The Postal Paths: Walking in the footsteps of Cumbria’s postal heroes
WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CUMBRIA’S POSTAL HEROES
Honouring Cumbrian postal heroes on the County’s hidden trails.
by Danni Murphy
Whitehaven author Alan Cleaver is bringing Cumbria’s hidden postal history to life with his new book, The Postal Paths, published on 24 April 2026.
The book celebrates the long, often rugged routes once walked and sometimes cycled by rural postmen and women delivering mail to the county’s most remote homes and farms.
These walking paths were phased out in the 1960s, replaced by vans, but Alan wanted to preserve the stories of the people who kept letters flowing in all weathers.
Alan, 66, of Church Street, Whitehaven, explained: “I wanted to record the routes so other people could experience the long, tough but beautiful paths walked by these public servants. I also wanted to find out more about the people who walked them six days a week in all weathers.”
One of the book’s standout stories is that of Hannah Knowles, known affectionately as La’al Hannah in her home village of Eskdale Green. She began delivering mail in 1912 at the age of 15 and continued for an astonishing 61 years, taking just three sick days in all that time. Hannah’s route included her home village but stretched four miles out to the remote farm Low Place in Miterdale. Alan recalls, “It is a beautiful path along Giggle Alley and through the Miterdale valley. She showed extraordinary dedication and endurance, walking in rain, snow, and wind without complaint.” Her commitment earned her a British Empire Medal in 1966, a fitting tribute to her decades of service.
The Postal Paths also explores the route from Boot post office across Birker Fell walked for many years by Ben Vicars and includes notable paths in Ambleside and Shap. Alan hopes that by recording these stories he can inspire readers to follow in the footsteps of these postal heroes, enjoying the stunning Cumbrian landscapes while remembering the extraordinary people who delivered letters, parcels, and connections to isolated communities across the county.
Through his book Alan not only preserves history but invites readers to slow down and see Cumbria through the eyes of those who walked its hills, valleys, and hidden corners with purpose, pride, and resilience.
You can pre-order a copy of Alan’s book via his website;
www.sites.google.com/view/postal-paths
(signed copies available from Verey Books)
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