Hand
Cycling Routes - The Rickerby
Circuit
This is a 16 mile circular
route to the east of Carlisle. The
route should be done in the suggested direction due to a very busy
and steep hill at Warwick Bridge. There are various car parks marked on the route map
and the directions given are from the car park at Rickerby Park in
Carlisle (Marked P1). This is beside the River Eden and makes a nice
picnic place, weather permitting.
Leave the car park and head east
towards Rickerby but after 100 yards turn right along a footpath
that passes a Monument. Continue to a kissing gate, which you need
to go through. (My Sopur Spirit handcycle goes through Ok.) Go over
the bridge into a car park, at the end turn right and continue down
the street to the end, turn left and then left again onto Warwick
Road. Continue until the Tesco entrance where you need to turn
right. This is a busy road junction and if possible it is best to get
onto the pavement on the right of the road earlier. Continue to a T
junction, turn left, a bridge takes you over the M6 motorway and
continue to Scotby. Turn right at the T junction and follow the road
through to Cumwhinton. Keep left at the Lowther Arms (or call in for
one) and left at the next T junction. Follow this road to Wetheral;
as you leave the village over a small bridge, turn left to Wetheral
Plains. Follow this road to a T junction and turn right onto the A69
towards Warwick Bridge. This is a very busy road, there is a
footpath on the right, which keeps you out of the traffic, but as
you approach Warwick Bridge, there is a very steep hill and the
footpath stops before the hill, therefore get back on the road as
soon as you reach the Warwick Bridge sign. Don't be tempted onto the
pavement, on the left, I don't think it is wide enough for a
handcycle. Down the hill and over the bridge and take the first left
to Little Corby. Continue on to Newby East, be careful of the narrow
bridge with traffic lights, wait for the lights, it's too narrow for
you and oncoming traffic! There is a nasty little hill up into
Newby East, turn left at the T junction and continue along for two
miles, turn left and pass through the little village and join the
A698. Turn left just before reaching the A689, there is a cycle path
beside the road. At the roundabout turn left to Linstock and
continue along this road to Rickerby and back into Rickerby Park and
back to the car. There is a walkway/cycle path on the right as you
get to Rickerby, but it is best to keep to the road as the gate at
the end is too narrow.
The route is fairly level, with
just a few short hills, the total height gained is approximately
600 feet and the maximum height is less than 226 feet. The route
follows roads or tarmac paths all the way and the surface is good. Visibility is good
most of the way, although a 'cissy flag' is probably advisable,
particularly if travelling alone.
Refreshments
The car park at the start is good to have a picnic on a nice day
and there about ten pubs on the way round. The Lowther Arms in
Cumwhinton serves good food and there are shops on Warwick Road in
Carlisle, Cumwhinton and Wetheral.
