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Discover one of the UK's best loved landscapes by bike

Explore the scenery that makes the Lake District so truly remarkable from the saddle of a bicycle. This four-day Intrepid Cycling experience offers a comfortable yet active way to discover a part of Britain that has inspired both poets and cyclists alike. Base yourself in the charming market town of Keswick and cycle your way alongside the serene waters of Derwentwater and Buttermere and up the challenging but rewarding Honister and Newlands Passes. You’ll also pass the ancient Stone Circle and bridges, yet still have enough time to enjoy a quiet brew at Keswick Brewery along the way.

Start
Keswick, United Kingdom
Finish
Keswick, United Kingdom
Destination
United Kingdom
Style
Original
Theme
Active Adventures, Cycling, Intrepid Retreats
Code
BMLD
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 4, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Riding gives you the time to appreciate some of the finest scenery in the UK in the Lake District National Park.

  • Ride back 5000 years in time as you take in the sight of the ancient Castlerigg Stone Circle.

  • Challenge yourself on the serpentine slopes of the Honister Pass – there will be more than enough stops to soaks up the scenery.

  • Finish your ride at the Keswick brewery for a refreshing ale or two, a reward right for a full day in the saddle.

Is this trip right for you?

  • To complete this trip it is important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.

  • While the cycling distances on this trip are relatively short the stunning the terrain of the Lake District is at times hilly so you’ll need a good level of fitness to enjoy the trip.

  • On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group.

  • As our riding is done on a mix of sealed roads and gravel cycle paths/tracks a good level of cycling skills is required.

  • There’s the possibility of a few hiccups along the way – a puncture here and there – but there’s no doubt this is an incredibly rewarding adventure.

  • As accommodation on this trip is multi-share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. If you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge. Please ask your travel consultant for more details, and please note that in some hotels a single supplement exclusion applies where single rooms are not available.

Map of Cycle the Lake District including United Kingdom
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BMLD_UK_lake-district_Derwentwater

Itinerary
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Welcome to Keswick, the charming heart of the Lake District. Today is arrival day and there are no activities planned until your welcome meeting at 6 pm, so take your time checking into the guesthouse. Unpack your bags and make yourself comfortable, knowing that you’ll spend the next three nights here, with no need to repack until departure day. If you have time, why not head out exploring. Keswick has a wide range of things to see and do. Saturdays and Thursdays are market day when the town really comes to life, but also consider a visit to the Derwent Pencil Museum (home of the first ever pencil), the Keswick Museum & Art Gallery or the Victorian church of St John. After the welcome meeting you may choose to head out for dinner with the group, a chance to get to know your new travel buddies.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Keswick Museum & Art Gallery - GBP5
  • Derwent Pencil Museum - GBP5
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
There is no included cycling today. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your booking agent or hotel reception know.

After powering up with breakfast this morning, get a bike fitting with the group followed by a short test ride to make sure everything is working properly. Today’s ride is an excellent introduction to cycling in the Lake District, a short but at times hilly ride that takes you west of Keswick to the small town of Braithwaite and up the Whinlatter Pass. It’s a short climb that will get your legs and get your heart going but the ridgeline views are amazing. From here enjoy a mostly downhill cruise to our rest point at the Spout Force waterfall. Then retrace your tyre tracks back up to the ridge to enjoy another downhill ride all the way to the northern shores of Derwentwater, with great views on the way down. Return to Keswick in time to enjoy a well-earned brew at the Keswick Brewery, a locally owned and operated eco-friendly business that takes pride in returning part of its profits to community causes.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Keswick Brewery
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 27 kilometres/16 miles, mostly undulating with two climbs, with approximately 465 metres/1525 feet of elevation gain.

Today features a longer and more challenging ride of approximately 49 kilometres (31 miles). You’ll set off uphill to the nearby plateau, home of the famed yet eerie Neolithic Castlerigg Stone Circle. Continue uphill to soak up glorious views back over Derwentwater, before a fast descent down to the shores of the lake. Enjoy a rare flat section before climbing back up to the ridgeline via the challenging yet rewarding Honister Pass. You’ll definitely need to use your easiest gears, but the views are spectacular, and the freewheeling descent make it all worthwhile. Rest up a while then turn back east, following the undulating scenery to the western side of Derwentwater. From here it’s down to the village of Grange then back into Keswick via the Ashness Bridge to rest up those weary legs, perhaps at Kat’s Kitchen or the famed Mrs F’s Fine Food Emporium – don’t miss out on the cheese scones!
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 49 kilometres/31 miles, mostly undulating with four significant (short but steep) climbs, with approximately 1230 metre/4025 feet of elevation gain.

Today you cycle further east, again passing the haunting Castlerigg Stone Circle, before starting a long but not overly steep climb. Much of the early part of the ride is in the shadow of Skiddaw and the imposing Blencathra hill, and continues through the moors before dropping down to Legburthwaite and glimpses of the Thirlmere Aqueduct, a 95 mile/154 kilometre-long watercourse on the quiet shores of Thirlmere. From here it is a gentle ride all the way back into Keswick where your Lake District adventure comes to an end.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today's riding distance is approximately 37 kilometres/24 miles, mostly undulating with three significant (short but steep) climbs, with approximately 1000 metres/3300 feet of elevation gain. Please note that accommodation is not included tonight so you will need to arrive at breakfast with your main bags already packed. These can be left at the guesthouse. If you require additional accommodation (or want to reserve your room for the main part of the day) please enquire at time of booking.

Meals

3 breakfasts

Transport

Bicycle

Accommodation

Guesthouse (3 nights)

Included activities

  • Keswick Brewery

Dates & availability

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Travel lightly with Intrepid. We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Read more

Important notes

1. A Single Supplement may be available on this trip, please ask your booking agent for more information.
2. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so as we can organise a suitable sized bike.
3. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
4. On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group.
5. As we always start and return to the same accommodation each day this trip does not have a support vehicle.
6. Accommodation is not included on day 4 of this trip and you will need to check out before commencing the final ride. If you require additional accommodation (or want to reserve your room for the main part of the day) please enquire at time of booking.
7. Due to Covid-19 restrictions some of the local attractions may be temporarily closed, running reduced hours, or require booking ahead. Please check their websites for up-to-date opening hours.

Essential trip information

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