Lake District and Hadrian’s Wall Cycle Tour

Today arrive at Carlisle, easily reached from the airports in Newcastle, Manchester or Liverpool. Carlisle is on the border of Scotland and England.  It is on Hadrian’s Wall and to the north of the English Lake District.  Carlisle has been an important city for centuries as it has been a border city. The castle which has provided security from invasions for 900 years and Carlisle has been invaded ten times, more times than any other city in the Kingdom. The castle was an important Royal base for kings throughout the centuries. The cathedral in the city was also built some 900 years ago.

Today you leave Carlisle and head south into the Northern sections of the English Lake District. Cycling away from Carlisle alongside the River Caldew and onto open farmlands through lovely country lanes. Soon you reach the Caldbeck Fells of the northern lakes which you circle on the lower slopes before descending into Keswick which situated on one of the great lakes, Derwent Water. The first evidence of a settlement here dates back to the stone age.  The nearby stone circle of Castlerigg is evidence of this. Various town names in the area give indications of invasions of the Norsemen n the 10th century.

Now it is time to explore the beautiful English Lake District or you can decide to maybe take a rest day and relax in this beautiful Cumbrian town. Your ride today will take you alongside Derwent Water through Rosthwaite and Borrowdale before climbing over Honister Pass at 300m.  This climb is steep but of course, you can walk up. You shall pass Honister slate mines the oldest in the UK where slate mining has taken place since 1728.  It is well worth a visit. You now descend to Buttermere and  Cummock Water. Here it is well worth a picnic or lunch break.  You now start making your way back to Keswick but you have to climb over Whinlater pass (250m) first to Keswick. Although you have two climbs you will be rewarded with stunning lake and mountain scenery.

Today you can take a deserved rest, do some walking or relax in Keswick. For those who wish to cycle it is back over Whinlater Pass and down the Larton Valley to Cockermouth. Now you follow the River Derwent and above Bassenthwaite Lake to Keswick.

A long day today as you cycle through the North Pennine Hills along the Sea to Sea cycle route. You cycle in an easterly direction passing through Penrith. Penrith has a massive ruined castle once occupied by Richard III and was built in the 14th century. After your visit, you continue through Huddlesceugh where you start your final climb over the Pennines to Alston passing through Hartside.  Usually, there is a prevailing west wind which will blow you along your journey through the Pennines. Your destination Alston is the UK’s highest market town.

Your ride today includes a few climbs as you continue over the Pennine Hills towards Newcastle. It is a remote area and is sparsely populated.  Soon you shall start the gradual descent towards the City of Newcastle where you will stay overnight in Ryton just to the west of the city. If you stay overnight in Hexham, you shall first climb slightly out of Alston before a gradual descent to the market town of Hexham. Hexham has a historic past with some fabulous architecture including the Anglo-Saxon Abbey.  It has also been influenced by the Romans, Vikings and the ‘Border Reivers’.

Leaving Ryton, you will quickly join the Hadrian’s Cycleway going west. You will pass Stephenson’s Cottage where the famous railway engineer was born and on to Corbridge, originally a Roman town. Here if you stayed in Hexham, you shall join the route. In Corbridge, you can visit the Roman Fort before continuing to the market town of Hexham where you can admire the ancient Abbey. the Abbey is the Priory and parish church of Saint Andrew and has been a point of religious service for 1340 years.  After your visit, you continue west along Hadrian’s cycleway where the terrain now becomes more undulating. There’s a slight detour to visit the Roman fort of Housesteads, then passing the reconstructed Vindolanda fort before arriving at the National Park Visitor Centre, situated next to the most spectacular remains of Hadrian’s Wall.  You then have a quick descent to Haltwhistle, known locally as the town at the centre of Britain.

Some hilly sections today as you descend across the northern end of the Pennines following the course of Hadrian’s Wall past Gisland where you can visit the Birdoswald Roman Fort, then onto the Vale of Eden into Carlisle. A lovely last day of cycling passing several pretty villages. Once you arrive do not forget to further explore the city of Carlisle.

Depart after breakfast.