Guide Notes
Panel 1
Silloth to Ravenglass
52 miles - 22 miles off road

From Silloth, to Old Kiln Hadrian's Cycleway follows the B-roads for a few miles before continuing on minor back roads before rejoining the B5300 road again towards Maryport.
Note: there will eventually be an off-road path alongside the B5300 road between Old Kiln and Banks End.

South of Maryport the HCW will follow a temporary route around Flimby - as shown on map until a new route along the foreshore can be developed.
From St. Helens it is all off-road into Workington.

The section to Whitehaven is mainly on railpaths with a few short sections on road.

After Whitehaven - Hadrian's Cycleway joins the C2C route to Moor Row before turning south to Egremont and Sellafield.

An alternative route - all on-road via St. Bees is available, this is hilly involving a steep climb out of Whitehaven but has good coastal scenery.

The route climbs from Whithaven to its highest point on this section at Moor Row at 80m above sea level, and then gradually descends to Sellafield and onto Ravenglass where the route barely rises higher than 20m.

Several sections as indicated on the map are not yet up to National Cycle Network standards and will change as work is completed - if in doubt follow any directions signs.

These notes are to offer advice and highlight any problem areas along the route.
Click the highlighted place names for more information.
Highlighted Towns link to Visit Cumbria website.
West Cumbria Coast - Overview

Mile
Notes / Comments / Warnings
53.0

Leave Silloth via Station Road and Bravo Close to join B5300 (see insert map on panel 2)

52.1 Join B5301
50.7

Continue straight ahead leaving B5301 - take care of traffic both ways.
The next few miles to Oldkiln follow a very twisty route.
Ensure to check for directions signs at every road junction.
48.4 At Mawbray Hayrigg pass - The Gincase - tea rooms, craft barn and gallery.
43.1 Join B5300 road south towards Maryport - take care this road can be busy in summer.
An off-road path alongside this road is being planned.
42.0
39.5
38.5

Bear right with care to join access road to Maryport Golf Club and sea front promenade.

37.6

Maryport (see insert map)
Either continue ahead on the promenade or if visiting Senhouse Museum bear left up steep path to top of cliff - then sharp left turn to museum.
To rejoin main route descend path again.


Senhouse Museum
36.4
Cross River Ellen and pass through marina area then industrial area.
35.1

Follow road then join new path through dunes to Risehow.

Click here for map showing the temporary route from Maryport and around Flimby to St. Helens and start of off-road track to Workington

35.8

Interim Route - The next section through Flimby is unsigned.

Note:- The route indicated on the map that passes under the railway may not be open.

Use main road to Rishow and follow route shown around Flimby to St. Helens

The A596(T) road is very busy with fast heavy goods traffic.
30.7

Workington (see insert map)
HCW joins C2C for a short distance - before crossing over R. Derwent.
 

Railpath between Distington and Lowca
Photo by David Daniel
22.5

Whitehaven (see insert map)
Enter town on busy town road for a short distance before turning into harbour front area.
22.0

Start of Coast to Coast C2C cycle route to Sunderand and Tynemouth.

21.9 Alternate route to Beckermet via St. Bees to Beckermet - as shown on map.
This is all on-road and much more hilly than the inland route but has good coastal scenery.
21.0 Low headroom under rail bridges - beware broken glass !!
17.5 Moor Row - 4-way junction - HCW turns right. C2C straight ahead.
15.4

Egremont. (see insert map)
Use ramp not steps and then use underpass into the town centre.

14.8

Braided route to Beckermet
via Thornhill or Braystone (2 miles longer)

11.4 Alternate unsigned route on road via Calder Bridge - bypassing foreshore track.
9.0

The cycle track switches sides as it passes Sellafield Nuclear Facility - this area can be busy with rush hour traffic. Sellafield Visitors Centre is a short detour from the route.


The Sellafield Nuclear Site dominates the landscape here.
8.2

After crossing R. Calder on accommodation bridge loop down left and back under rail bridge. Steps and stony track. Sandy foreshore track to Seascale you may have to push in places. This path is to be upgraded in the future.

7.0
4.3

Proposed off-road route va Holme Pack Horse Bridge.
When the proposed route (shown by brown dotted line) is upgraded the cycleway will be via Holme Packhorse Bridge - at the present time this route is very muddy especially after wet weather and only suitable for use during dry weather.


Holme Packhorse Bridge
3.7

Interim Route Holmrook - Carleton Hall
Very busy A595(T) road - note the footway is not designated for cycle use.
The A595(T) road can be very busy during the rush hour with Sellafield commuters.

2.7

Turn right and pass under railway to Hall Carleton and Saltcoats

1.0

Rough sandy track along foreshore that can flood at high tides.


Foreshore track at Saltcoates
0.9

Ravenglass
Very narrow accommodation bridge alongside rail viaduct.
You will need to dismount and walk across. Bikes with wide handlebars have have difficulty !!
There is a tidal ford but this is very muddy !!!


Rail Viaduct at Ravenglass
0.0

Finish at Glannaventa Roman Bath House


Glannaventa Bath House - Ravenglass

For Ravenglass Railway Station back track 1/2 mile.

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