Ordnance Survey maps
The following OS maps cover much of Eden:
Landranger (1:50,000) maps
- OS 86 Haltwhistle and Brampton
- OS 91 Appleby-in-Westmorland
- OS 90 Penrith, Keswick and Ambleside area
Explorer (1:25 000 scale) maps
- OL5 The English Lakes North Eastern Area
- OL19 Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley
- OL31 North Pennines
You can buy these and other maps and guidebooks in our Tourist Information Centres and from outdoor shops.
The full range of OS maps is available from Penrith Tourist Information Centre.
Cycle shops
Kirkby Stephen
-
Kirkby Stephen Cycle Centre, Unit 1, Station Yard, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4LA.
Telephone: 017683 71658
Penrith
-
Arragon's Cycle Centre, 2 Brunswick Road, Penrith CA11 7LU.
Telephone: 01768 890344
Website: www.arragons.com/
-
Halfords, Unit 2, Ullswater Road, Penrith CA17 7JQ
Telephone: 01768 892960
Weather forecasts
- Visit the www.metoffice.gov.uk website for a 5-day forecast (select North West England then Penrith)
- Call Weathercall on 09068 500 419 (enter the Penrith code 1904 when prompted)
- Call the Lake District National Park's Weatherline service on 0870 055 0575
Bikes on trains
Penrith is on the West Coast mainline and both the Virgin and Trans Pennine Express services that stop here carry bikes free of charge. However, due to limited space advance reservations are needed and can be made at any booking office or by calling:
- 08457 222 333 for Virgin trains (up to 4 bikes or 2 tandems)
- 0845 600 1674 for TransPennine Express trains (up to 2 bikes)
Armathwaite, Lazonby, Langwathby, Appleby and Kirkby Stephen stations on the Settle - Carlisle line are served by Northern Rail trains, which have spaces for up to two bikes. However, conductors are encouraged to exercise positive discretion and more than two bikes have been know to be carried. Call their Customer Relations team on 0845 00 00 125 for more details.
Ensure you check whether there are engineering works taking place that may affect your journey. If rail replacement buses are operating in place of trains during engineering works, then unfortunately you won't be able to take a cycle on them. Check by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk or calling 08457 48 49 50 before you travel.
Good Cycling Code
Obey the rules of the road
- Always follow the highway code
- Ride in single file to let vehicles overtake
Be courteous
- Don't assume everyone can see or hear you
- Give way to pedestrians, wheelchair users and horse riders
- Ring your bell or call out (to horse riders) to alert of your approach
- Acknowledge people who give way to you
Care for the environment
- Try to reach the start of your journey by bike or public transport
- Follow the countryside code: Respect, Protect, Enjoy
- Take any litter home
- Cycle on roads, byways, bridleways and cycle paths, not public footpaths
Look after yourself
- Wear a proper fitting helmet and wear bright, waterproof clothing
- Be alert to potential hazards and take extra care
- Carry enough food and water, and a map
- Check tyres, brakes and gears often and be able to deal with a puncture
- Use lights in poor visibility
- Don't use any hand-held device whilst cycling
Look at www.lakedistrict.gov.uk and www.imba.org.uk for codes specifically for enjoying off-road riding.
Thank you for cycling! The bike is the most efficient and environmentally friendly form of transport invented.
