Cycling

With the highest peaks in England, Lake District National Park is a popular place for mountain bikers to get in some trail time. Road cyclists come here too for the country lanes and challenges of the landscape, but there are also lots of opportunities for less challenging and family-oriented rides. No matter which type of cycling you do, you're in for a treat as the views here are spectacular. Mountain bikers should head to Whinlatter Forest and Grizedale Forest where they'll find several trails challenging a range of experience levels. Whinlatter has the longest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the Lake District and one trail - the Altura - provides single track riding that climbs to elevations of 1,600 feet in the hills above Keswick and the lakes in the northern end of the park. Grizedale Forest has eight trails, with a pair of them rated as Hard trails, offering challenging singletrack rides of up to 20 miles that feature everything from grueling uphills to twisting downhills to jumps and thick forest riding. The National Park has also developed an extensive range of off-road cycling trails across the park that avoid some of the narrower and busier Lake District roads. Road cyclists should feel free to hop on a pedal, so long as they ride with courtesy. Bike rentals of all types, including electric bikes, are available at various places across the National Park.