Hadrian's Wall & English Lakes Northern England England This particular biking vacation in England is a fabulous circular cycle tour taking in the UK’s most visited region, the English Lake District and one of the UK’s historic landmarks Hadrian’s Wall. As you leave the city of Carlisle, you cycle south into the Cumbrian countryside and into the Lake District. Here, you stay two nights in Keswick, beside Derwent Water one of Cumbria’s great lakes. You can add some extra nights to cycle further, relax or even take in one of the many hiking opportunities in the area. Then, cycle east across the Pennine hills to Newcastle, stopping in Alston the UK’s highest market town. The next two days you shall follow the path of Hadrian’s Wall back to Carlisle. Along the route, you shall pass various former Roman forts constructed along the wall to house the many soldiers keeping guard. Biking Tour Meeting: Airport:   Newcastle Airport Transfer: Trip Brochure (PDF)

Packages and Options

Click here for updated current rates.

 

Transfer and Other Charges:

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Bike handover is usually on the morning of Day 2, at your first accommodation (around 8:30-9:00 am).

Day 1: Arrival
Please, make your own way to your accommodation in Carlisle. Carlisle is on the border with Scotland, near the Hadrian’s Wall and to the north of the Lake District. 
Meals included: none
Overnight in Carlisle

Day 2: Carlisle to Keswick
Today, you leave Carlisle and head south into the Northern sections of the English Lake District. Cycling away from Carlisle alongside the River Caldew and onto open farmlands through lovely country lanes.
Soon, you reach the Caldbeck Fells of the Northern lakes which you circle on the lower slopes before descending into Keswick which situated on one of the great lakes, Derwent Water.
Distance: 48 km / 30 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Keswick

Day 3: Keswick Loop
Now it is time to explore the beautiful English Lake District or you can decide to maybe take a rest day and relax in this beautiful Cumbrian town. Your ride today will take you alongside Derwent Water through Rosthwaite and Borrowdale before climbing over Honister at 300m. You descend down to Buttermere and Cummock Water before climbing over to Keswick.
Distance: 43 km / 27 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Keswick

Day 4: Keswick to Alston 
A long day today as you cycle through the North Pennine Hills along the Sea to Sea cycle route. After Huddlesceugh you climb over the Pennines to Alston passing Hartside. Usually there is a prevailing west wind which will blow you along your journey through the Pennines. Your destination Alston is the UK’s highest market town.
Distance: 72 km / 45 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Alston

Day 5: Alston to Hexham
Today you will cycle back into the west side of Newcastle where you will stay overnight in Hexham. You will cycle through some lovely north Pennine villages before the long descent to Hexham. This area is pretty remote with wonderful landscapes.  
Distance: 57 km / 35 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Hexham

Day 6: Hexham to Haltwhistle
Leaving Hexham, you join the route in Corbridge. In Corbridge you can visit the Roman Fort before continuing. You then continue west along the Hadrian’s cycleway where the terrain now becomes more undulating. There’s a slight detour to visit the Roman fort of Housesteads, then passing the reconstructed Vindolanda fort before arriving at the National Park Visitor Centre, situated next to the most spectacular remains of Hadrian’s Wall.
Distance: 48 km / 30 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Haltwhistle

Day 7: Departure
Some hilly sections today as you descend across the northern end of the Pennines following the course of Hadrian’s Wall past Gisland where you can visit the Birdoswald Roman Fort, then onto the Vale of Eden into Carlisle.
Distance: 46 km / 29 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast

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Sample Itinerary: Road Bike option - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Please, make your own way to your accommodation in Carlisle. Carlisle is on the border with Scotland, near the Hadrian’s Wall and to the north of the Lake District. 
Meals included: none
Overnight in Carlisle

Day 2: Carlisle to Keswick
Today you leave Carlisle and head west along the east section of Hadrian’s Wall and along the coast towards Whitehaven. Just south of Sillouth you start to cycle inland towards the northern Lakes. Through the market town of Cockermouth and over Whinlatter Pass to Keswick.
Distance: 88 km / 55 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Keswick

Day 3: Keswick Loop
Today, you can choose between two loop options: Derwent loop (option 1) or Thirlmere (option 2).
For the first option, your ride will take you alongside Derwent Water through Rosthwaite and Borrowdale before climbing over Honister Pass at 300m. You descend down to Buttermere and Cummock Water before heading north to Cockermouth. Now you follow the River Derwent and cycle above Bassenthwaite Lake and onto Keswick.
If you choose the second option, cycle east out of Keswick before cycling south down John’s Beck to Thirlmere. Cycling around Thirlmere you shall continue south via Grasmere, Elterwater and Skelwith Bridge to Ambleside. Here you can take a well-deserved break before the final push over Kirkstone Pass before dropping down to Ullswater and back to Keswick.
Distance: 62 km / 39 miles (Option 1) // 78 km / 49 miles (Option 2)
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Keswick

Day 4: Keswick to Alston 
You cycle through the North Pennine Hills along the Sea to Sea cycle route. After Huddlesceugh you climb over the Pennines to Alston passing Hartside. Usually there is a prevailing west wind which will blow you along your journey through the Pennines. Your destination Alston is the UK’s highest market town.
Distance: 72 km / 45 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Alston

Day 5: Alston to Hexham
Today you will cycle back into the west side of Newcastle where you will stay overnight in Hexham. You will cycle through some lovely north Pennine villages before the long descent to Hexham. This area is pretty remote with wonderful landscapes.  
Distance: 89 km / 56 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Hexham

Day 6: Hexham to Haltwhistle
Today you cycle in a north direction towards the Kielder forest. Cycling along quiet country lanes you make your way to Bellingham. This is an ideal place for a lunch break. This area is well known in the 13th to 17th century as the Border Reivers. Now you cycle south down-stream along the North Tyne river towards Hadrian’s Wall. Now we shall head east along the Hadrian’s wall cycle way towards the town of Haltwhistle. Along the way you can stop and explore the Vindolanda Roman Fort.
Distance: 98 km / 61 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Haltwhistle

Day 7: Haltwhistle to Carlisle
Leaving Haltwhistle, you cycle to the Scottish border and into Scotland by the town of Newcastleton. Now, climb out of Newcastleton on a remote road eastwards to Langholm. Langholm was the birth place of one of Scotland’s best known modern day poets, Hugh McDiarmid. Leaving Langholm you cycle towards Gretna Green, its Blacksmith shop is famous for runaway weddings of the English and has been holding weddings since 1754. Young English lovers used to come over the border as the minimum age for marriage was lower in Scotland compared to England and Wales. Then, you cycle back to Carlisle
Distance: 110 km / 69 miles 
Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8: Departure
Make your own arrangements.
Meals included: Breakfast

                                               Newcastle area

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature (°F)	45	46	49	53	58	63	67	67	62	55	49	45
Average Low Temperature (°F)	37	37	39	41	46	51	55	55	51	45	41	37
Average High Temperature (°C)	7	8	10	12	15	17	19	19	17	13	10	7
Average Low Temperature (°C)	3	3	4	5	8	11	13	13	10	7	5	3
Average Precipitation (days of rain)	12	9	10	8	9	9	9	9	8	11	11	11

Source: NOAA


Seasons
Northern England's weather is in general a little cooler than the south of England but the risk of sunburn is just as real. Average annual rainfall is reported by the Met Office to be in excess of 2,000 millimetres (80 in), but this varies hugely by location.
March to June tend to be the driest months, with October to January the wettest, but at low levels there is relatively little difference between months.
Although sheltered valleys only experience gales about 5 days of the year, the coastal areas are generally very windy having 20 days of gales per year, and the fell tops considerably more with gales on around 100 days of the year.

Your luggage is transported for you every day. Luggage is limited to one bag per person and with a weight limit of 20kg.

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Accommodations
This is a progressive tour so you will sleep in different accommodations along the trail.

Description
You will stay in 3/4 star hotels, guests houses, country inns and bed and breakfast. Occasionally we have to book a nearby village in peak times which would mean a shorter day and a long days walk the next day.
Our handpicked accommodations are chosen for their accessibility to the route and warmth of welcome. We try and find accommodation which is interesting, and we are sure all our providers of accommodation will show an active interest in your tour progress.

We try and provide en-suite rooms where possible but on occasions, this may not be possible on some tours. If you insist on an en-suite room then please provide this request during the booking process.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Carlisle
Night 2 & 3: Keswick
Night 4: Alston
Night 5: Hexham
Night 6: Haltwhistle

Accommodation Itinerary for Road Bike option - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Carlisle
Night 2 & 3: Keswick
Night 4: Alston
Night 5: Hexham
Night 6: Haltwhistle
Night 7: Carlisle

Room Occupancy
All our prices are based on two persons sharing a twin/double room. However, single persons are most welcome but incur a supplement.


Meals
Your package includes all breakfasts. Lunches and dinners are not included and should be paid locally.

We try and provide en-suite rooms where possible but on occasions, this may not be possible on some tours. If you insist on an en-suite room then please provide this request during the booking process.


Special diets

Tack:
Horses:
Pace:
Level:		(3 out of 5)    Moderate
Riders:		Min 2

Insurance
It is essential that you have adequate travel insurance that you have purchased to cover cancellations, accidents, and repatriation etc. You will need to provide details (insurer, policy number and medical emergency telephone number) of the insurance you have purchased.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you have purchased covers you for your particular activity. We will not accept liability for any costs, losses or expenses which you incur as a result in not getting the correct level of cover.

Bike
Different kinds of bikes are available on this tour (e-bike, road bike...).
Bikes come with a small bag, map carrier (1 per 2 bikes), inner tube, lock, tools, bottle carrier.
We must be notified in advance if guests wish to fix own pedals or saddles to our bikes.

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:

1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.

Passport Note

(a) A passport is not required for travel between Great Britain and Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. (b) Passengers transiting the UK destined for the Republic of Ireland are advised to hold return tickets to avoid delay and interrogation.



Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to six months.

Visa Note

(a) Nationals not requiring visas are advised to be in possession of either a return ticket or, if arriving on a one-way ticket, proof of sufficient funds to accommodate and support themselves for the duration of stay. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements