Staveley: Trails, Woodland and Mill History

Staveley combines riverside landscapes, woodland paths, cycle routes and a remarkable history of mills. Anyone looking for holiday accommodation in Staveley can consider the village as a base for a variety of holiday days: the “Staveley Riverside” route follows a flat path along the River Kent and returns along a small paved road to Staveley Mill Yard. Along the way, views open up towards the Kentmere Valley. This gives your planning a specific, relatively peaceful walking route as well as a longer cycle ride.

Nature trails with different focuses

On the “Paws and Claws Trail” in Staveley Woodlands, families can discover ten species that live in the woodland and their tracks by following clues and information boards. The trail combines nature observation with a small discovery challenge. Craggy Wood also has a 1.2-kilometre circular route.

When visiting Staveley Woodlands Nature Reserve, note the time-limited access restriction: because of a road closure near the reserve, access is restricted until April 2027. However, the reserve remains accessible via the Craggy Wood gate. This information should be included in your day planning if you would like to combine woodland and nature experiences with other activities.

Cycling around Staveley

The “Lakeland Fringes” route offers a longer alternative to the Riverside route. It leads from Staveley to Windermere via the traffic-free National Cycle Network Route 6 and returns via quiet minor roads. The loop starts and ends at Staveley Mill Yard, is 10 miles (16 km) long and follows the Staveley–Windermere–Staveley route. There is a 7-mile (11 km) shortcut for the return journey. This allows you to plan the extent of the cycle ride using the explicitly stated variants, rather than assuming a single route length for every day’s itinerary.

Those travelling without their own bicycle can find two e-bikes, named Reston and Craggy, through the “Staveley Community Ebike Scheme”. They are based at Staveley Mill Yard and can be used for journeys in the surrounding area in return for usage-based payment. In addition, bus 555 from Kendal to Windermere stops in Staveley hourly until early evening. This connection may be of interest when choosing accommodation if you do not want to plan every excursion exclusively by car.

Churches and the history of the mills

The local history includes the Church of St James in Over Staveley, a Grade II listed building. It was built in 1864–1865 by J. S. Crowther. In June 2026, the church had been closed for twelve months because of structural problems with the tower cap and the lychgate barrier; you should check current access before visiting.

Only the tower remains of the former church of St Margaret’s in Staveley. The church was demolished in 1865, while the tower is said to have been founded in 1388. The 19th-century mill buildings also tell the story of the village’s development: they were built for processing wool, working wood and milling grain, and were later adapted for other purposes. A fulling mill was already operating in Staveley in 1341. Historically, the River Kent was crucial to local industry; at one time, more than 30 mills depended on its water power.

Further local pages

For comparing other destinations, you can also consider Portinscale, Sedgwick, Coniston, Grange Over Sands, Winton, Askham, Kirkoswald and Hawkshead.

For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.