Lady Anne’s Way

This walk takes you through the wild beauty of Wharfedale, Wensleydale and Mallerstang, as well as the delightful Eden Valley and Westmorland.

Lady Anne Clifford was the last in the line of the great Clifford family, who owned estates extending from Skipton in Yorkshire to Brougham in Westmorland (now part of Cumbria), much of it beautiful and rugged terrain. She was born in 1590 and as the only surviving child of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, spent half her life fighting for her right to inherit the estates. Having eventually won that right at the age of sixty, the indomitable Lady Anne dedicated the rest of her life to travelling between the estates repairing and restoring her castles and churches.

Over its 100 miles, this walk links her lands as it winds its way through the arresting beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and the verdant Eden Valley in Cumbria. As a less well known trail, it will appeal to walkers who want to get off the beaten track a bit and explore some of the quieter corners of northern England while soaking up the rich history of the area and scenic towns and villages en route.