By Bicycle

There are a number of high profile cycle routes in the North West of England that connect with the Lakes & Dales Loop which could be used either as a way to get to/from the route, or to extend your cycling experience, exploring further afield in the North West.

Hadrians Cycleway NCN 72 – 72 runs closest to the Lakes & Dales Loop at Sellafield, where it runs through neighbouring Calder Bridge.

Coast to Coast route NCN 71 71 – this famous 140 mile cycle route runs from Whitehaven & Workington on the west coast of Cumbria to Tynemouth & Sunderland on the UK’s east coast. 71 coincides with the Lakes & Dales Loop between Kirkland and Lorton, another section east of Cockermouth, between Greystoke and Langwathby, then again between Appleby and Little Asby.

NCN 7 – The Lochs and Glens route through to Inverness. 7 links with Lakes & Dales Loop at Penrith.

NCN 6  – Linking central Cumbria with London (!) 6 intersects the Lakes & Dales Loop a little south of Kendal.

Walney to Wear NCN 70  – starting on Walney Island, Barrow in Furness this route stretches right across the country to Durham & Wearmouth, on the east coast. 70 overlaps with the Lakes & Dales Loop between Grange-over-Sands and Sedgewick. It coincides again with the Lakes & Dales Loop north of Sedbergh through to Little Ashby.

The Bay Cycleway NCN 700 –  from Lancaster in the south through to Walney Island, 700 links to the Lakes & Dales Loop at Levens. Lancaster also provides a useful ‘gateway’ to the Lakes & Dales Loop being on a mainline station.

Pennine Cycleway (North Pennines) NCN68 – from Derby through to Berwick. 68 coincides with the Lakes & Dales Loop between Dent and Appleby and also between Dufton and Skirwith

Further information:

National Cycle Network routes

Cycle Route Map

The routes described above are shown on the map below, by their route number. The blue line indicates the Lakes & Dales Loop.

Total distance: 315188 m
Max elevation: 338 m
Min elevation: 3 m
Total climbing: 5001 m
Total descent: -5001 m