This great music and walking festival is based along the Settle to Carlise Railway line with walks and music at a different stations each day.

The Ride to Stride Music and Walking Festival is a week long celebration of the wonderful landscape and culture of the western Dales and Eden Valley. The festival is made up of lots of events and activities, each day based along a different length of the railway line.

Kirkby Stephen is the base for the third day (May 2nd), with walks from the station lead by experienced walk leaders and the pubs buzzing with music and song.  Kirkby Stephen Hostel provides walkers accommodation right in the centre of the town, and welcomes individuals and groups alike.

After great drive though the lovely Yorkshire Dales we crossed the border to Kirby Stephen Hostel, a converted church in the centre of a friendly town.

After great drive though the lovely Yorkshire Dales we cross the border to Kirby Stephen Hostel, a converted church that is now an independent hostel run by the friendly Denise.  The hostel is right in the centre of town so we explored the very friendly local pub that night.   On Sunday we headed off across the fields and up to Nine Stands to see some lovely views.   Another great walk from the town is on the east side of valley past the Quarry, there you will find an railway that has been converted to a cycle / walking route over an aqueduct.  The hostel has a great drying room, ideal as our clothes were wet.  It was also a nice place to relax and socialize with the other guest and Denise was happy for us to  bring in a take away, which was very easy to find in Kirkby Stephen.  We has a full English breakfasts, cooked by the hostel the next morning which set us up for another day in the outdoors. I would recommend Kirkby Stephen hostel as a really chilled out  place to stay.

Kirkby Stephen Hostel, at the centre point of this coast to coast, long distance walk, specialises in a warm welcome for walkers.

There some unusual architecture in this converted chapel on the coast to coast walk. Kirkby Stephen Hostel, at the centre point of this long distance walk, specialises in a warm welcome for walkers. Right in the centre of town on Wainwright’s route there is plenty of choice for eating out and restocking your supplies. You can also eat in using the hostels self catering kitchen and catch up on the stories passing up and down the route.