Tour: Cumbria Cycleway (E)(EP)

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The Cumbria Cycleway was set up in 1980 as the UK's first long distance cycle route. In 1997 it was relaunched and was ridden by many people. Sometime in the 21st century the council took down a lot of the signs or took the top surface off, though about 10 survive at various locations.

However the route itself is still there and is a superb ride.

As a circular ride it can be started anywhere, however I have chosen to start this ride at Arnside because this allows easy access from the motorway and it has a train station.

The first part winds its way around the southern coast of Cumbria as it goes in and out of the sea inlets. This takes you through Grange, Ulverston and Barrow-in-Furness  Heading north the route heads up the west coat of Cumbria with endless beaches in the shadow of the Western Fells to the east, turning east to cycle the edge of the Solway Firth to Carlisle. From here it heads south through the beautiful Eden Valley passing through Kirkby Lonsdale, Sedbergh and Kirkby Stephen

In conclusion, I have ridden many routes in England and Wales, this is a superb route.

For ease I have broken the ride into 18 sections as below. Each has a GPX route and a detailed route description, enjoy

    Neil Wheadon August 2021

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One of a number of intact signs still on the route, many have been removed

Ford tractor and Bailer

Sunset near Maryport

The Rides

1: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 1 - Arnside to Grange (E)

This section starts at Arnside Pier. It sounds grand but it's smaller than expected being a 20 metre stone structure that juts into the estuary. From the pier the ride sweeps the bay heading briefly inland before extensive views to the left of Morecambe Bay and the fells. Swinging north and inland, you pass through pretty agricultural land, which is very flat with only 2 small climbs. The lanes are narrowish and full of cyclists. It gets a little busier around Levens Hall where you join the A6, more ...

2: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 2 - Grange to Ulverston (E)

From Grange station you head into the centre of Grange, heading left at the roundabout to pass cafes on the right. An uphill short climb to a roundabout by a clock. There follows a monster climb out of town (route 700 goes left). After this the road undulates with some downhill to the pretty village of Cartmel where the horse races run 9 times a year. It's quite a touristy village with cafes etc, so worth a look taking in Cartmel Priory. To carry on you need to go through the centre and onto a b more ...

3: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 3 - Ulverston to Ireleth (E)

Staring in Ulverston by the war memorial, you descend the cobbled streets to a large roundabout where you exit the town. The road is flat to gentle incline and passes a Buddhist centre LHS, you can see the golden temple through the trees. After a few miles you reach the coast probably marked by extensive car parking and trippers walking the sands. The roads follows the coast but isn't flat as it rises and falls with lovely views of the bay and the square nuclear power station at Heysham to the l more ...

4: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 4 - Ireleth to Millom (E)

Starting from the railway station you head along the A595 with a stiff climb. The reward is a fantastic descent with views into the valley with a backdrop of Lakeland fells to the left as you descend. There is a gate pull in that gives a better view close to the top of the descent. The road is moderately busy, so take care. The left turn through Kirkby Furness is very pretty, you can almost imagine a community before Beaching cut the railways in the 1960's with its attentive railway station Back more ...

5: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 5 - Millom to Ravenglass (E)

From Millom the route heads south through Ventner so if you had stayed at the harbour lights campsite, you're close to the route. On the coast it has a tiny harbour and a shop. You head out towards the Western Fells and will be under the shadow of these for most of this section. It's an agricultural area so you will pass warning signs for tractors and cows. A lot of this section uses A roads which may be a reason why the Cumbria Cycleway no longer exists but these bring good gradients and great more ...

6: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 6 - Ravenglass to Whitehaven (E)

You exit Ravenglass via narrow walkway strapped to the side of the railway bridge. This drops to a short length of rough track close to the shore that affords good views back to the village after which you hit tarmac to head inland crossing the railway to join the A595. Heading left and through Drigg the route heads to the coast to arrive at Seascale where there are great views not only across the beach but also up the coast where you'll see the chimneys of the now decommissioned nuclear plant a more ...

7: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 7 - Whitehaven to Maryport (E)

There has been a lot of renewal in Whitehaven since the Cumbria Cycleway was put together and the very start shows of the new promenade as you cycle with marina on the left and cafes on the right. Rope knot sculptures add to the charm. You stay with the sea as an old railway hugs the coastline giving good views and even better when you can see further north along the coast. In essence this first part can't retrace the cycleway as so much work has been done. The route swings inland for a climb th more ...

8: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 8 - Maryport to Silloth (E)

Starting at Maryport bridge the route heads to the coast passing the church on the left. There are a few things to see in Maryport from an aquarium quayside to 2 museums including Roman artefacts. The promenade runs along the Solway Firth it's wide enough to be shared with pedestrians from where you can admire the Scottish coast across the water as well as wind turbines too numerous to count. Red sandstone lines the shore making it an attractive ride. The route leaves the promenade close to its more ...

9: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 9 - Silloth to Bowness (E)

From the centre of Silloth head down to the shore to head along the wide promenade shared with pedestrians. There is plenty of room so take your time to enjoy the sea views and the groins keeping the beach in place. At the end continue along the road to the village of Skinburness where you leave the coast to head inland across a dead flat landscape. It will continue this way for nearly all the section as you twist and turn through flat agricultural land seemingly constantly heading for the radio more ...

10: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 10 - Bowness-on-Solway to Carlisle (E)

It's a flat run to Carlisle and hopefully a Westerley wind will push you along. Very close to the start it is worth looking for the small sign to the Hadrian's Wall Walk on a house wall. This leads to a shelter with good views over the Solway and is the start of the walk, you will see folks walking along as you cycle to Carlisle. The route has good views of the sea as you ride a road with plenty of warning signs of flooding. The small climbs take you over road junctions. As you approach Carlisle more ...

11: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 11 - Carlisle to Newbiggin (E)

The start at Eden Bridge isn't particularly easy to find especially as it's a pretty short indistinct bridge. The best way to find it is either head for the Athletics stadium or better still; it's at the western edge of Bitts Park close to the Castle However the exit out of Carlisle works an absolute treat and has been adopted by the Hadrian's Wall cycleway so follow route 72 signs. It runs through Bitts Park and the avenue of trees are still there (described in the original guide), under the ro more ...

12: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 12 - Newbiggin to Langwathby (E)

The scenery on this section continues as it did before with views of the Lakeland Fells on the right whilst being in the shadow of the Peninnes on the left. It's just all pretty, with some long descents and a number of climbs. If you have time, Long Meg Stone Circle is worth a visit. Long Meg is the tallest stone in the circle at 12 feet high. Langwathby has a pub on the green on the right, a shop that is easy to miss as tucked on the left and a shelter on the green Cumbria Cycleway This route f more ...

13: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 13 - Langwathby to Appleby (E)

You start with a short but steep climb out of Langwathby past the station on your right. Your reward is a delightful quiet lane that climbs gradually towards the Pennines to Kirkland via Skirwith with lovely views all around. The route then turns southerly for a descent past Blencarn Lake and into the small settlement of Blencarn. You are now at the base of the Peninnes to your left and the route zig zags its way through fields under the shadow of the hills to your left passing through Milburn a more ...

14: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 14 - Appleby to Kirkby Stephen (E)

The ride starts from railway to the north of the centre of Appleby-in-Westmorland. You descend towards the town to bear right into the centre. It's an attractive place with many older buildings worth a look. You cycle up Boroughgate, a wide main street. It is marked by two pillars at the top and the bottom. The one at the bottom is an 18th century copy of the 17th century one at the top where you will bear right to leave town. Heading out you will gradually climb admiring the wonderful views to more ...

15: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 15 - Kirkby Stephen to Garsdale Head (E)

Starting from the information centre at Kirkby Stephen you head south along Market Street passing shops, cafes and an outdoor shop, because this is also on the coast to coast walking route. Heading left close to the end of town you are heading towards Nateby with lovely views of the Pennines on the left. You are now on the road to Garsdale Head that is the longest climb of the route and also the highest, however this is not a hard climb, aside a couple of short harder pulls up hill. What you wil more ...

16: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 16 - Garsdale Head to Sedbergh (E)

This sections starts at the road leading from Garsdale Head railway station. Head downhill to the A684 to head down to the valley. The Cumbrian Cycleway used the A Road all the way, but it is worth taking the old road, signed Grisedale close to the start as it's quieter but also affords lovely views across the valley of ruined barns, fields and the railway line on the other side. Maybe the reason it wasn't included was because of the steep descent back to the road. From here the route continues more ...

17: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 17 - Sedbergh to Kirkby Lonsdale (E)

Starting from Sedbergh the route heads west and out of the town along the A684, from where it turns left along the A683. Although these are A Roads the traffic is reasonably light and you are travelling initially downhill including the initial A684. The ride heads down the Middleton Valley and is a fairy easy ride with one short climb. Crossing the River Lune you are one quieter roads. The bridge over the river is single carriageway and afterwards you climb to the T junction to access a quiet la more ...

18: Cumbria Cycleway - Section 18 - Kirkby Stephen to Arnside (E)

There are a few big roads around Kirkby Stephen but this route has a cunning way out. Heading out from the centre you cross the A65 by a dedicated cyclepath. It's not particularly easy as there is a lot of traffic on this road, but the infrastructure remains. There follows quite a climb through narrow lanes and seemingly endless sheep to the appropriately named Hutton Roof. The route then drops to cross the M6 and then the A6, as well as a canal. You will hit flatter lanes near Arnside and then more ...

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Neil Wheadon2023-01-02 00:13:42

Testing that this works

Neil Wheadon2023-01-02 00:14:07

Further test

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