Hi all,

I am not new to mountain biking or back packing, but bike packing is a new adventure for me. I have just purchased a 2015 Cube Attention and I have a plan for a nice long ride with some wild camping thrown in.

But before I get carried away I thought I would see if any one had done it. I want to ride the Cumbrian way, well at least from Carlisle to Ambleside, then for practicalities down the other side of Windermere and off to the train station. I will but a return train ticket to Carlisle and pick the return train up at Oxenholme.

Has any one ridden trail, what sort of time should I be looking at? Any suggestions on good places to stay?

If this is not a good route then any suggestions for an alternative would be great. I want to stay off the roads as much as possible and want to see country side!

Cheers all.

Is it possible ?

Looks like an awful lot of it is on footpaths ?

Please let me know...

ericrobo wrote:Looks like an awful lot of it is on footpaths ?

I think you're mistaking the 'Cumbria Way' and the 'Cumbria Way Cycle Route' (map here) Eric, although there's also the 'Cumbria Cycle Way' as well. They don't half like to be original with these terms...

I've got the Cumbria Way Cycle Route (the Ulveston-Carlisle route) route map from way back - early 90s I think it came out - but never ridden it, though almost certainly done sections of it over the years. The guides always seem to reckon a couple of days, so I guess it depends on your fitness and how much you're wanting to push it. I've looked at a similar-but-different National Park end-to-end ride, with a bivvy night at Harrop Tarn near Thirlmere, but there's always a few options around and about.

Yes that's the one. The cycle way.

I was thinking a long weekend, and camping on the way, nothing really planed (I like it that way).

I am relatively fit, however I like to see the sights and mess around.

I was wondering if there were parts I should avoid or defo hit. I want to put the bike through its paces a bit and get my blood pumping. Although I will have a loaded up bike.

I am thinking that perhaps April time should be about the right month.