Shap welcomes walkers as it is situated about half way on Wainwright's Coast to Coast footpath and we see approximaely 10,000 walkers a year pass through the village while completeing the long distance walk. Many groups from Liverpool, Manchester and other cities regularly visit to walk in the area as Shap gives easy access to some of the quietest parts of the Lake District National Park.

The cottage is situated just outside the village and the open fells are a short walk away where you can complete a wide range of circular walks from the cottage. One of the most popular is The Three Rings of Shap which are three 30Km loops starting in the village which can be done as a challange in 24hrs or over three days as some of our guests have done. You can download a route guide here

If your interested in the annual challenge then you can get more details here

We provide the following for use during your stay:

• A separate room is available for drying clothing and footwear, so clothes can dry overnight.
   
• An outside water supply for cleaning boots etc.
   
• First Aid kit.
   
• Pre-ordering of basic grocery items prior to arrival for guests without a car. Please contact us a least a week before your arrival date providing a list of items you require - payment is by PayPal or cash on arrival.

Information:

• The nearest outdoor equipment outlets:
  
  Basic supplies are available in the village news agents.
  Rheged - Penrith
  George Fisher - Keswick
   
• Nearest:
  Doctor - Shap Medical Practice, 1 mile.
                Main Street
                Shap
                Tel: 01931716230
  
  Hospital - Penrith A&E, 10 miles.

•         Bridge Lane,
          Penrith,
          Cumbria,
          CA11 8HX

                   Tel:01768 245300
  
  

  Dentist - Ghyllmount Dental
                      4 Hobson Court,               
                  Penrith 40 Business Park,
                  Penrith,
                  Cumbria,
                  CA11 9GQ
                   Tel: 01768 862291
   
• Maps and books available for reference on walking in the area/details of local and regional walking routes and organisations.
   
• Information on local transport:
  
  Penrith Taxis - 01768 865432
  Local Bus Timetables - nearest bus stop 1 mile.
  Kendal Taxis - 01539 731000
   
• Weather information:
  Weatherline tel: 0844 846 2444
   
• Information flyers on local attractions and events are available in the cottage also local Tourist Information sites.
   
• Shops:
  
  All shops listed below are on the main street about 1 mile form the cottage - turn left at the top of the lane.
  
  Co-Operative mini market - sells most essential items
  New Balance Foot Wear
  Post Office - cash machine
  Laundry
  Fish & Chip shop
  Coffee shop
  News agents
   
• Nearest bank/cash machine:
  
  Cash machine at Post Office in village
  Major Banks in Penrith and Kendal
   
• Details for rescue services, including Mountain Rescue  and Coastguard and stating 999 phonenumber (112 from a mobile phone)
   
• Details displayed of the Countryside Code.
   
• Details of local restaurants and pubs offering food.
  
  Greyhound Hotel
  Coffee Shop - closed Monday & Sunday
  Crown Inn
  Bulls Head Inn
  Kings Arms Hotel 
   
• If you would like us to buy any provisions for you please contact us at least a week before your arrival date - payment by PayPal or cheque prior to arrival please.

The Three Rings of Shap consists of three circular routes all from Shap done as an Anytime Challenge, for which badges and certificates are available on the completion of 1, 2 or all 3 Rings. It is also provided as a 100 km Challenge Walk normally held in June each year.

The routes provide varied options in more remote and less frequented parts of the Lake District's eastern limits, that are traversed by the Coast to Coast walk.

The routes visit remote moorlands and navigational skills are required. A location map for Ring 1 is below while similar maps for the other Rings are on the separate pages for each Ring on the Variants links below. To see all three Rings mapped together tick the 'Show Path Variants' box below, and to see the Wainwright Coast to Coast, that passes through Shap, tick 'Linked Paths'.

Ring 1 MOSEDALE (18 miles): Travelling west from Shap this ring passes above the aptly named Wet Sleddale reservoir to reach remote Mosedale Cottage via quiet and secluded moorland. It then ascends two of Haweswater’s “Wainwrights”, Branstree and Selside Pike, offering superb views of High Street and Eastern Lakeland. Descending to the hidden valley of Swindale with its magnificent waterfalls and the Truss Gap checkpoint the route returns to Shap through the hamlets of Rosgill and Keld passing historic Shap Abbey on the way.

Ring 2 LYVENNET, LEITH & LOWTHER (24 miles): A fine low-level journey through farm and parkland visiting the quiet Westmorland villages of Reagill, Morland, Hackthorpe & Bampton Grange and providing an intimate view of the three eponymous and little known rivers. Even on its own this walk is no pushover.

Ring 3 GREAT ASBY (20 miles): In complete contrast this ring follows Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast route out of Shap for several miles before leaving it to explore the National Nature Reserve of Great Asby Scar in classic limestone country east of the Lake District National Park. It returns on the Westmorland Way, passing through Crosby Ravensworth and Oddendale on the way back to Shap.

The cottage is situated just outside the village and the open fells are a short walk away where you can complete a wide range of circular walks from the cottage. One of the most popular is The Three Rings of Shap which are three 30Km loops starting in the village which can be done as a challange in 24hrs or over three days as some of our guests have done. You can download a route guide here

If your interested in the annual challenge then you can get more details here