Kirkby Stephen the walk goes up to The Nine Standards Rigg which takes its name from a line of nine cairns which lie near the boundary between Cumbria and North Yorkshire. On a clear day you can experience magnificent views of Kirkby Stephen and surrounding areas.
A PENNINE JOURNEY
Another Wainwright walk A Pennine Journey www.penninejourney.org.uk a challenging circular walk of 247 miles which passes through Kirkby Stephen and some of the most beautiful scenery in the north of England.