The Courtyard, Bigland Estate, Backbarrow, Ulverston, LA12 8PB07866 493526lynsey@biglandhallcottages.co.uk

Cycling in the Lake District

The best cycling near to our Lakeland holiday cottages

The Lake District has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best areas for cycling in the country. Here’s an introduction to some of the best cycle routes close to our Lakeland holiday cottages.

Lake District bike hire

Didn’t bring bikes with you? Don’t worry as cycle hire is available all year round throughout the local area – in Windermere, Keswick, Kendal, and at the Grizedale and Brockhole centres.

Local rides close to The Courtyard Cottages, Bigland Hall

Our Lakeland holiday cottages are close to cycling routes that suit families and cyclists at all confidence and skill levels. As you ride you can take in the breathtaking beauty of the Lakes, particularly if you choose to follow the quiet roads and bridleways of the Cartmel Peninsula.

These rides take you through the quaint medieval village of Cartmel and out to the surrounding towns and villages, each with their own unique character. There are beautiful rides along the river Leven, and a good route to Humphrey Head. Wherever you choose to ride, either from Cartmel to the coast, or alongside the River Leven to High Newton, you will experience the best that the Lake District has to offer.

Nearby Grizedale Forest is home to many safe cycling trails ranging from gentle paths to white-knuckle mountain bike tracks. Both the two-mile Goosey Foot Tarn trail and the three-mile Mushroom Trail are perfect for families and can be lengthened for more confident riders. For riders who are looking for an enjoyable challenge, the Hawkshead Moor Trail takes you through Grizedale and offers fantastic views across Coniston.

The forest also offers high-adrenaline field mountain biking tracks such as the North Face Mountain Biking Trail and, for the truly daring, a black diamond-rated ride.

Cycling the Bay Cycle Way

Our Lakeland holiday cottages are also just a stone’s throw away from the popular Bay Cycle Way, which stretches for 81 miles along the stunning coastline of Morecambe Bay. Starting from Walney Island in Barrow-in-Furness, it runs all the way to Glasson Dock in Lancaster, through Cumbria’s towns (Arnside, Grange-over-Sands, and Haverthwaite).

Riding town to town along the route gives you a chance to take in the local culture; each section of the ride is wonderfully unique. And, with convenient transport links along the route, it’s easy to plan a day out and still be back in time for an evening soak in our hot tubs.

The Bay Cycle Way is suitable for cyclists of all ages and skill levels – it comprises mostly quiet roads, woodland tracks and stone paths. Whether you want to spend a full day cycling, or just a leisurely afternoon taking in the sights, there is plenty to see along the way. It passes through nature reserves and offers stunning views from coast to fell.