Our drawing of the route, over road and path data from OpenStreetMap. It shows where the walk goes and what it goes through. It is not a survey and not a navigation aid — carry OS Explorer on the hill.
Two and a half miles and an hour, forty metres of climb: over the Kent by the Miller Bridge, up the green mound to the castle ruin for the view along the town, and back down the riverside path through the parks. It starts on Miller Bridge in the middle of Kendal, a few minutes from either station, and the town car parks at Blackhall Road and the shopping centre are both paid but usually have space. This is the easy town walk that works for any dog - level tarmac and grass path, a river with several shallow gravel entries for a drink or a swim, and no stiles or livestock at all; the castle mound is open ground shared with dog walkers from the estates either side, and the riverside path is busy with cyclists.
The pub side of the Castle Green Hotel on the eastern edge of Kendal, under Castle Green Lane and within walking distance of Kendal Castle and the river Kent path. The pub states that it is proud to be dog friendly and that four-legged companions are always welcome, and it keeps a range of dog snacks and dog drinks behind the bar. Food is wood-fired pizza, burgers and pub standards in the evening, with Sunday lunch from noon. Drinks run from three in the afternoon Wednesday to Saturday and from noon on Sunday, so it is an evening stop rather than a lunch one for most of the week.
A vegetarian cafe and soup kitchen in Berrys Yard off Kendal Highgate, walk-ins only and consistently busy at lunchtime. It lists itself as dog friendly, and take-away is available if the tables have gone.
Ten miles and four and a half hours for only 230 metres of climb - south out of Kendal along the Kent, over the long whaleback of The Helm above Oxenholme, and back by field paths and the Natland lane. It starts in central Kendal and can be shortened by catching the train back from Oxenholme, which is a mile from the summit and takes dogs free of charge. The riverside first half is level, shaded and full of water access, and The Helm itself is short grass with a trig point and a big view of the Howgills, but the hill is grazed with sheep the year round, several of the field boundaries have narrow slotted stone stiles, and a mile of the return is on a lane with no pavement.
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