A train at Ravenglass station. Photo: Stephen Dawson CC-BY-SA-2.0
Cyclists visiting a national park can get steamed up on a newly introduced service.
Lake District national park bosses are urging outdoor enthusiasts to leave their cars behind and hop on a steam railway to start their cycling trip.
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway has fitted out three of its narrow-gauge carriages to accommodate bikes and has also provided new cycle parking at Ravenglass and Dalegarth stations. Cycle parking has also been provided at nearby Muncaster Castle.
Cyclists can also follow the Eskdale Trail, a largely traffic-free route which runs from Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast to Dalegarth near Boot.
The national park authority is running a series of special guided cycle and railway days which it hopes will encourage users on to the railway rather than using their own vehicles.
The trail surface has been improved for novice cyclists and national park officers said they hope going out on a guided bike ride will give people the confidence to use their bikes again or to take up biking on a more regular basis.
“People can use the train and the trail route at their own convenience, but for anyone who’s lacking a little confidence to venture out on their own, or is a little rusty on a bike, coming on one of our accompanied events makes perfect sense,” said Lake District National Park Authority access and recreation developer Dave Robinson.
From Dalegarth cyclists can follow existing bridleways and a permitted cycleway back to Ravenglass – a ride of about 8½ miles (14km). The route of the bridleway follows the River Esk passing through various changes in landscape from the higher fells, through woodland to the coast at Ravenglass. It passes Muncaster Castle and a Roman Bath House en route.
The national park authority said for the guided bike rides, the idea is that people park at Ravenglass, and travel up to Dalegarth on the morning train and then have a leisurely bike ride back down the valley to Ravenglass.
Qualified bike leader Mr Robinson will meet them at Dalegarth, and if contacted in advance he will help sort out the bike hire for those who don’t have their own cycles.
The special guided rides take place on: 28 July; 11 August; 18 August; and 25 August, beginning at 11.30 am from Dalegarth Station at Boot.
Advanced booking is essential, on 0845 272 0004.
