Thirlmere Way

Cumbria, Gtr Manchester, Lancashire

A walk along the route of one source of Manchester's water supply leading from the flooded valleys of Thirlmere in the Lake District that provide it, that originally comprised two smaller lakes. The two-metre wide aqueduct, always running near to this walk, was completed in 1894 to supplement supplies from Londendale and Haweswater. Ingeniously routed, gravity alone provides the aqueduct's power and there are no pumps.

The Way provides a meandering link from the Greater Manchester conurbation through Lancashire to Cumbria visiting Hulton, Abbey Village, Longridge, Dolphinholme, Caton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kendal, Windermere and Grasmere.

An outline of the route and details of the history of the aqueduct appear on the websites below.

Update 9th November 2022:
The Thirlmere Way is diverted due a closed footbridge near Red Scar, east of Preston. The footbridge in question is on Tun Brook, at SD 5908 3247, and the diversion (reportedly well signposted) is via the upstream footbridge at SD 5922 3343.

---

Details:

Path Type:	Other Paths
Attributes:	Challenging Lake/Reservoir/Loch
Start:	SD834044 - Heaton Park, Gtr Manchester
Finish:	NY310190 - Thirlmere, Cumbria
Web Sites:	Thirlmere Way Hodder and Thirlmere Aqueduct Access Gates

---

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook

Thirlmere Way: long distance walk from Manchester to the Lake District  (Sigma Press  - 1992 )

---