Tebay: Walks, History and Fell Race

If you’re looking for a hotel in Tebay, the local walks and historical sites can help you plan your trip. The walking routes described range from a 780-metre public footpath to a circular walk of around three miles; the Tebay Fell Race adds its own route description to the mix. Castle Howe, St James’s Church and the view into the purpose-built butcher’s shop at Tebay Southbound Farmshop add archaeological, church-history and craft perspectives.

Walks and routes in Tebay

A circular walk runs from the village of Tebay via Roundthwaite to the other side of the M6, then returns across the iron bridge. It is around three miles long.

A public footpath in Tebay is 780 metres long and was officially opened in 2023. Check the current status of the path locally before you travel. Consider the lengths separately: the three miles refers to the circular walk, while the 780 metres refers to the public footpath.

The information answers different planning questions: a length is given for each of the two walks, while the Fell Race details also include elevation gain and a sequence of ascent and descent. This lets you match the type of outing to the relevant route description.

Castle Howe and St James’s Church

The remains of Castle Howe comprise a circular motte and an irregular bailey, bounded by a bank and ditch. Despite damage from river erosion, Castle Howe survives as a prominent earthwork. Motte and bailey refer to the different parts of this type of medieval castle; the bank and ditch mark its boundary. Together, these features help explain the layout of the site and its state of preservation.

St James’s Church in Tebay, known as the “Railway Church”, houses an exhibition on the history of Tebay. Exhibition displays may change; if the exhibition is important to your plans, check visiting arrangements before your visit. This adds another way to explore the history of the area alongside Castle Howe’s archaeological perspective: the exhibition is the focus at the church, while Castle Howe offers a view of the surviving earthwork.

Tebay Fell Race

The Tebay Fell Race crosses classic Howgills terrain. The route finishes with a climb up Blease Fell, followed by a long descent back to Tebay. For 2026, the distance is listed as 13 kilometres, with 914 metres of elevation gain; details may change in later editions. As well as the route length, the elevation gain gives another measure of the course. The final section, with its climb followed by a descent, adds a concrete sense of the route to the figures.

A view inside Tebay Southbound

At Tebay Southbound, the purpose-built butcher’s shop can be viewed through a window behind the butcher’s counter in the farm shop. If this view is important to you, check before your visit that it is still available; the layout and operations may change. This offers a different focus from the walks and historical sites, and can complement your trip planning if you are also interested in a butcher’s shop.

Discover more destinations: Kendal, Ainstable, Dalston, Lowick, Baycliff, Dent, Kirkby Stephen, Thirlmere

For the wider travel guide: Cumbria.