The Sizergh Castle Loop

Arriving by bus;

Regular buses from Kendal take you close to Sizergh Castle entrance for just £2 one way. Follow this link to help plan your car free journey and enjoy a free regular size hot drink reward by showing off your bus ticket!

Arriving by bike;

Bikes can be secured to a bar in front of the parking payment machine at Sizergh Castle. Electric bikes can also be hired at Sizergh Castle, read more here.

Arriving by car;

Park at Sizergh Castle car park and stock up on walking snacks and essentials at its wonderful café and shop, then walk down the main entrance drive leaving the Castle behind you.

Turn left following the ‘Farm Shop’ signage and, after the underpass, continue following the signage until you reach the Low Sizergh cow shed after 200 metres.

Walk past the cow shed and turn right into the main entrance of Low Sizergh Barn (stopping here for great refreshments!) and walk towards the left-hand side of the buildings towards the car park. Find the ‘Fairy Folk’ sign which marks the start of the Farm Trail.

Follow the farm trail signage along the stream and past Growing Well, a fantastic charity championing recovery through outdoor activity. Look out for the wicker bee and wicker tunnel as you go.

Cross over the stream via the cattle gates (please close behind you) and enter a small woodland area (complete with toadstools and fairy signs) where the path continues to follow the stream on your right.

Leave the stream at a small pond area (there is a bench here if a rest is needed at this point!) and turn left into an open field following the signage.

Walk through the open field towards the gate in front of you for approximately 250 metres.

Turn right at the gate onto a path that leads around a working field.

Exit the field at the top and take the path immediately on your right, effectively doing a U Turn onto a different path and ignoring the farm trail signage which directs you to the left.

Continue by turning right when you meet the access road which passes farm buildings before reaching a minor road in approximately 100 metres.

Cross the River Kent at the suspension bridge – please note the bridge is temporarily closed (June 2024), full details here.

Steps 12,13 and 14 are applicable if the bridge is closed.

If closed, continue to Nannypie Lane to cross the river further south.

Turn left at the T junction and then walk left again to the bridge over the river.

After crossing the river, turn left so the river is on your left-hand side and continue for approximately 350 metres before bearing left onto Cooper Hill.

This access road is a private road and is signposted as ‘No Access’ however public right of way access is allowed.

Walk on Cooper Hill for approximately 280 metres past houses on your right and go through gate into open fields. The suspension bridge will be visible on your left. The woodland area on the other side of the river was the former gunpowder works, read more here.

Continue to walk through the fields alongside the river until you reach a gate.

Pass through the gate and continue on the well defined path, ignoring the small one that leads through the woodland closer to the river.

You are now on a  Bridleway, follow it as it turns right towards Larkrigg Farm and ends at a gate.

Go through the gate and continue on the non surfaced path that leads through the field up towards Larkrigg Hall Bridge.

Turn right at Larkrigg Hall Bridge and join the Towpath Trail, following it south back towards Sedgwick for approximately 1km to Sedgwick Aqueduct.

Cross over the former Aqueduct and continue on the Towpath Trail. You will pass under  Sedgwick Hill Bridge before entering a less defined path though an open field.

Continue straight ahead through the open field for approximately 430 metres until the path leads down to an exit near the A590 bridge.

At the road turn right back towards Sedgwick with the river on your left.

Continue for approximately 530 metres before crossing the river, by turning left, at the next road bridge.

Take care walking here as there are no pavements. Take the next right, onto Nannypie Lane, following Low Sizergh Barn signage.

Take the next left following the Farm Shop signs again and continue for approximately 750 metres before walking under the underpass and returning to the main entrance of Sizergh Estate.

Turn right to re-enter the Sizergh Castle estate and return to the cafe for well deserved refreshments!