Comedy Way

Start: Ulverston
Grid Ref: SD 286782
End: Morecambe
Grid Ref: SD 433644
Distance: 49 km
Walking Time: 3 days
Counties Traversed: Cumbria, Lancashire
Explorer™ Maps: OL6, OL7, 296

The Comedy Way is a semi-circular walk around Morecambe Bay starting from the market town of Ulverston in Cumbria and ending in the Lancashire sea-side town of Morecambe. The area covered by the walk has the finest coastal scenery in north-west England and is exceptionally rich in plant, bird and animal life. Several nature reserves, including the internationally famous RSPB Leighton Moss, fall within the ambit of the walk.

The walk is divided into three sections. The first section explores the north east corner of the Furness peninsula and the uplands between the Leven and Kent estuaries. The greater part of this section is over low wooded hills, open fells and grazing pastures straddling or close to the southern boundary of the Lake District National Park. The middle section explores the limestone terrain between the Kent estuary and the River Keer. The greater part of this section lies within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The final and shortest section visits the coastal villages between Carnforth and Morecambe. Part of this section is along the banks of the Lancaster Canal and culminates in a bracing walk along Morecambe’s new state-of-the-Art promenade.

The section breakdown details are as follows:
Section 1 – 12.9 miles
Ulverston to Greenod
Greenodd to Haverthwaite
Haverthwaite to Cartmel
Cartmel to Grange-over-Sands

Section 2 – 10.9 miles (excluding train)
Grange-over-Sands to Arnside (via train)
Arnside to Silverdale
Silverdale to Warton
Warton to Carnforth

Section 3 – 6.7 miles
Carnforth to Bolton-le-Sands
Bolton-le-Sands to Hest Bank
Hest Bank to Morecambe

The Comedy Way celebrates two of the greatest comic duos of the 20th-century, Laurel and Hardy and Morecambe and Wise. Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston and in the central square of the town stands a statue immortalising the comic genius of the actor and his slapstick partner. The much-loved comedian, Eric Morecambe, was born in the town that provided his stage name. Located on the central promenade in Morecambe with the bay and the Lakeland hills forming a stunning backdrop, stands a larger-than-life statue depicting the comedian in one of his characteristic poses. The Comedy Way is book-ended by these two evocative memorials to the world of comedy.

Click the guidebook image above for further details