The Historic Kendal Loop

This route starts at Kendal Museum.

Arriving by train;

Kendal Railway Station is opposite Kendal Museum. Once you’ve exited the train station turn right towards the museum entrance.

Arriving by bus;

Kendal’s main bus station, on Blackhall Road, is a short walk from Kendal Museum. Turn left towards the Blackhall Road / Sandes Avenue junction then turn right along Sandes Avenue to cross the River Kent. After passing Kendal College’s Art Campus you’ll find Kendal Museum on your right.

Arriving by bike;

There is a bike rack outside the entrance to Kendal Museum, this route is not suitable for cycling, find alternative routes here.

Arriving by car;

The Kendal Museum car park is £2 for three hours or £5 for the day.

Visit Kendal Museum to learn more about Kendal and the Lake District. 

Exit the museum car park towards the Box (a theatre performance space for Kendal college students) walk past the Castle Dairy on your left – one of the oldest medieval buildings in Kendal built in the 14th Century.  

Cross the road and walk towards the corner shop. At the corner shop turn right on to Ann Street. 

At the top of Ann Street turn left on to Castle Street for 140 metres. 

Continue for 140 metres then turn right onto Castle Road at the community book box. 

Continue on Castle Road until you reach the kissing gate entrance to the grounds of Kendal Castle.   

Follow the path up the hill towards Kendal Castle. 

At the top enjoy the ruins of Kendal Castle and the views of Kendal and the surrounding countryside. Kendal Castle was a 13th-century medieval fortification whose owners include the family of Catherine Parr, Queen of England from 1543 to 1547 and the last of the King Henry VIII’s six wives. Whilst Queen Catherine would have been aware of Kendal Castle it is widely believed that she did not visit. However, one of her prayer books was gifted to the town and is cared for by Kendal Town Council at Kendal Town Hall.  

Exit the castle ruins around the moat past the large iron sculpture, used in 2000 as a millennium flare, and continue with the former moat on your left admiring the views of Kendal below as you go.  

Turn right to leave the path before the steps onto the grassed area towards the sculpture, pass through the sculpture and head down the hill between the trees.  

When you reach the graveyard turn right along the cemetery wall. 

At the path junction, take the left-hand path down towards the allotments which run alongside the line of the former Canal. 

Walk through the allotments via the well-defined path to reach a junction with the Towpath Trail. 

Turn right on to the Towpath Trail, towards the Canal bridge.

Pass under the bridge and continue on the Towpath Trail for 400 metres.  

Leave the Towpath Trail at the recycling centre.  

Option here to explore Canal Head North to your left where the canal boats used to collect and deliver goods via two huge warehouses, the doors of which are still present within the premises of the engineering company Gilkes.

And/or take care crossing Canal Head Road towards the trees to the left of the Kirkbie Green sign.  

Take the left-hand side path around the small green area which has been rewilded by the Kirkbie Green Residents Association.  

Exit the Green path and cross Kirkbie Green Road to access Thorny Hills where pedestrian access is permitted in between the green cycling barriers.  

 At the end of Thorny Hills take the right-hand side path around St George’s Church in front of you. Pass the terraces of Castle Crescent and spot the communal washing lines before reaching Castle Street and the Deaf Centre on the opposite side of the road.  

Turn right onto Castle Street passing the Castle Inn pub on your left. 

 At the junction turn left onto Ann Street to return to the museum and/or train/bus station taking care crossing Wildman Street.  

For refreshments head to Kendal Town Centre by turning left onto Wildman Street, walking over the river, and continuing into the Town Centre by crossing at the pedestrian crossing onto Strammongate.  

We all have our favourite ‘go to’ places to eat in Kendal, why not check out Visit Kendal for more options and additional things to do in Kendal.