A guidebook to the 179 km (112 mile) Fred Whitton Challenge plus a five-day cycle tour and 15 challenging day rides in the Lake District. The routes are centred around Keswick, Ambleside, Penrith, and the southwest and southeast regions of the National Park.

The day rides vary in length between 31 and 68 km (19-42 miles) with difficulty ratings from moderate to challenging. The Fred Whitton Challenge covers over 180 km (112 miles) including the famous Hardknott Pass whilst the alternate five-day cycle varies in length from 14 to 75 kms (9-46 miles) each day totalling 478 km (297 miles).

• Full logistical information, advice, and tips for the Fred Whitton Challenge 
• 1:100,000 or 1:200,000 mapping included for each route
• Many different routes included with varying difficulty 
• GPX files available to download 
• Elevation profiles included for each route

Map key
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
INTRODUCTION
The Fred Whitton Challenge
Lake District National Park
Geology and landscape
Plants and wildlife
History and culture
Getting there
Weather and when to ride
Where to stay
What type of bike?
Preparing your bike
Preparing yourself
Tips for completing the Fred Whitton Challenge
What to pack
How to pack
Riding comfortably
Fuelling your ride
Riding as a group
Cycle touring
Day rides
Maps and itineraries
Using this guide

A TOUR OF THE LAKE DISTRICT
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

DAY RIDES
Ambleside and the Central Lakes
Route 1 Over the Wrynose and Hardknott passes from Ambleside
Route 2 Around the Central Fells
Route 3 A circuit of the Eastern Fells from Ambleside
Penrith and the North East
Route 4 Haweswater and Ullswater from Shap
Route 5 Lowther Park and Ullswater from Penrith
Route 6 Around Inglewood Forest
Keswick and the North West
Route 7 Loop around the Back o’ Skiddaw
Route 8 Whinlatter and Honister passes from Keswick
Route 9 Across Allerdale
The South West
Route 10 Back o’ Sellafield and Wasdale Head
Route 11 The Far South West from Ravenglass
Route 12 Around the Furness Fells from Broughton
The South East
Route 13 Around Grizedale Forest
Route 14 Across Windermere from Cartmel
Route 15 A circuit around Whitbarrow
 
Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B Accommodation
Appendix C What to take
Appendix D Further reading

Seasons

The best time to go touring in the Lake District is between April and October, when the days are longer and the weather is at its best. But even then, you will undoubtedly get wet and experience blustery days. So be prepared for them. As a general rule always plan your route so that you are riding south to north with the prevailing south westerly winds.

Centres

Ambleside, Grasmere, Troutbeck, Shap, Penrith, Stainton, Keswick, Cockermouth, Eskdale Green, Ravenglass, Broughton in Furness, Grizedale, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Bassenthwaite, Buttermere

Difficulty

Each tour stage and day ride and is graded on two criteria: distance with rides categorised as short, medium or long, and total ascent with rides categorised as easy, moderate, hard or challenging. Easy - smooth pedalling with gentle inclines Moderate - undulating with an occasional steady climb, but nothing to get you out of the saddle Hard - involves some hard climbs with gradients up to 10 per cent Challenging - long steep ascents or multiple short sharp gradients that will most definitely hurt. Inevitably, the majority of rides fall into the latter categories.

Must See

Incredible scenery and rare wildlife - the Lake District is England's largest national park; local craft breweries; local foods; Kirkstone Pass; Hardknott Pass; the impressive panorama of Yewbarrow, Kirkfell, Great Gable and Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head

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