UK Day 7: 50 Miles

Kendall, England to Carlisle, England

If there was a single day of riding I had been looking forward to most, today was it. I knew I’d get some amazing scenery riding through the Lake District National Park.

I started the day with a quick train ride from Kendal to Windermere. It was only 15 minutes by train, but it saved me more than an hour of riding on a high-traffic road. Windermere seemed to be a gateway for tourists entering the national park, with bus tours, rental bikes, and a large visitor center right next to the station. I picked up a sandwich at the visitor center for lunch before setting off on my ride.

The first 25 miles took me from Windermere to Keswick, with the route following various lakes for much of the way. There were a couple of larger climbs, but nothing too steep or difficult. Riding along the lakes themselves was mostly flat, with incredible scenery throughout.

In Keswick, I turned east onto a nice cycleway that followed a river before heading north toward Carlisle. Even after leaving the national park area, the scenery remained beautiful. This was definitely my favorite day of riding so far. The elevation changes were challenging at times, but the views the entire way kept me motivated.

I arrived in Carlisle around 3:30 and found a spot for some fish and chips, followed by West Walls Brewing Co. for a few beers. I’ve covered a lot of miles over the last several days, so I’m looking forward to a planned rest day as I take the train from Carlisle to Glasgow in the morning.