The guide book is written to follow the river from the sea to its source. Rockcliffe is fairly remote, despite only being 5 miles or so from Carlisle by road, and It’s often better to get the tricky logistics out of the way to begin with, allowing you to relax at the end of the walk, knowing the train station at Garsdale is close by with easy links to the rest of the country. Starting at the sea also means that we’re walking back to the Yorkshire Dales and this means we have options to extend the walk if time and inclination permits. The Eden Way links seamlessly with the Yoredale Way for instance and it’s a fairly simple task to divert to the Swale Way if desired.

The River Eden passes through the splendid valley of the same name, rich in historical interest and blessed with incredible scenery. Every day spends long periods on riverside paths, allowing a walker to watch the river change its nature slowly before their eyes; from the broad slow sweep of the river at Rockcliffe to the eager, hurried water rushing over rocks and falls at Kirkby Stephen – the river is the highlight of this walk. In terms of surrounding scenery, the climb up to the source provides incredible views over hundreds and hundreds of square miles of hills and valleys, not to mention the beauty of the moorland we need to cross to reach Eden Springs. The walk has something for everyone.

There are places of historic interest scattered all along the Eden valley. Carlisle has a strong Roman association and forms part of the western end of Hadrian’s Wall. The river and its valley have been linked with many historical figures, including William Mounsey, the first person to walk the length of the river and Lady Anne Clifford, an extraordinary 17th century landowner. More recent historical links are found in the Settle-Carlisle railway, one of the most iconic lines in England, dating from the 19th century.