England’s Lake District E-Bike Tour

Day 1: Arrive at Lake Bassenthwaite
Day 2: Bassenthwaite - Cockermouth - Bassenthwaite, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Bassenthwaite - Ullswater, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 4: Ullswater, 5 mi. (8 km)
Day 5: Ullswater - Ambleside, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 6: Ambleside - Coniston - Ambleside, 24 mi. (38 km)
Day 7: Ambleside - Bowness on Windermere, 17 mi. (27 km)
Day 8: Bowness - Lakeside - Bowness, 8 or 18 mi. (13 or 29 km)
Day 9: Departure from Bowness

All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Arrive at Lake Bassenthwaite
Individual arrival at Lake Bassenthwaite and check into your hotel for the next two nights. Your accommodation is located close to this stunning lake, the most northerly in the Lake District area. 

Sample accommodations:
Luxury: Armathwaite Hall

Day 2: Bassenthwaite - Cockermouth - Bassenthwaite, 22 mi. (35 km)
Your local host will meet with you in the morning after breakfast with your cycling equipment and brief you on what you can expect. The tour begins with a glimpse of the quiet and beautiful northern fells and villages of the Lake District, giving great views of the 4-mile length of Lake Bassenthwaite. This area was inspirational for Wordsworth who lived as a child in Cockermouth. Visit his home there and explore this wonderful Georgian town, which is also home to Jennings Brewery and iconic Ironmongers! The 1450 feet of climbing today then takes you across the River Derwent, past forests, and around Binsey Fell before dropping down to rural Bassenthwaite village and on to your hotel.

Sample accommodations:
Luxury: Armathwaite Hall

Day 3: Bassenthwaite - Ullswater, 24 mi. (38 km)
Skiddaw is one of the largest fells in the Lake District at over 3,000 feet high and your ride today takes you around its base and those of High Pike and Saddleback with some fascinating stops en route. There are huge vistas with towering mountains and rugged moors but also a handful of cozy villages sheltering old mills, co-operative pubs, and unique local shops. With 2,000 feet of ascent, highlighted with gurgling streams, tiny gated roads, and stone walls will lead you to a village inn where you will meet your transfer to Glenridding on the shore of Ullswater Lake for your next two nights.

Sample accommodations:
Luxury: Inn on the Lake

Day 4: Ullswater, 5 mi. (8 km)
At 9 miles long, you have the opportunity to explore marvelous Ullswater Lake by steamer with a saddle-free day. Hop on the boat, close by your hotel, and alight at the village of Pooley Bridge at the far end of the lake. From here we suggest taking a walk above the lake to an unspoiled village featuring pottery,  a lovely garden that is listed with the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest with a potting shed tea room. Walking along the river bank, you can explore the abandoned and intriguing castle of Lowther which also has a well-maintained garden. Return transfer to Pooley Bridge for the return steamer ride to Glenridding.

Sample accommodations:
Luxury: Inn on the Lake

Day 5: Ullswater - Ambleside, 19 mi. (30 km)
After a short transfer back to your bike, your ride south through the heart of the Lake District involves 1200 feet of ascent and is nothing other than stunning. With fells and pikes to your left and right, the valley road leads you to the water's edge of Thirlmere. After riding its tranquil length, with views of Helvellyn over the water, you cross the pass of Dunmail Raise and freewheel through sheep-clad slopes into Grasmere, one of the Lake District's most popular villages, where Wordsworth based himself. Beyond lies idyllic traffic-free cycling along the shores of Grasmere and the wooded slopes of Rydal Water, with a gentle pedal into the vibrant town of Ambleside, where you will spend the next two nights.

Sample accommodations:
Luxury: Rothay Manor

Day 6: Ambleside - Coniston - Ambleside, 24 mi. (38 km)
Here's the most challenging day but perhaps the most rewarding. See a different landscape, full of variety, cycle paths, and short, steep slopes with 2,600 feet of ascent. Pedal along the twisting Brathay valley dotted with unexpected foodie delights and picturesque hamlets of stone cottages. Avoid the ford as you cross the river at Little Langdale into mounds of quarried granite leading to an isolated, idyllic farm. Follow the pretty valley and wooded slopes beyond to arrive in Coniston. This small village sits on huge Coniston Water which you can cross by boat (ticket not included) to explore the fine house and garden where Ruskin lived and to admire the world water speed records set by Campbell in his boat Bluebird. Your return to Ambleside will not match his pace and follows the outward route!

Sample accommodations:
Luxury: Rothay Manor

Day 7: Ambleside - Bowness on Windermere, 17 mi. (27 km)
Discover Beatrix Potter's Lake District today as you head for Lake Windermere, riding traffic-free through acres of woods and along the shores of the lake - the largest in England, perhaps taking in Wray Castle. There's a total of 1400 feet of ascent today with a steep hill to climb to visit Hill Top, once owned by the author and full of her favorite things with vistas across the farmland and countryside she loved and bought to preserve. Here is her heart and soul and Hawkshead village a few miles beyond, quaint but crowded, houses further works of her art. Ride around Esthwaite Water to find her Pigling Bland corner before freewheeling down to the ferry and crossing Windermere. Your stay for the last two nights is in Bowness where numerous ferries allow you options to explore.

Sample accommodations:
Luxury: Old England Hotel

Day 8: Bowness - Lakeside - Bowness, 8 or 18 mi. (13 or 29 km)
The final day of cycling takes you to the southern edge of the Lakes area, to tidal Grenodd sands through the softer landscape around Lake Windermere, the most southerly lake. With a foot ferry to start the day and 1700 feet of ascent, you pedal through glorious beech woods with a bobbin mill or a private garden to entice you off the backroads. Villages are sparse but there are some lovely inns before you cycle your last mile to Haverthwaite where you take the steam train and a short puffing ride to Lakeside village. Here you board a boat for the tour finale, a tranquil cruise on majestic Lake Windermere. Lie back and pat yourself on the back as you've just cycled the full length of these electric lakes!

Sample accommodations:
Luxury: Old England Hotel

Day 9: Departure from Bowness

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Two levels of accommodations are offered for this tour, classic accommodations and luxury accommodations.
In the daily itinerary, you will find the preferred hotels for this tour. Luxury level accommodations include AA/RAC awarded 4 and 5 star (the occasional 3 star) hotels, manor houses, old inns, and boutique hotels chosen for their quality, character and location. For classic accommodations, carefully chosen small hotels and inns and a few private homes picked for their quality, character, and location are used.
Classic: Two inns, a Victorian guest house and a small, lakeside hotel.
Luxury: Four country house hotels, all 4 star or above.