University of Cumbria hosts Wordsworth Way walking trail launch

University of Cumbria has hosted the launch of the brand new Wordsworth Way walking trail, the guidebook for which was produced by Jade Cookson, an alumnus of the university’s MA Literature, Romanticism and the Lake District programme.

The scenic route, starting at Glenridding and ending at the university’s Ambleside campus, passes Grisedale Tarn, Grasmere and Rydal. Launched today on 7 April, the anniversary of William Wordsworth’s birth, this gives those embarking on the walk the perfect opportunity to explore the spring scenes for which the famed Lakeland poet is so well known.

University of Cumbria’s Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange for the Institute of Science and Environment, Professor Robert Montgomery, said:

“It has been an absolute pleasure to host the launch event for the Wordsworth Way on our Ambleside campus recently. With one of our Literature alumni in the driving seat, our campus’s connection to William Wordsworth and the expertise we have in our academic team around this makes this extra special.

“Our university was established in Cumbria, for Cumbria and beyond Cumbria with people, place and partnerships at the core of our existence. This launch event celebrates each of these core values – working in partnership with several organisations on the development of the walking guide, celebrating the people within our own and other organisations who have made this possible, and highlighting the impact and historical significance our campus has with the Wordsworth family.”

The development of this new walking route is a collaborative effort by the Friends of Ullswater Way (FOUW), Cumbria Tourism, the University of Cumbria, Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA), and Wordsworth Grasmere. Jade, who wrote the official guide-book for the new route, graduated from her MA in 2024 and said:

“It was a real honour to be approached to write the guidebook for the Wordsworth Way. As someone with an interest in the connection between poetry and place, as well as a personal adoration for walking guides, the opportunity to present Wordsworth’s bond with the landscape in a guidebook format felt especially meaningful.

“The guide encourages movement through the landscape, offering its users a chance to walk in Wordsworth’s footsteps while reading excerpts of poetry and prose, perhaps sparking their own creativity. It has been a privilege to contribute to a project that celebrates not only literature but also the region’s history, geology, and cultural heritage.”

William Wordsworth enjoyed walking, and it is ‘estimated that he walked 175,000 miles throughout his lifetime’. The trail guide is split into four sections and each gives walkers the opportunity to immerse themselves in some of the breath-taking Cumbrian landscapes through which Wordsworth walked and which inspired his work. The four walks are:

• Walk one – Early life, exploration and natural education (Ullswater information centre to Grasmere, 8.3 miles)
• Walk two – Home at Grasmere (Circular walk starting at Dove Cottage, 4.8 miles)
• Walk three – Family connections (Circular walk starting at Dove Cottage, 4.2 miles)
• Walk four – Later life, friends and acquaintances (St Mary’s Church, Rydal, to University of Cumbria Ambleside campus, and back, 3.5 miles)

The event on Monday started with opening remarks from the university’s Robert Montgomery, followed by a talk from the Chair of the Friends of Ullswater Way, Gordon Lightburn, about how exactly the Wordsworth Way came to fruition. MA Literature Programme Leader, Associate Professor Penny Bradshaw, then went on to explain the connection of Wordsworth to the university’s Ambleside campus.

Before the final way marker, which is situated on the lawn outside of Scale How on the university campus (pictured below), was unveiled by Alex Scott, Lord Lieutenant for Cumbria, Jade spoke on the development of the guide and her experience of the process. 

In addition to the above, those in attendance included Steve Ratcliffe, Director of Sustainable Development at LDNPA, Michael McGregor, Director of The Wordsworth Trust, Judith Cooke, Vice-Chair of The Wordsworth Trust, and Gill Haigh, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism.

Cumbria Tourism’s Managing Director, Gill Haigh (pictured right), said:

“The Wordsworth Way is a fantastic addition to the Ullswater Way walking route, offering visitors an even greater opportunity to explore our stunning landscapes while immersing themselves in Cumbria’s literary heritage. Trails like this not only enhance the visitor experience but also encourage people to stay longer, supporting more local businesses and communities along the route.”

 

Friends of Ullswater Way’s Chair, Gordon Lightburn (pictured right), said:

“The William Wordsworth Way provides an opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of modern daily life. To take time out, to appreciate the significance contained within the poems and prose of William and Dorothy Wordsworth, in the very place their spirits were inspired. Although mostly written over 200 years ago, the essence of their wisdom carries equal value for our lives today.”

 

WATCH: Michael McGregor, Director of Wordsworth Grasmere on the day of the launch event. 

WATCH: Tim Clarke, Trustee at Friends of Ullswater Way on the day of the launch event.