Get on your bike in the Western Lake District

As Lance Armstrong decides to get back on his bike for next year’s Tour de France, the Western Lake District Tourism Partnership is offering some tempting cycling prospects of its own.

A new cycling leaflet containing five do-in-a-day circular rides, starting and ending in the small towns of Cleator Moor and Egremont, is already tempting many pedallers back on to the Western Lake District’s beautiful country paths and cycle ways. Cyclists can enjoy the rugged scenery of Cumbria’s high Lakeland fells to the East and the fascinating character of its stunning coastal plain to the West.

Both of the towns at the centre of the circular routes have a great pull factor. 2Cleator Moor is situated on the popular C2C cycle route, whilst Egremont is on Hadrian’s Cycleway. Both are part of the National Cycle Network.

Those starting their cycle ride in Cleator Moor can soak up the mining heritage of the town, represented by three sculptures called The Hand, The Miner and the Phoenix, in the town square. At Egremont, they can take in the ruins of a Norman Castle, or devour some delicious Hartley’s ice cream!

For families there is a short and easy ride less than one mile long, which will take them to a nature reserve that can be explored on foot and which offers views of cliffs, ponds and even a rare Bee Orchid.

More accomplished cyclists could opt for a twelve mile ride on the Whitehaven to Ennerdale Cycle Path, or get great views of historic Whitehaven on a descent into the harbour from the Whitehaven & St Bees Head route, which covers 18 miles.

Setting off at St Bees Head, where a wild variety of birds can be observed on and around the cliffs, enables cyclists to enjoy a freewheeling descent into St Bees, where they can explore 1,000 years of history and the legends associated with St Bega.

A rollercoaster ride offers thrills on the Under Cold Fell route, whilst dramatic and atmospheric views of the valley of the River Keekle and Dub Beck, are part and parcel of the Lamplugh Loop and Loweswater 19.9 mile route.

Details of the Cleator Moor and Egremont cycle routes can be picked up from local tourist information centres and shops, or ordered from the Western Lake District Tourism Partnership - western-lakedistrict.co.uk. The guide is free of charge.

More do-in-a-day rides are also available a little further north, on the Solway Coast. Five circular routes here start from Victorian Silloth, Kirkbride or historic Carlisle and though predominantly flat, these are very scenic, set against the backdrop of the fells and with breathtaking views across the Solway to the southern Scottish coast.

Here, cyclists can meander around rivers and pools and ride between hedgerows and peatlands, passing undulating sand dunes, expanses of sand and mudflats and bird-populated sand marshes.

Cycling with the assistance of a pure clarity of light that has drawn artists for centuries, this is freedom personified, enabling riders to be at one with nature, spotting dragonflies and damselflies, or a wide variety of bird life including snipe, lapwings, oystercatchers, and teal, according to their route. They can choose to cycle in the footsteps of Border Reivers and Roman soldiers, or go for a route that may enable them to see some endangered red squirrels.

The Solway Coast cycle guide can be purchased at the Solway Coast Discovery Centre, in Liddell Street, Silloth-on-Solway, CA7 4DD.

A tempting option may be to head off to one of the three Eskdale Valley cycle routes devised by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Steam Railway. Passengers can combine a cycle ride with a magical steam journey by booking a bike on board the train (at least 24 hours ahead) and travelling to Dalegarth. There they have a choice of three routes and can even hire a Trek 4300 Mountain Bike, if they wish.

Cycle Route 1 takes them along the beautiful River Esk, journeying beside farmland and rural environments, past a historic packhorse bridge and through stunning scenery, during a one-hour ride.

Cycle Route 2 is also an hour’s ride along road and bridleways and allows cyclists to travel along the banks of the River Esk and the flanks of dramatic Muncaster Fell.

On the third Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway cycle route the rider can cycle on a moderately graded off road path that takes them into the less explored area of Eskdale, over the River Mite and through Miterdale Forest. On all of these routes, the rider can return to Dalegarth, to re-board the train.

Particularly ambitious riders may choose to ride back from Dalegarth to their departure point at Ravenglass on an 8.5 mile, virtually traffic-free route called the Eskdale TRail. This takes in charming, unspoilt valleys that are a haven for wildlife, including red squirrels, roe deer and buzzards and only has one point at which cyclists may prefer to push their bike rather than ride it!

The Ravenglass and Eskdale cycle cards can be purchased from the Railway’s Scafell Gift Shop at Dalegarth Visitor Centre. Routes are both described and visualised and, thanks to lamination, suit all weather conditions!

Details of the steam train timetable are at ravenglass-railway.co.uk and bikes can be booked on board. Bike hire costs £14 for a full day and £8 for a half day. Cyclists are encouraged to check availability.

General information about cycling in Cumbria can be found at cyclingcumbria.co.uk.