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Staying nr Penrith next week. Might take a gravel bike for a change. Strava has come up with this route headed east. Anyone with local knowledge like to comment please? Looking to minimise time on potentially busy or fast roads, maximise time on Gravel or BWs's, while keeping it easily achievable for a day's riding.
Make sure you pop to Kennedys chocolate shop/cafe in Orton for a well deserved takeaway coffee and cake/chocolate treat
Nice tip - I will 😀
That's quite a big day out. You may need that cake.
That is a lot of road IMO. That is from memory having grown up in Eden Valley 30 years ago though.
I'd say most of it looks good. Cow Green to dufton via high Cup nick is brilliant.
However i think someone asked about the bridleway from Brough to baldershead on here a few weeks ago and I think the response was don't bother. I was looking at that to ride on my fat bike and from the Google earth images the track doesn't seem very clear on the ground in some places.
If you had more time, I'd go to kirby Stephen, tan hill, then pick up the gravel Road to Bowes and then down into Barnard Castle, then old railway line back up valley to Middleton in teesdale
Thanks I’ll have a play with the route to incorporate suggestions - I appreciate its mainly a road ride with a few off road sections.
I think he's going clockwise isn't he?
Yes set up clockwise currently
Didn't actually notice which way round it was. Personally I'd go anti-clockwise. As I think that's the better way when doing high Cup nick.
thanks, will swap it around.
Did you pop into Kennedy's?
Just seen this - stopped in Orton Scar Cafe for coffe and cake.The route was good.
Stopped in Middleton in Teesdale for fish and chips
Cow Green to dufton via high Cup nick is brilliant.
I had not been to High Cup Nick before and it was stunning. The BW over from Cow Green is gravel for a while then suddenly becomes a rocky path - pushed this section and part of the ridge next to High Cup Nick before getting back on the bike down to Dufton. Will dig out photos.
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BW looking over to Pennines
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Crossing the Eden
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Fish&chip lunch in Middleton in Teesdale
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Cow Green - just before a thunderstorm hit
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High Cup Nick
That looks a great route. I think you were right to swap the direction. Yes, a fair bit of road but they are quite 'grippy' around those parts and looks like the right bike for the job. Looks like it stayed dry too.
Fantastic day out @slowpuncheur, quite close to you too. It absolutely poured down for an hour as I passed Cow Green with winds that were close to blowing me off the bike. Was very pleased when it cleared up. The swap to anticlockwise was well advised, otherwise I would have missed the BW descent to Dufton.
Fabulous route, the road from Middleton to Brough is one of my favourites in England. You'll have ridden past my old house just up the dale from Middleton.
Love that last picture.
the road from Middleton to Brough is one of my favourites in England
Mine too @martinhutch. I've rode it a few times when I've been back to my parents' house in the North East. The weather makes all the difference up there. Not many pubs or cafes to hide in, if the weather turns!
Wow! Great route that. I wish I was fit enough to do it
That route looks fantastic @djflexure - any chance of a link to a .gpx please?
Just realised this is old, so irrelevant...was just going to point out the original route goes up/down the base of High Cup Nick which is a minor walking path and a boulder field at the top...either flank is better. Huge ride that...impressive.
@stretch just DM me with your email and I'll dig out a GPX
@endoverend very true re walking path & boulder field - the north flank was much better.