NCN 71 - Lakes to the North York Moors
NCN 71 - Lakes to the North York Moors is a 148.5 km road cycling route in Lake District & Cumbria with 1939 m of climbing, about 5% of it off road, and it splits into about 2 days at a moderate pace.
The route runs south-east from Penrith, dropping almost immediately to Eamont Bridge before climbing steadily through Clifton, Hackthorpe and Morland toward the Eden Valley. Past Appleby-in-Westmorland the ground rises through Great Asby toward Waitby and Kirkby Stephen, then commits to a long crossing of the North Pennines that sees you through Langthwaite and Reeth before the gradient relents into Wensleydale. From Bedale south through Northallerton to Kirby Knowle the road is flat and largely undemanding, and the surface is sealed for the great majority of the distance.
Worth knowing before you go
The section between Kirkby Stephen and Reeth is the remotest on the route; resupply between Oxenthwaite and Langthwaite is not available on the line. Appleby-in-Westmorland is the last sizeable settlement before a long open stretch, so it is the place to stock up. Bedale and Northallerton are the main resupply points in the second half.
NCN 71 - Lakes to the North York Moors in numbers
- Distance: 148.5 km
- Climbing: 1939 m
- Off road: 7 km, about 5% of the route
- Riding time: about 8 hours, roughly 2 days at a moderate pace
Water, food, campsites and stations along this route are shown on the interactive map.
Plan it and ride it
The map on this page carries the surface breakdown, the elevation profile and every point of interest. You can split the route into days against your own pace, see what it will cost to ride, and take it with you. Download the GPX.
Read the NCN 71 - Lakes to the North York Moors route guide.
Getting to the start without flying · Browse all routes
Route from Sustrans.
Compiled by Ed Hunton, Cicerone guidebook author, from TourTrax's own route data.