CYCLING IN THE LAKE DISTRICT
by Richard Barrett
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
About the Author
After years of road running and mountaineering had wreaked havoc with his knees, Richard Barrett returned to long-distance cycling in his 50s when he bought himself a classic British-made touring bike. Now in his 60s, he rides a handmade bike from one of the great British frame makers that have appeared in recent years. Combined with sea-kayaking, cycling allows him to continue his love affair with the more mountainous parts of the UK which he first visited as a teenager.
His career was spent in marketing in a number of multinational organisations in the UK and abroad, but he now lives on North Harris in the Western Isles where he and his wife enjoy an active and busy retirement.
Cycling in the Hebrides
Walking on Harris and Lewis
© Richard Barrett 2016
First edition 2016
ISBN-13: 978 1 85284 778 4
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
© Crown copyright 2016 OS PU100012932. NASA relief data courtesy of ESRI
Acknowledgements
My thanks to everyone who accompanied me on these rides; those I spent just a few miles with before we parted company and the chums of a quarter of a century who still meet every May for a week of hostel touring and fine dining: Nick Cloke, Simon Wheeler and latterly, my nephew, Ashley Broad. They appear in many of the photographs as do our family friends, Paul Rigby and his son James, who joined me on a few of the rides. Mention should also be made of all the helpful staff and volunteers at the many hostels I used during my rides. I also need to thank Jonathan Williams of Cicerone for his ready acceptance of my proposal and Stephanie, Lois, Caroline and the rest of the team, who once again made the production process such a pleasure – and lastly my partner Cindy for her diligent proof reading.
Updates to this Guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/778/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
Front cover: Riding down the zig-zags at Martindale with Howtown below (Route 5)
CONTENTS
A Tour of the Lake District: route summary table and overview map
The Fred Whitton Challenge: overview map
Day Rides: route summary table and overview map
Riding comfortably
Fuelling your ride
Riding as a group
Cycle touring
The Fred Whitton Challenge
Day rides
Maps and itineraries
Using this guide
The Eastern and Far Eastern Fells
Stage 1A Ambleside to Troutbeck over Kirkstone Pass
Stage 1B Ambleside to Troutbeck via Shap
The Northern Fells
Stage 2A Troutbeck to Keswick via Threlkeld
Stage 2B Troutbeck to Keswick via Hesket Newmarket
The North Western Fells
Stage 3A Keswick to Cockermouth over the passes
Stage 3B Keswick to Cockermouth via Lorton
The Western Fells
Stage 4A Cockermouth to Eskdale Green via Ennerdale Green
Stage 4B Cockermouth to Eskdale Green via Egremont
The Southern and Central Fells
Stage 5A Eskdale Green to Ambleside over the passes
Stage 5B Eskdale Green to Ambleside via Coniston and Hawkshead