800km London to Carlisle
NCN 6 passing through the Lake District
Overview
From London to Carlisle, is one of the great cycling routes of England, riding from the heart of the capital to the nation’s most north-westerly border town, Carlisle. It is a ride of great contrast, from the rolling hills of the Home Counties, to the ancient cities of the Midlands, to the high moors of the Pennines, and the incomparable Lake District. The route largely follows the The 650km National Cycle Network Route 6, which is one of the longest and most varied of all the NCN routes.
Ride notes
Riding out of the bustle of Central London, the route follows the leafy and traffic-free Grand Union Canal out of Paddington Basin to London’s western fringes. Thence through the Home Counties, there’s a goodly mix of mainly traffic-free trails and quiet back lanes. Once clear of the city, and its satellite towns, the the route rolls over gentle and underrated countryside passing through woods and quintessential English villages.
Through the Midlands, the route takes you through the forests of the Dukeries, once the redoubt of Robin Hood and past England’s oldest tree. Occasionally you’ll see the skeletal remains of winding gear marking the site of an old colliery. Punctuating the glorious tracts of forests and fields are a succession of many of England’s great industrial cities; Leicester, Nottingham, and Sheffield. All are worth lingering in.
Then it’s up into the Peak District National Park, and the ride over the back bone of England is truly memorable. You’ll not forget the toil up Winnats Pass in a hurry! The route passes the largest cave in England and another which can be visited in a boat. The views from the ‘edges’ of the Peak, the ride up the Hope Valley, the limestone walls etching patterns across the rich green pastures will be highlights of the day. Once over the Pennines, you’ll ride through quiet country lanes and alongside canals until arriving in magnificent Manchester, England’s second city.
After enjoying the many and varied delights of Manchester, your journey continues through lush green pastures with high moorland hills on one side and the sparkling Morecambe Bay on the other. South of Kendal, a visit to Levens Hall, the country’s oldest topiary garden is well worth a stop.
From Kendal you ride through the heart of the Lake District on quiet back roads and paths. The National Park is part of the patrimony of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the scenery is world famous. You’ll be spending as much time gazing at the views as you will actually riding. At Grasmere, you ride past Wordsworth’s house and then thanks to the incompetence and greed of United Utilities the traffic-free path beside Thirlmere has been closed meaning you have one section of main road to ride over Dunmail Raise. The ride over the Northern Fells is wild and spectacular with the tiny country lane rarely frequented by vehicles. The final leg of this magnificent route is through the rich pastoral lands of North Cumbria, before finishing at the foot of Carlisle’s mighty fortress.
Ride Practicalities
START/FINISH: Paddington Basin, London/Carlisle Castle, Carlisle DISTANCE: 750km. TOTAL ASCENT: 6,600m TERRAIN AND SURFACES: Over half the route is on trails - either canalside paths, forest tracks or on ex-railways. Many of the trails are in good condition and very rideable with 28mm tyres. Otherwise, the route uses quiet country lanes. Through the towns and cities the riding is on dedicated cycle lanes. Signage is very good from London to Sheffield, thereafter variable. MAINLINE TRAIN SERVICES: Paddington and every successive city is on a mainline back to London LINKS TO OTHER RIDES: NCN 6 London to St.Albans PLACES TO VISIT: St. Albans; Cathedral and Roman ruins of Verulanum, Leicester; National Space Centre, Nottingham; National Justice Museum, City Caves, Castle, Manchester; Science and Industry Museum, Art Gallery, Lancaster; Castle, Kendal; Levens Hall, Grasmere; Dove Cottage (home of William Wordsworth), Carlisle; Castle and Cathedral, Tullie House Museum.
RECOMMENDED BIKE SHOP: Lancaster; The Edge Cycleworks
Read and ride each stage
Each individual stage has a downloadable map, a route description, including where to stay and eat, photos and a link to the daily Journal of my ride.
The whole route is accessed from the link below, however, each stage above has a more detailed route map. Only use the route below if you wish to modify it in some way to suit your own needs/challenge.
68km on the Grand Union Canal