Road Cycling in Keswick

The C2C route is a 225km route traversing Northern England from Whitehaven or Workington on the West coast to Tynemouth or Sunderland on the east. Keswick makes an ideal first day stop for the majority of people taking four days to complete the ride. A good option is to spend the night prior to the start at YHA Keswick, before heading out to the coast to end the first day back there. Find it on Sustrans: routes 71, 7 and 14.

The End2End route is Britain’s ultimate two wheeled adventure: a cross-section of the British countryside covering at least 1000 miles between its two most distant points, Lands End and John O’Groats. Many riders choose YHA Keswick as a stopover while undertaking this mammoth feat.
  
The Fred Whitton Challenge is arguably the toughest sportive in Britain. The official sportive takes place in May, but it can also be tackled as a year round personal challenge. The route is 180km and takes in the challenging Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknot and Wrynose passes whilst racking up almost 4000m of climbing. Many people choose to cycle the Fred Whitton over two or three days, with YHA Keswick, YHA Wasdale Hall, YHA Eskdale, YHA Coniston Holly How and YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe all ideally situated for overnight stops.
  
Around Skiddaw and Blencathra, this 56km route circumnavigates the two mountains that dominate Keswick’s northern skyline. Leaving the hostel on Station Road, turn right and continue through Keswick across the mini roundabout and take your first right turn after crossing the bridge over the River Greta. Continue on this road until the large roundabout over the A66. Take the second exit and use caution when negotiating the roundabout. Continue along the A591 for approximately 8km before taking the right turn up a narrow lane signposted to Orthwaite. This lane has some short steep dips and climbs as it rises to Udale Moor, but don’t forget to enjoy the splendid views to the back of Skiddaw as you go. At the T junction at the top of Udale Moor turn right and enjoy a majestic bit of tarmac laid out along the open moorland as it slowly drops into Caldbeck village where you can find a couple of pubs to refuel. Continue through Caldbeck along quiet country lanes to the village of Hesketh Newmarket. Once through the village take a right turn signposted to Keswick and follow this road until you come to Mungrisdale, where you take a right turn onto a gated country lane leading to Scales at the foot of Blencathra. From here there is a wide cycling path alongside the A66 all the way to the Village of Threlkeld. Once through the village, cross the A66 and follow signs for Castlerigg Stone Circle. Take time to enjoy this Neolithic monument before descending back to Keswick. 
 
This is a small selection of rides from YHA Keswick, please ask our knowledgeable staff for more ideas for your cycling day out.