penrith route

harkmeadow
harkmeadow Posts: 193
edited April 2014 in Road general
Any locals got good recommendation for a 35-40 mile loop from Penrith way? Was looking to avoid the traffic clogged National park roads and probably head East.

Cheers

Comments

  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    Surely you have to go up Hartside towards or to Alston?
  • ednino
    ednino Posts: 684
    Head out to Great Dun Fell!
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    ednino wrote:
    Head out to Great Dun Fell!

    Then unpack your folded up CX tyres and get on the Pennine way over Cross Fell and back down to Garigill, then Alston, then the A686 back to Penrith.
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • harkmeadow
    harkmeadow Posts: 193
    Cheers all, but seriously, any suggested routes out / back. You know that feeling when that lovely quiet looking B road turns out to be the main shortcut between a and b and ends up being more like the M1! Not bothered about hills, will be doing a few 5 min on / off intervals if that helps.

    Cheers for help

    :D
  • ednino
    ednino Posts: 684
    You cant ride that area without going up the biggest tarmacked climb in the UK.

    I drove many many miles to ride that climb & it was well worth it. 2,111ft if I remember right
  • harkmeadow
    harkmeadow Posts: 193
    Let me rephrase - not bothered if there are hills! Done the Whitton etc so more interested in keeping training for race season going.
  • lakesluddite
    lakesluddite Posts: 1,337
    South on A6, turn off on B5320, follow signs to Askham, through Askham, to Bampton, follow signs to Shap (great chippy with cafe), through Shap, turn off on M6 road, then immediate right to Orton, commune with sheep into Orton, left over tops to Appleby (great little cafe/sandwich shop opposite library), then back north via Colby, Bolton, Cliburn (and Natue Reserve if that's your bag), back along Wetheriggs to A6 just south of Penrith.

    Not sure of exact distance, as I've not done it myself, but I have done parts of it on various rides.

    If you fancy something that is a straight 'there-and-back' route, don't turn off to Askham, but follow B5320 to Pooley Bridge, and then you get the full length of Ullswater on the A592 to Patterdale/Glenridding, with the lake on one side and the slopes of Helvellyn on t'other. Then if you are feeling adventurous, you could carry on up Kirkstone Pass from the tough side and have a drink in the Kirkstone Inn.
  • harkmeadow
    harkmeadow Posts: 193
    Thanks for help, looks good, have mapped it out. :)
  • harkmeadow
    harkmeadow Posts: 193
    this was a great route btw, especially the road from Shap over to Appleby. Cheers
  • lakesluddite
    lakesluddite Posts: 1,337
    Glad you enjoyed it - it is a nice road that one, quite quiet (apart from the M6!), and Orton is quite pretty. I'd usually turn South from there and go through Tebay, then over the hill back into Kendal, which is also a good route.

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