Cycle in the Lake District and take on England's most demanding and rewarding road cycling landscape, home to the legendary Fred Whitton Challenge, a 179km (112-mile) sportive over 7 of the most iconic passes in the country, including Hardknott, Wrynose, and Kirkstone. With incredible scenery at every turn and challenging roads in every direction, the Lake District National Park offers a cycling experience unlike anywhere else in England.

This trusted Cicerone guidebook by author Richard Barrett covers three distinct cycling experiences in the Lake District: the full Fred Whitton Challenge route, an alternative 5-day cycle tour of the National Park totalling 478km (297 miles), and 15 challenging day rides from bases including Keswick, Ambleside, and Penrith. Day rides range from 31 to 68km (19–42 miles) and are graded from moderate to challenging.

• Prepare thoroughly for the Fred Whitton Challenge with full logistical information, tips for completing the route, and detailed route descriptions covering all 7 iconic passes including Hardknott, Wrynose, Kirkstone, Honister, Whinlatter, Newlands, and Cold Fell.
• Explore the Lake District on a 5-day cycle tour from Ambleside, covering 478km (297 miles) across 5 stages of 14 to 75km (9–46 miles) per day, with two alternative stage options provided for each day to suit different abilities and conditions.
• Choose from 15 challenging day rides across five areas of the National Park, covering the Central Lakes and Ambleside, Penrith and the North East, Keswick and the North West, the South West including Wasdale Head and Ravenglass, and the South East around Grizedale and Windermere.
• Navigate with confidence using 1:100,000 or 1:200,000 mapping and elevation profiles included for every route, alongside GPX files available to download for the full route and all day rides.
• Select rides suited to your fitness and ambition using a clear two-criteria grading system covering distance and total ascent, from moderate undulating rides to long, challenging routes with multiple steep gradients.
• Plan your Lake District cycling trip with comprehensive practical advice on bike preparation, what to pack, fuelling your ride, accommodation, and the best time to go, with April to October offering the longest days and most reliable conditions.

Take on the roads, passes, and fells of the Lake District with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. Whether your goal is the Fred Whitton Challenge, a week-long tour, or a series of tough day rides, this is the essential companion for road cycling in England's largest National Park.

Cycling in the Lake District – Quick Facts

Location: England – Lake District National Park, Cumbria
Routes covered: Fred Whitton Challenge (179km/112 miles), 5-day Lake District tour (478km/297 miles), and 15 day rides (31–68km/19–42 miles)
Fred Whitton Challenge: 179km (112 miles) over 7 iconic passes including Hardknott, Wrynose, Kirkstone, Honister, Whinlatter, Newlands, and Cold Fell
5-day tour: 5 stages of 14–75km (9–46 miles) per day; two alternative stage options provided for each day; total 478km (297 miles)
Day rides: 15 routes graded from moderate to challenging, based from Keswick, Ambleside, Penrith, and the southwest and southeast of the National Park
Difficulty: Graded on distance and total ascent from easy to challenging; the majority of routes fall into the hard or challenging categories; suitable for experienced road cyclists
Terrain: Entirely on road; steep mountain passes, quiet country lanes, and open fell roads throughout the Lake District
Navigation/mapping: 1:100,000 or 1:200,000 mapping and elevation profiles included for every route; GPX files available to download
Key centres: Ambleside, Keswick, Penrith, Troutbeck, Cockermouth, Eskdale Green, Ravenglass, Broughton in Furness, Cartmel, Grasmere
Highlights: Hardknott Pass, Wrynose Pass, Kirkstone Pass, Honister Pass, Whinlatter Pass, panorama from Wasdale Head, Haweswater, Ullswater, Grizedale Forest, Windermere
Accommodation & logistics: Accommodation appendix included; practical advice on getting there, bike preparation, what to pack, and fuelling your ride
Best time to go: April to October; be prepared for wet and blustery conditions at any time of year

Author Highlight

“This book caters for those who want to tour through the mountains and valleys of England’s largest national park, perhaps crossing one or more of the six famous passes which are all over 305m above sea level with gradients that occasionally touch 1 in 3 (33 per cent). While none of these climbs is high by European standards, the narrowness of the valleys in the Lake District means that roads have to take a direct route to the top rather than meandering their way up, resulting in sections with gradients that would be classified as hors catégorie in the Tour de France.”

- Richard Barrett, author of Cycling in the Lake District

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 Green to Ambleside via Coniston and Hawkshead

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

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.