cycling guides...
Cumbria is perfect for exploring by bike with country lanes, quiet back roads and lots of National Cycle Network routes to explore.
The cycling guides below offer a good introduction to the county and some suggested routes.
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the lake district: 4 seasons fred whitton bike tour
This 112 mile road biking route is based on a real classic 'The Fred Whitton Challenge'. Following the route of the one day challenge this guide allows you to complete this infamous route at your own pace. Starting from Coniston it takes in the most famous lakeland passes, including Hardknott and Wrynose, before returning to Coniston. Perfect for a personal challenge or in preparation for the big one day event in May.
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the lake district: Cycling from Coniston
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
Route 1 - Little Langdale (short - challenge, 9.9 miles)
Route 2 - Coniston Water & Subberthwaite Common (medium - moderate to long - hard, 17.4 mile to 23 miles)
Route 3 - Tarn Hows (short - challenge, 8.7 miles)
the lake district: cycling around Kendal
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
Route 1 - Lakeland Fringes (short - hard, 10 miles)
Route 2 - Kent Valley (short - easy, 10 miles)
Route 3 - Bird's Eye Kendal (short - hard, 8.5 miles)
Route 4 - Lyth Valley (medium - moderate, 13 miles)
Route 5 - A trip to the seaside - Milnthorpe & Arnside (long - easy, 26 miles)
the lake district: cycling around keswick
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
Route 1 - Skiddaw Loop (medium - challenge, 17 miles)
Route 2 - Lonscale Fell and Glenderaterra Valley (medium - challenge, 11 miles)
Route 3 - The Borrowdale Bash (hard - challenge, 17 miles)
Route 4 - Old Railway Line and Castlerigg Stone Circle (short - easy, 6 miles)
Route 5 - Swinside Circuit (easy - short, 8 miles)
Route 6 - Mountain biking at Whinlatter
the solway coast: cycling from cleator moor & egremont
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
Route 1 - St. Bees Coastal (medium - moderate, 14.7 miles)
Route 2 - Under Cold Fell (short - challenge, 8.1 miles)
Route 3 - Lamplugh Loop & Loweswater (medium - hard, 19.9 miles)
Route 4 - Whitehaven & St. Bees Head (medium - hard, 18 miles)
Route 5 - Ennerdale Water (medium - hard, 16.8 miles)
the eden valley: cycling from appleby & kirkby stephen
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
Route 1 - Villages and Viaducts (medium - hard, 12.4 miles)
Route 2 - Eden Valley (long - hard, 26.7 miles)
Route 3 - Orton Fells (long - hard, 27.3 miles)
Route 4 - Eden Rivers (moderate, 16.2 miles)
Route 5 - Mallerstang (medium - hard, 12.2 miles)
the eden valley: Cycling from Penrith
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
Route 1 - Edge of Lakeland (long - moderate, 31 miles)
Route 2 - Greystoke and back (medium - moderate, 15 miles)
Route 3 - Eden Valley (long - hard, 29 miles)
Route 4 - Lowther Valley (long - moderate, 26 miles)
Route 5 - Lyvennet Valley (long - moderate, 30.5 miles)
the eden valley: Biking around Ullswater
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
Route 1 - Ullswater's North Western Fells (medium - challenge, 13 miles)
Route 2 - Moor Divock (medium - hard, 14.6 miles)
Route 3 - The Old Coach Road (medium - challenge, 19.5 miles)
Route 4 - Great Mell Fell & Little Mell Fell Cycle Loop (medium - challenge, 17.3 miles)
Route 5 - Boredale & Eastern Flanks of Ullswater (medium - challenge, 18.6 miles)
the north pennines: biking around alston
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Route 1 - Brampton & Haltwhistle Tour (long - challenge, 47 miles)
Route 2 - Newshield & West Allendale (long - challenge, 22 miles)
Route 3 - River South Tyne (short - challenge, 10 miles)
Route 4 - Nenthead & Garrigill (medium - challenge, 18 miles)
Route 5 - Cross Fell Mountain Bike Ride (hard-challenge, 13.7 miles)
Family Routes
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
askham fell- the eden valley (easy mountain bike ride, 4.4 miles)
hodge close quarry- the lake district (mountain bike ride, 3.85 miles)
kirkland to cleator moor- the solway coast (easy cycling route, 10.4 miles)
threlkeld to keswick- the lake district (easy cycling, 7.3 miles)
windermere lake shore- the lake district (easy mountain bike ride, 6.9 miles)
routes
Click on the links below to open pdfs of the routes (opens in a new window).
askham fell - the eden valley (off road mountain biking, 7.1 miles)
carlisle and river caldew- hadrian's wall country (mainly cycle paths, 18 miles)
claife heights- the lake district (mountain biking, 9 miles)
ennerdale water- the western lakes (mountain bike forest tracks and quiet back roads, 19 miles)
ulverston to penny bridge- the lake district (tarmac backroads with lots of hills, 13 miles)
whitehaven harbour to ennerdale bridge- the solway coast (traffic free cycle paths and back roads, 20.5 miles)
Cycle hire
cycle hire on the golakes eshop.
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