Benson Knott

7 miles (11.2 km)

This walk climbs to a nice viewpoint at Benson Knott, just to the east of Kendal. It's about a 4 mile walk from the town centre to the Knott which rises to a height of 319m / 1047ft.
The walk starts on the eastern side of Kendal next to the train station. From here you can follow footpaths north through Mintsfeet to the River Mint. Follow the riverside path east and it will take you towards Meal Bank. You then cross the Appleby Road to pick up a public footpath leading you up to Hay Fell and Benson Knott. From here you can enjoy fine views to several of the surrounding Lake District Fells.
After taking in the views the route then desdends from the fell and returns to the town on the same paths.

Benson Knott Ordnance Survey Map - view and print off detailed OS map

Benson Knott Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map

Benson Knott OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Benson Knott Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

In Kendal head to the New Union for some post walk refreshments. The friendly pub won the prestigious�CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2019. You can find it at 159 Stricklandgate with a postcode of LA9 4RF for your sat navs.
There's also the White Hart Hotel which has a beer garden where you can relax outside if the weather is good. It can be found at 2 Highgate with postcode LA9 4SX.

Dog Walking

The river and country paths make for a nice walk for fit dogs. Both the White Hart Hotel and New Union pubs mentioned above are also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

To continue your walking from Kendal you could try the Kendal Castle and River Walk which visits the historic castle before a strong along the River Kent. The climb to Scout Scar also starts from the town.
The National Trust's Sizergh Castle is near Kendal. There's lots of nice trails around the parkland and woodland in Brigsteer Woods.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Lake District Walks page.