Cycle routes

This page lists some of our favourite cycle routes that can be ridden directly from the cottages, and is intended to show the variety of riding available in the immediate area. For more information, please see the cycling page.

Route to Whinlatter Forest Park

To get to Whinlatter Forest Park, you can either follow the signed C2C route via Lorton, or take the quiet, gated road across Swinside as shown in the route below. This is only six and half miles, but is mostly up hill on the way there. This route brings you out on Whinlatter Pass, which can get a little busy. You can either follow this road all the way to the trail centre, or turn right onto a forest road (the signed C2C route) as shown on the route below. This avoids the last mile on the pass road, in exchange for a bit of extra climbing.

View Route: Foulsyke to Whinlatter (6.5 miles)

Loweswater and Mosser (off road)

For a quick but fun ride from the door, there are some good options involving the bridleways on the far side of Loweswater. The lower lakeside path is completely flat from the car park at Maggie’s Bridge to the far end of the lake, and so would is a good choice for a short family ride.

The higher terrace bridleway above Holme Wood offers some great views of Loweswater in return for some tough climbing.

For a longer option, you can add in a loop around the back of Low Fell via the Mosser Fell Road.

View Routes: Loweswater Lakeside (3.5 miles, flat), Loweswater Terrace Loop (6.5 miles), Loweswater and Mosser Loop (13.5 miles)

Whinlatter, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter (road)

Keen road cyclists will probably be familiar with the book of the UK’s 100 greatest cycling climbs. Six of them are in the Lake District, and three of them – Whinlatter, Honister and Newlands – can be found within ten miles of Foulsyke. The route below takes in all three, with Whinlatter twice for good measure. Whinlatter is long and steady in both directions, making for a nice descent on the other side. Honister and Newlands are both rather more brutal. The book rates Honister from Buttermere side as 9/10 for difficulty, and I reckon it’s actually tougher from the Seatoller side!

View Route: Whinlatter – Honister – Newlands – Whinlatter (37 miles)