Today was less about distance than contrasts. The variation in places and landscapes was amazing; the valley floors allowed you to anticipate eagerly the ascents ahead whilst the downs were over all too quickly.
Looks like quite a few groups are using the bank holiday to start the C2C in Whitehaven. whilst the East coast is their destination, we head south east. Leaving Whitehaven gives you a sense of the industrial legacy of the not too distant past. As you head inland you look back on communities hanging onto the coast fringes. Then the sheer scale of Sellafield (with both decommissioning going on and new development) gives another view.
The western edges of the lakes opens up new vistas. People are rarer, hills steeper. Note, the Lakes and Dales Loop looks a great 196mile tour of this area. Birker Fell then Dunnerdale Fell test the legs on the up and the nerves on the way down. Blissfully quiet roads.
We’re stopping at a friends’ at Cartmel, though they are on holiday. The races are on, as is Simply Red concert. Luckily neither of these divert us from the ascents to get to our stopping point and the tasting of a Cartmel pudding, followed by a good natter with friends of our Bill and Neil.
GLDBT North Sea Cycling and other routes 