Keswick
Trail submitted by James Kirby
This route is only a small dismantled railway so is suitable for families but if you up for a ride up Skiddaw can make your route a bit further.
There are only a few inclines, so if you take your kids on there they will not have much to climb. The first incline from Keswick is a long one, which until recently was steep, but now is steady so you can ride up it without much effort. Also recently added was a board walk to bypass a further incline, this goes over and around the larger tunnel, which is inaccessible now but is still in decent condition.
You can park at the old Railway Station (Click here for a map) for free, they are plenty of spaces and it is also right next to the track itself.
The route is so simple you do not need many instructions as there is no where to turn off, this is a good advantage of a railway.
The total distance is 4.5km to the end, which makes 9km there and back again. The end is at the A66 where it starts to climb on a tarmacked cycle path to the main road. If you are up for more there are quiet roads around the area to make nice a loop of around 29km.
Along the way there are may bridges to be looked at and crossed, a few stations, one tunnel and a few sheds that you can stop in if it is raining. Within the sheds the walls have boards on with history about the railway that you might find of interest. There is plenty of shelter from the rain and wind from the many trees located on the sides of the track. Please watch out for walkers, taking a bell is a good idea, they can then hear you coming.
While you are travelling up the track, you will feel the slight incline, it is not much but is there. This makes for a easy run back as it is mostly downhill on the way home! You might also want to watch the river on the way up and down as there are regularly canoeists riding the water.
For more information:
Wikipedia: Keswick and information about the disused railway.
Small Print: No author nor the editor shall bear any responsibility for any mishap, injury, death or other incident or inconvenience suffered whilst riding any of the routes described. Anybody following any such route does so entirely at their own risk. Anybody wishing to ride on footpaths or other non-permitted routes does so entirely by their own risk.