Kendalian Autumn Walks
Join a guided walk to discover the beauty, history and hidden corners of the town. Jenny Wilson is a Kendalian and a qualified Cumbria Blue Badge Guide. Her Kendalian walks are full of local memories and tales and are designed for both visitors and locals.
Old Canal
Sunday 21 September 2025
Follow the leafy horse tow paths from Natland Mill Beck bridge to Canal Head and discover the history of the industry, commerce, architecture, wharfs and leisure boats of bygone times. Hear about the 'Black and White' exchange of Coal and Limestone between Kendal and Lancashire. Understand the positive impact the Old Canal, opened in 1825, had on the economy of Kendal at a time of political unrest and national downturn, and the factors that sadly led to its eventual closure .
Hansens Cafe . Natland Mill Beck Lane Kendal LA9 7LH
Quakers
Sunday 21 September 2025
George Fox from the Society of Friends came to Kendal to preach in 1652 and the flame he lit blazed into life so that few towns can rival Kendal's reminders of a Quaker past. Despite early persecution and restrictons for their beliefs , Quakers numbered 10-12% of Kendals population by the end of the 18th century, including many influential and wealthy families. Quaker endeavour underpinned most of the banking, trade , industry, transportation, education, and philanthropy of the town.
Friends Meeting House, 59A Stramongate, Kendal LA9 4BH
Original Kendal Schools
Sunday 28 September 2025
Do you remember Boys and Girls entrances, inkwell and blackboard moitors, warm school milk, wooden floors, school prayer and the cane? The three Rs , school assemblies and playground fights? Take a walk through time from the earliest chantry school in 1525 ,appreciate the philanthropy of Quaker educationalists and the explosion of opportunity for all children with the 1870 Education Act. Visit the old elementary and senior schools and relive old memories. Bring your own stories to the walk.
Kendal Parish Church, Kirkland. Kendal LA9 5AF
Church and Chapel
Sunday 28 September 2025
Kendal has a fascinating religious history of Monks, Reformation, Recusants, Quakers, and Non Conformist groups, all of which have contributed to the economic and spiritual development of the town. Visit long forgotten sites and hear the echoes of the town's religious past. Finish the walk in the quiet calm of the Unitarian Chapel gardens.
Kendal Town Hall
Fellside - A Folk Forgotten
Sunday 5 October 2025
Climb Kendal Fell’s cobbles to old Fellside. Often struggling to survive, this community was poor but strong and loyal - constantly at odds with the Establishment. Hear rich stories of mischief, religious conversion and bravery in Fellside dialect.
Kendal Town Hall
Kirk and Kent
Sunday 5 October 2025
Follow the river and trace the threads of time to visit one of the most beautiful churches in the country. Explore the ‘ginnels’, and history of Kirkland, established in medieval times by monks in the original Abbot Hall. Hear tales of love lorn hermits, opium, grammar schools, May poles, stocks, cock fighting and taverns.
Kendal Parish Church
Taverns and Turnpikes
Sunday 12 October 2025
Turnpike roads created the age of the Stagecoach Inn. Discover the location and sheer number of Kendal's public houses - Inns, Taverns and Tom and Jerry Houses. Link their existence to the development of Kendal's industry and social and living conditions. Finish your walk if you wish with a roast Sunday lunch at a local hostelry!
Kendal Town Hall
Castle Howe and Kendal Fell
Sunday 19 October 2025
High above Kendal is the site of the first Norman Motte and Bailey Castle. A large obelisk stands on its summit , built to celebrate the Glorious Revolution of 1788. Kendal Fell is the site of Beast Banks, where bulls were baited, and the first animal market and slaughter area . Higher up were the tenterframes where wool was stretched to dry and spin. At the summit of the fell Serpentine Woods offers a mysterious leafy labyrith of memory of genteel promenades in days gone by.
The Brewery, Highgate Kendal LA9 4HE
Yarns and Yards
Sunday 26 October 2025
Explore the old yards of Kendal, once the backbone of Kendal’s wool industry. Learn about tanners, dry salters, shear men dyers, metal works, timber works, potters, brewers and coal merchants. Imagine the social conditions and community spirit of life in the ‘Auld Grey Town’
Kendal Town Hall
Ghouls and Ginnels
Sunday 26 October 2025
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Brewery
Yards and Yarns
Sunday 7 September 2025
Explore the old yards of Kendal, once the backbone of Kendal’s wool industry. Learn about tanners, dry salters, shear men dyers, metal works, timber works, potters, brewers and coal merchants. Imagine the social conditions and community spirit of life in the ‘Auld Grey Town’
Kendal Town Hall
KGS/KHS/KKS 500 years
Donation
A guided walk celebrating 500 years of Kendal's education. We start and end our story at Kirkbie Kendal School, but on our journey visit the sites of the old Chantry school of 1525, the Old Grammar School of 1588, Kirkland, Dean Gibson, National, Blue Coat and Quaker Schools .We visit the Thorny Hills Site of Kendal High School which amalgamated in 1980 with Kendal Grammar School and return to base along the old Kendal Canal Path.
Kirkbie Kendal School
Kendal History Walk
Between Sunday 7 April 2024 and Sunday 25 August 2024
Trace the threads of Kendal history from the Romans, Anglo Saxons, Monks, Norman Barons and Burgage plots to the Market Charter. Learn about Yard Industries, Guilds, Stagecoaches and the relationship between religion and the town’s prosperity.
Kendal Parish Church
Church and Chapel
Sunday 19 May 2024
Kendal has a fascinating religious history of Monks, Reformation, Recusants, Quakers, and Non Conformist groups, all of which have contributed to the economic and spiritual development of the town. Visit long forgotten sites and hear the echoes of the town's religious past. Finish the walk in the quiet calm of the Unitarian Chapel gardens.
Kendal Town Hall
Kirk and Kent
Sunday 12 May 2024
Follow the river and trace the threads of time to visit one of the most beautiful churches in the country. Explore the ‘ginnels’, and history of Kirkland, established in medieval times by monks in the original Abbot Hall. Hear tales of love lorn hermits, opium, grammar schools, May poles, stocks, cock fighting and taverns.
Kendal Parish Church
Castle and Canal
Sunday 5 May 2024
Climb Kendal Castle Hill via the Castle Dairy for amazing views of the Kent Valley and to explore the ruined castle of the Barons of Kendal and its royal connections. Tread the old horse tow paths of the Kendal Canal and be reminded of leisure boats and the industry of bygone times.
Stramongate Bridge
Fellside - A Folk Forgotten
Sunday 28 April 2024
Climb Kendal Fell’s cobbles to old Fellside. Often struggling to survive, this community was poor but strong and loyal - constantly at odds with the Establishment. Hear rich stories of mischief, religious conversion and bravery in Fellside dialect.
Kendal Town Hall
Yards and Yarns
Sunday 21 April 2024
Explore the old yards of Kendal, once the backbone of Kendal’s wool industry. Learn about tanners, dry salters, shear men dyers, metal works, timber works, potters, brewers and coal merchants. Imagine the social conditions and community spirit of life in the ‘Auld Grey Town’
Kendal Town Hall
Kendal History Walk
Between Sunday 20 August 2023 and Sunday 29 October 2023
Trace the threads of Kendal history from the Romans, Anglo Saxons, Monks, Norman Barons and Burgage plots to the Market Charter. Learn about Yard Industries, Guilds, Stagecoaches and the relationship between religion and the town’s prosperity.
Kendal Parish Church
Church and Chapel
Sunday 15 October 2023
Kendal has a fascinating religious history of Monks, Reformation, Recusants, Quakers, and Non Conformist groups, all of which have contributed to the economic and spiritual development of the town. Visit long forgotten sites and hear the echoes of the town's religious past. Finish the walk in the quiet calm of the Unitarian Chapel gardens.
Kendal Town Hall
Fellside - A Folk Forgotten
Sunday 8 October 2023
Climb Kendal Fell’s cobbles to old Fellside. Often struggling to survive, this community was poor but strong and loyal - constantly at odds with the Establishment. Hear rich stories of mischief, religious conversion and bravery in Fellside dialect.
Kendal Town Hall
Taverns and Turnpikes
Sunday 1 October 2023
Turnpike roads created the age of the Stagecoach Inn. Discover the location and sheer number of Kendal's public houses - Inns, Taverns and Tom and Jerry Houses. Link their existence to the development of Kendal's industry and social and living conditions. Finish your walk if you wish with a roast Sunday lunch at a local hostelry!
Kendal Town Hall
Castle and Canal
Sunday 24 September 2023
Climb Kendal Castle Hill via the Castle Dairy for amazing views of the Kent Valley and to explore the ruined castle of the Barons of Kendal and its royal connections. Tread the old horse tow paths of the Kendal Canal and be reminded of leisure boats and the industry of bygone times.
Stramongate Bridge
Yards and Yarns
Sunday 17 September 2023
Explore the old yards of Kendal, once the backbone of Kendal’s wool industry. Learn about tanners, dry salters, shear men dyers, metal works, timber works, potters, brewers and coal merchants. Imagine the social conditions and community spirit of life in the ‘Auld Grey Town’
Kendal Town Hall
Kirk and Kent
Sunday 10 September 2023
Follow the river and trace the threads of time to visit one of the most beautiful churches in the country. Explore the ‘ginnels’, and history of Kirkland, established in medieval times by monks in the original Abbot Hall. Hear tales of love lorn hermits, opium, grammar schools, May poles, stocks, cock fighting and taverns.
Kendal Parish Church
