Cycle freely in Lake District in festival week

Visitors to northern England travelling by ferry from Dublin to Liverpool next week may want to swap the car for two wheels if they visit the Lake District.

The national park has declared July 22nd to 29th "Drive Less See More Challenge Week", with a range of events to encourage more cycling and walking.

One of these is a festival in the village of Staveley - which can be reached by train - this coming Sunday (July 22nd), including cycling demonstrations, guided walks and even a circus.

Those who fancy some mountain biking may try the wooded area on the west side of Windermere, England's largest lake.

This is easily reached by crossing on the car ferry from Bowness on the east bank to Far Sawrey. Cyclists are normally charged £1 to use the service, but next week this charge will be waived.

And pedal power is a good way to explore the quieter west side of the lake, which is heavily wooded and lacks major roads, enabling riders to enjoy minor roads, tracks and bridleways.

Highlights of this area include the National Trust property of Wray Castle, while those viewing Ordnance Survey (OS) maps may note the words Claife Cryer in this area, this being the only instance of the OS recording the (alleged) presence of a ghost anywhere in the UK.

Those cycling in this area can also enjoy the wooded high ground a little further east and, beyond the village of Hawkshead, the Grizedale Forest has a new mountain bike trail. Whinlatter Forest in the north of the national park also has a couple of mountain bike trails.

Those keen on English literature, meanwhile, may be interested in the fact that William Wordsworth went to school in Hawkshead, while beyond the far end of Esthwaite Water lies Far Sawrey, once home to children's story writer Beatrix Potter.

Posted by Andrew Smith

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