Grades Bikes on trains Cycle shops and hire Rides are graded by distance Northern Rail runs the trains on the The nearest bike shop is Cycle Centre (short, medium, long, extra long) Leeds-Settle-Carlisle line. Although in Kirkby Stephen (Station Yard) who hire out mountain and height gain per kilometre strictly speaking it’s only two bikes per bikes - 017683 71658 (easy, moderate, hard, challenge, train, the conductors will do their best extreme). Short cuts are shown on to get you and your bike on board. Stonetrail Holidays near (Street Farm) some rides. Timetable and other information is on has mountain bikes for hire - 015396 23444 the website www.settle-carlisle.co.uk Good Cycling Code Following the routes Tourist Information Centres (TIC) Each route is highlighted on its own Enjoy a 15-mile (24km) linear ride Obey the rules of the road Appleby TIC Ordnance Survey map with arrows from Kirkby Stephen station to • Always follow the Highway Code Explore the Upper Eden Valley’s Moot Hall, Boroughgate, Appleby CA16 6XE showing which way round to go and Appleby station following the blue • Ride in single file to let vehicles overtake added directions at numbered points 71 and 20 signs (from the town Mountain biking 017683 51177 delightful mix of scenery and Be courteous [email protected] to help with navigation. The ‘Key to centre) to Soulby and Whygill Head, There are numerous byway and • Don’t assume everyone can see or hear you maps / route descriptions’ explains the then 71 and 68 signs through Great Kirkby Stephen TIC bridleways tracks around Kirkby • Give way to pedestrians, wheelchair users heritage at a slower pace symbols shown on the maps and the Asby to Appleby. Garsdale Head Market Street, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4QN Stephen. The OS Explorer map OL19 and horse riders abbreviations used. The general rule station, with a marvellous spin 017683 71199 Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley • Ring your bell or call out (to horse riders) is to keep to the road you’re on unless down Mallerstang, is an alternative [email protected] is a good starting point. to alert of your approach otherwise directed. Please note all start Check the online mapping at • Acknowledge people who give way to you distances are approximate. www.sustrans.org.uk Care for the environment Places to stay All mapping is based on 1:50,000 Public transport As well as from the TIC in Appleby & Kirkby Stephen, • Try to reach the start of your journey by bike scale = 1.25 inches to 1 mile or 2cm you can find out about places to stay in the Upper Use the traveline service for details of or public transport to Ikm Eden Valley from the following websites:- all public transport details: - • Follow the Countryside Code: www.visiteden.co.uk The National Cycle Network Tel: 0871 200 22 33 (calls from BT Respect, Protect, Enjoy www.golakes.co.uk All five routes use parts of the National landlines cost 10p plus network extras. • Take any litter home Costs of other providers may vary) Cycle Network with its distinctive blue • Cycle on roads, byways, bridleways and cycle There are youth hostels in Dufton (near Appleby) and Kirkby Stephen. More details from www.yha.org.uk signs. National route names and / or www.traveline.info paths, not public footpaths numbers are mentioned in the Family cycling Look after yourself Look out for establishments displaying descriptions and directions for each The dismantled railway line between Road climbs • Wear a properly fitting helmet and bright, VisitBritain’s Cyclists Welcome symbol ride. Find out more about the network Hartley and Stenkrith Park on the You can climb for 11 miles from Kirkby weatherproof clothing (providing extra facilities and services and other Sustrans projects at outskirts of Kirkby Stephen provides Stephen up Tan Hill to the highest inn • Be alert to potential hazards and take extra verified by inspection)... www.sustrans.org.uk care a level traffic-route for bikes, buggies in at 1732ft, which offers and those indicating that they are Cyclist and wheel chairs, thanks to the work well-earned refreshment. Follow the • Carry enough food and water, and a map Friendly (self-assessed). of the Northern Viaduct Trust Ltd. Find Eden Rivers & Brough Castle Ride to • Check tyres, brakes and gears often, and be out more from their website point 4, then go straight ahead able to deal with a puncture www.nvt.org.uk through Barras and keep following • Use lights in poor visibility the blue 20 (Walney to Wear & Whitby • Don’t use any hand-held device while cycling or W2W route) and 71 signs all the Look at www.lake-district.gov.uk and way to the top. www.imba.org.uk for codes specifically for enjoying off-road riding. Published by Council with financial assistance Following the blue 68 (Pennine from Cumbria Tourism, Kirkby Stephen Town Council and Cumbria Cycleway) signs along the fell side Thank you for cycling! The bike is the most County Council. from Appleby takes you all the way efficient and environmentally friendly form of transport invented. Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to present routes to the top of Hartside at 1903ft; the where it is legal to cycle, individuals are responsible for their own The two longest rides in this guide are from the striking small town of It’s hilly, but not mountainous, terrain so don’t be put off. With a decent alpine like ascent begins from safety and the safety of others. All information is provided in good Appleby, probably first settled by Vikings and formerly the county town bike you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you can achieve - you’ll always Melmerby. It’s 24 miles one way with faith by the publisher and producer, and was accurate at the time of old Westmorland. It sits in a loop of the River Eden whose broad valley get a good return for your uphill efforts with the exhilaration of the a café at the top. of publication. is edged by the North Pennine and Orton Fells. downhill, as superb views unfold before you. You’ll have plenty of burnt nb Enjoy the descents, but watch your © Eden District Council, March 2009 calories to enjoy replacing in the pub, cafe and tearoom too. speed and for other road users! The other three rides are from the market town of Kirkby Stephen, further All maps reproduced from Ordnance Survey digital map data. © Crown copyright 2008. All rights reserved. up the valley at the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Its church is All the rides start and finish at each town’s Tourist Information Centre More cycling in Eden Licence number 0100031673 known as the Cathedral of the Dales, with some interesting local history (TIC). The roads you’ll be cycling on are generally lightly trafficked and Guides to circular do-in-a-day rides inside. On one of the rides you’ll be cycling over Merrygill and Podgill narrow lanes in places, with cattle grids and fords to cross, and sometimes from Alston and Penrith are available Produced by the Cooper Douglas Partnership. at Appleby and Kirkby Stephen TICs. Photography by Barry Stacey, Val Corbett, Dave Willis Viaducts, once part of the coal carrying Stainmore Railway between gates to open and close. (www.cumbriaphoto.co.uk), Anthea Truby, Cooper Douglas Darlington and Tebay, . See also the cycling pages on Partnership Refreshment stops after you’ve left either town are listed, but always www.visiteden.co.uk and Printed on Revive 75 silk (FSC certified and carbon neutral) The famous and cyclist friendly Settle-Carlisle railway will get you and take enough drinks and snacks to keep you going, especially as opening www.golakes.co.uk/adventure your bike to either place. times do vary. by Reeds Printers, Penrith

A685 1 Key to maps 4 C To Brough Station H & A66 EY RD 1 R RTL 4 Villages & Viaducts Ride Swimming I A S H Cycle route Pool 5 T I Cricket A The only ride in this guide with some traffic-free sections, including the Appleby N Ground 6 Route instruction CHAPEL ST H Cricket E A D shared use dismantled railway route over two viaducts, once part of the coke P M Ground Frank’s Cycle path/track A Bridge carrying Stainmore Railway (more details from www.nvt.org.uk). You’ve also

R S

K K the option of a short walk to the dramatic disused Smardale Gill Viaduct T START i E 71 20 National/regional cycle H C BRIDGE ST E T E through a national nature reserve.

B route Low S S Kirkby L Bowling BOROUGHGATE L Holme Cross A T START N D E Green The route, climbing steadily over to Smardale at first, links five village, crosses Footpath (no cycling) Wood Moot i S M P P Hall 2 Stephen a ford (footbridge alternative) and runs on a grassy track to where Scandal Bridleway T E N S Beck and the River Eden meet. Partly on National Route 71 and the Walney DOOMGATE A 1 Byway open to all traffic HOLME ST L H R I G to Wear & Whitby Cycle Route (20). i M v A H 5 Other tracks e L r k E l G Start/finish: Kirkby Stephen TIC St Anne’s d a O e R Primary route n W Hospital D

t C D Recreation in the town centre

S s R A H a Ground

o O (free car parking is signed) Main road A High R from C

o TH Y W t Cross t B as U Co E

Secondary road S T O A 1 Find the Tourist Information Centre in Market S

W Distance: 12.4 miles (20km) Minor road N Street (see town plan), head north to the first mini- I Appleby & E n N e Take extra care at this d roundabout and turn L D E Grade: Medium · Hard Stenkrith r point/on this section e Park v (on and off road) Castle i 2 Bear L by grammar school for and Smardale C R 1 Gradient: 14-20% A S d (also following blue 20 and 72 signs) T un Kirkby Stephen (arrow points downhill) 3 L Millennium Ro 2 COLBY LANE E 5 cts Refreshments: Pub in Winton. B Bridge iadu A rn V 3 Bear R uphill, again following blue 20 and 72 signs Railway N K A685 rthe Go prepared for a waterside picnic To Station, No 3 Tebay & M6 P 4 Turn L at X roads to Waitby Public loos: Kirkby Stephen 5 Turn R at X roads (steep at first) to Smardale 5 OS mapped do-in-a-day circular rides on the highways and byways of Cumbria’s Upper Eden Valley Key to route descriptions 6 Cross over the old railway and bear L to Crosby 10 Garrett. Smardale Gill National Nature Reserve is R = right down on your left. The 14 arch viaduct is 1.5 miles 8 L = left further on; secure your bike and walk to it as cycling SA = straight ahead/across is not currently permitted. (the Smardale viaduct 9 jct = junction visible from the road carries the Settle-Carlisle railway) X roads = crossroads m=metres 7 Keep R through the village, taking the road under 11 the church all the way into Soulby km = kilometre (0.6 mile) Scale 18mm = 1 km (0.6 mile) 8 Go SA at X roads 9 Bear R onto public byroad to Winton leading to 7 the grassy track by Scandal Beck and then the footbridge over the River Eden… a good picnic place 10 Go SA to Winton along narrow lane 4 11 Take extra care crossing into Winton. Bear L then 3 turn R at village green to Hartley 2 1 12 Keep L through village, go uphill and turn R 6 onto the old railway, first crossing Merygill, then 12 Podgill viaducts. Look for the large inscribed stones 5 which are part of the Poetry Path 13 Cross the gorge on the bridge, go through gate and turn R onto road back into Kirkby Stephen. Turn R before traffic lights (Melbecks), then bear L up and along Stoneshot lane 13 thelakedistrict Cumbria greatcycling