Cumbria
Free cycle maps are listed at bottom of page.
Open routes
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National Route 6 |
National Route 6 of the National Cycle Network enters Cumbria from Lancashire through the Arnside & Silverdale AONB and is open and signed to Windermere via Kendal. The route is still awaiting development through the central Lake District, but is open alongside Thirlmere reservoir and in to Keswick via St. Johns in the Vale.
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National Route 7 |
National Route 7 is open in Cumbria between Gretna and Nenthead via Carlisle, Penrith and Hartside and forms the eastern stages of the Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route between Penrith and the North Sea coast. North from Carlisle the route is a part of the Lochs & Glens (South) cycle route.
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National Route 68 |
National Route 68 in Cumbria forms part of the Pennine Cycleway. The Cumbrian section runs between Dent and Alston via Appleby-in-Westmorland and is covered as part of the Pennine Cycleway South Pennines & the Dales and North Pennines sections.
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National Route 71 |
National Route 71 forms the western stages of the Sea to Sea (C2C) route between Whitehaven or Workington and Penrith. Whilst the Sea to Sea continues on National Route 7 to the North Sea coast, National Route 71 continues into Yorkshire via Kirkby Stephen.
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National Route 72 |
National Route 72 is also known as the Hadrian's Cycleway for much of it's length and is open and signed in Cumbria between Ravenglass and Gilsland via Silloth and Carlisle. The route continues into Northumberland.
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Reivers Route |
Reivers Route (Regional Route 10) starts of finishes in Cumbria entering the county from the east in the wilderness of Kielder Forest at Scotch Knowe and explores rural northern Cumbria via Caldbeck, Cockermouth and the coast at Workington.
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Walney to Wear (W2W) |
The Walney to Wear Cycle Route (Regional Route 20) is a 'coast to coast' adventure between Cumbria's Walney Island and either Wearmouth or Whitby (via Regional Route 52) on the North Sea Coast. The route passes through Grange-over-Sands, Kendal and Kirkby Stephen on the Cumbrian leg.
Route development
Kendal
Plans for the proposed Riverside route in Kendal have been well received at three public consultation meetings in the town and a final decision from councillors is expected soon. As well as providing a safe and attractive route for walkers and cyclists to access the town centre, further development of this route would offer a potential solution to the problem of joining up National Route 6 across the town between Canal Head and Burneside Road.
West Cumbria
The County Council's Local Committees in Copeland and Allerdale, together with the respective District Councils, have committed to another year's funding of the unique maintenance consortium on the West Coast. This has given Sustrans the confidence to explore new opportunities for route development, such as the Gosforth to Seascale project. Here an approach has been made to the main landowner, the British Nuclear Group, for assistance with funding.
Elsewhere in the west of the county, the Distington bypass scheme has been completed. The Seascale-Sellafield path is now three years old and, having given it time to settle down, Sustrans staff will be carrying out some minor improvements in the coming weeks. There has been good progress with the Workington Connect2 scheme to replace Navvies bridge lost to the floods of 2009. A new purpose built bridge should be in place over the Derwent by the end of May 2011.
The C2C has also gone 'barrier free' on the Cumbria side. This is due to more people travelling with trailers, or by mobility scooter and handcycle.
Free cycle maps for Cumbria & Isle of Man
Cycle & See Arnside & Silverdale AONB - from Arnisde & Silverdale AONB, tel: 01524 761034
Cycling around Sedbergh - from Sedbergh TIC, tel: 01539 620125
Lancaster to Kendal - Lancashire CC, tel: 01772 534609
Hadrians Wall Cycling Country Cycling Guide: Gilsland to Carlisle
Hadrians Wall Cycling Country Cycling Guide: Carlisle to Ravenglass
featuring circular day rides - from Hadrian's Wall Information Line on 01434 322002
Isle of Man Cycle Trails - Isle of Man Govt, tel: 01624 686600