Cycle your way steadily westwards, marvelling at the increasingly dramatic views of high Lakeland fells which rise up steeply behind the villages of Mosedale and Mungrisdale. This is ‘connoisseurs Cumbria’: remote, rugged and breathtakingly beautiful. You’ll be on the popular Sea to Sea (C2C) Cycle Route for much of the time.
- Start/finish: Sandgate Car Park
- Distance: 31 miles (50km)
- Short cut option shown on map
- Grade: Long - Moderate, all on-road except stony track between edge of town and Newton Rigg campus
- Refreshments: Cafes: Greystoke (Friday, Saturday and 2nd Sunday each month)
- Pubs: Greystoke, Mungrisdale, Newton Reigny, Skelton
- Shops: Greystoke
- Public loos: Penrith only
-
Turn L out of the car park, L again at the mini-roundabout and keep following the blue C2C/7 signs all the way to Skelton village in a north westerly direction.
-
Turn L by the pub and keep L to reach Ellonby and follow signs for Lamonby.
-
SA to rise out of Lamonby and turn R at next X roads (signed Caldbeck) to go over How Hill. Careful on the bends as you gather speed on a lengthy descent to a T-junction.
-
Turn L and L again to descend steeply into Haltcliff Bridge. Turn R across the next bridge over the River Caldew.
-
Turn L and keep on this road to the base of Carrock Fell, which has hill fort remains at its summit, then through Mosedale to Mungrisdale. Turning R in Mosedale takes you up a valley and alongside the River Caldew with its rocky pools - perfect for a summer picnic.
-
Just as you reach Mungrisdale turn L and follow the alternative C2C route all the way to Greystoke and then back to Penrith.
-
Turn L after descending from Berrier.
-
Slow down for the L turn at the cross in Greystoke. Pass the entrance to Greystoke Castle and then the cycle café, a few hundred yards further on.
-
Deviate slightly off the C2C by turning R over the bridge in Little Blencow then L after Great Blencow (just past the big house set back on the R). Turn R after the long straight and you’re on the blue C2C/7 route back into Penrith.
Further information
Penrith Tourist Information Centre, Middlegate, Penrith
Tel: 01768 867466. Email: pen.tic@eden.gov.uk
