Cycle it to Brampton from Carlisle

11 May 2015 Andy

When Sarah and I booked a Bank Holiday stay at Carlisle Central Travelodge with the idea of of a few days of walking, little did we realise just how much our plans would need to change. We did manage a bit of walking with our afternoon at Silverdale, however with our JOGLE trip just on the horizon we now decided the weekend would take on a cycling theme.

However the weather had other ideas. We awoke to a wet and windy morning, and we quickly realised that our long cycle ride over the Scottish border might not happen. Instead we headed over to the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery.

2015-05-03 10.51.40 — Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery

2015-05-03 10.52.12 — A wet morning in Carlisle

The museum provided a fascinating history in to both the history of Hadrian’s Wall (upon which Carlisle sits), the Antonine Wall, and the Reiver’s.

Thankfully, by mid-afternoon the rain had abated and we decided to get on our bikes and go cycling, and thankfully too I had planned a couple of backup routes – one of which headed out towards Brampton.

We set off out of Carlisle via Rickerby Park.

We followed NCN route 72 which forms part of Hadrian’s Cycleway, a coast-to-coast route we cycled in 2013. This particular part of the route headed towards Brampton and Haltwhistle.

The route took us cycling through the hills on the edge of the Pennines around the villages of Fenton and Hayton.

We crossed the River Gelt.

And then cycled alongside the Brampton bypass for a short while.

Next, we made a quick trip into the market town of Brampton.

On the other side of NCN 72 we cycled past Lanercost Priory.

At this point we left NCN 72 as we turned back towards Walton and Carlisle.

Staying off the main road we reached the village of Laversdale. Unfortunately one of the paths we had hoped to use was flooded. This wouldn’t be too bad, but the puddles were deep as I found out when cycling through one that quickly rose above my ankles!