Help! Cumbrian cycle routes?

[MontyVeda]

Why not go to Whinlatter forest park or Grizedale? They have proper cycle tracks, all off road, graded for easy/hard, ideal for a family group... but nowhere near a train station.

 

[mcshroom]

Also consider how many people you want there and how they are going to arrive. Northern rail are pretty relaxed about bikes but there's not a massive service for the coastal line, meaning that bike spaces are limited (about 70 mins between services each way, 2 bikes per train officially)
Main line trains to Penrith, Carlisle or Oxenholme can carry a few more, but need reservations in advance.

I think a route from Maryport to Aspatria via Allonby would be pretty good. One busy road to cross (twice - right at the beginning and the end) then along the promenade, through the golf course, and up the new cycle path next to the Allonby road. Ice cream at Allonby, then return inland down quiet country lanes. Distance around 12 miles all .

Also consider talking to Border City Wheelers for a Carlisle route.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Why not go to Whinlatter forest park or Grizedale? They have proper cycle tracks, all off road, graded for easy/hard, ideal for a family group... but nowhere near a train station.

^^^ This is a really good suggestion if you want to avoid the roads and would make a cracking day out for the people taking part. Grizedale is big enough that you could spend most of the day there and only cross roads a couple of times. The forestry roads aren't too rough generally so most bikes apart from skinny tyred racing ones could be used. For example:

My brother on his Trek 7.1fx fitted with 700x35 tyres up near Carron Crag

Edit: A thought occurs - Depending on how big the event was, the Forestry Commission might need to be notified before it takes place.

 

[eLight1]

Hi again everyone ,

@Spinney I appreciate your concern, and I do know I sound very lost! I have a friend who is a cyclist but he has never done a route in Cumbria so suggested asking on here. I am a fundraising assistant and currently I am just doing the research part, so any legal/liability issues that comes with planning a charity bike ride will be covered by someone who knows more about it than me!

@Richard Fairhurst Thankyou for that route, it does look good and I like that it could be shorted to finish at a station. My only potential problem with it is more west coast than at the top of Cumbria which is one of the specifications I've been given. This could be flexible though, I will have to ask.

@Ffoeg The only specifications I have been given as of yet is that the route must be near the top of Cumbria, and that station to station would be a good idea. Also avoiding as many major roads as possible (which is why I'm liking the idea of a national park setting) I am not bothered about where it starts or ends really

@mcshroom The Maryport to Aspatria route you suggested sounds lovely, I will definitely be looking into that more. How long would it take to cycle 12 miles usually? About an hour? If so I could look at lengthening it perhaps to 2/3 hours.

@MontyVeda and @Rickshaw Phil I love the idea of doing it a national park like Grizedale, however as it isn't by immediate train stations and not in the Northern region on Cumbria I don't know if they'll be appropriate. Again I will enquire to the necessity of it being Northern and suggest national parks. Whinlatter Forest does seem to be edging up north however, looking on Google Maps anyway!

 

[DefBref]

Whitehaven/Workington to Silloth along Hadrians Cycleway? Good beginners route of 20 to 30 miles, mostly flat on cyclepath or minor roads. No station at Silloth unfortunately, could cycle to carlisle but thats pushing the distance upto 50 miles. Or Could start at Maryport and go to Carlisle 40 odd miles along same path with train stations at either end.

http://www.cycle-routes.org/hadrianscycleway/index.html Good website with details about the whole Hadrians cycleway, perhaps you could do a different section of it.

 

[PpPete]

Whitehaven/Workington and work in a bit of the NCN71 (around Loweswater)

 

[Deleted member 23692]

@eLight1 you'll need to contact my CCC colleagues once you've got a route sorted - more gen here http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/eventscalendar/eventsafetyinformation.asp

If you are looking to held it on private land then you'll need full consent of appropriate land owner, be this Forestry Commission/National trust etc if on their estate on individual farmers if you are looking to venture on the rights of way network - I might end up involed in that at some point but let's not jump the gun

I'd avoid the Lakes as this time of year it's full of Harold Shipman lookalikes and their wives driving around at 20mph looking out the side windows at the scenery and not where they are going.

The Eden Valley is well served with trains (and station) having the Settle-Carlisle lines running through/near it - stations at Carlisle, Armathwaite, Lazonby, Langthwathby, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen and Garsdale. But a whole gaggle of cyclists turning up without any warning will mightily peeve the train staff - again it would be best to talk to the railway in advance.

What sort of distances would you be looking at? There are plenty of great routes in the Eden on very quiet roads punctuated with some great refreshment outlets which would make a great day out.

 

[mcshroom]

What sort of riders are you looking at as well?

I would expect to be round the route I suggested in a bit less than an hour, (plus ice-cream time). A family with younger children, however, or someone new to cycling might take more than twice as long as me, and a club rider would expect to get round that route in well under 45 mins. OTOH club riders would not need (or indeed want) to be cooped up in slower and often poorer surfaced off-road cycle paths and would be happier riding roads.

 

[eLight1]

@DefBref I love the idea of Maryport to Carlisle along Hadrians Cycleway, thankyou! I'm just looking into it now.

 

[eLight1]

@Ffoeg Thanks for the advice there I will definitely be contacting them for advice. I am currently looking at Hadrian's cycleway Maryport to Carlisle, does anyone know if Hadrians Cycleway has anyone in particular I should contact? I'm assuming it's public land. Also I will speak to the CCC about it.

Distance wise I'm looking at anywhere between two and four hours, the 40m route @DefBref suggested will take approx. 3hrs 30 (thanks google) so that could be perfect!

 

[eLight1]

What sort of riders are you looking at as well?

I would expect to be round the route I suggested in a bit less than an hour, (plus ice-cream time). A family with younger children, however, or someone new to cycling might take more than twice as long as me, and a club rider would expect to get round that route in well under 45 mins. OTOH club riders would not need (or indeed want) to be cooped up in slower and often poorer surfaced off-road cycle paths and would be happier riding roads.

Initially I thought it was going to be family friendly although now I'm thinking I may want to appeal to, not professionals, but cyclists with good experience. How would you feel about the Hadrian's wall cycle route? Or is that more for all ages/experience levels? I am having a meeting tomorrow with my boss so will be asking her for more specifics then, now I'm armed with some knowledge

 

[DefBref]

Dont forget to factor in a coffee stop, Silloth should be a good place on that route.

I took the liberty of plotting the route for you: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4655124 so you get an idea of distance and how flat it is. I doubt you can get a flatter 40 mile route in cumbria!!

Note in order to keep it to about 40 miles I've used the short cut at Whitrgg, saves you going all the way round by Bowness on Solway and an extra 12 to 15 miles.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

@eLight1 The Maryport-Carlisle route that DefBef has plotted is all on public highway and or/off road Sustrans route, so access should not be a problem - speak too CCC on the details I gave you above and they'll check that your chosen date won't clash with any other events in the area or planned road closures etc etc. Maryport Golfcourse to Allonby is now off road with a new multi-use track opening a couple of months back

After Silloth there isn't much in the way of refreshment outlets other than pubs until Carlisle. Contact Silloth PC and see if they can advise on an area suitable for setting up designated stopping point so folk can leave their bikes safely and take 5 in the town (which is well worth a look round) if needed.

The only bad point of the route is the final off-road run into Carlisle (Burgh Road Ind Est to the Seepmount/Bitts Park) - it's an embarrassing gateway to the city with dog crap everywhere, along with several structures which seem designed to stop anything getting past, a flight of steps and an unsuitable riverside footpath. - That may want looking at separately for your risk assessment

 

[eLight1]

@DefBref you are an absolute diamond for doing that for me Thankyou.

@Ffoeg Thanks for that, a flight of stairs could be problematic! On the course mapped out it goes Burgh rd - Marconi Ln. - Thomas Ln. - Weaver's Bank .. Whereabouts does Seepmount/Bitts Park begin? Thanks again everyone for all your help.

 

[eLight1]

@DefBref you are an absolute diamond for doing that for me Thankyou.

@Ffoeg Thanks for that, a flight of stairs could be problematic! On the course mapped out it goes Burgh rd - Marconi Ln. - Thomas Ln. - Weaver's Bank .. Whereabouts does Seepmount/Bitts Park begin? Thanks again everyone for all your help.

Nevermind, I see that Bitts Park is another name for Weaver's Bank