Longlands to Whitehaven
Directions
There are some steep bits as you emerge from Longlands, but once you get to Bewaldeth it is fairly easy riding into Cockermouth, a delightful stop-off for those who fancy a leisurely finish.
Once you have passed Hewthwaite Hall (on your right) it is plain sailing into Cockermouth, where you arrive perilously close to the Jennings brewery.
Those who can avoid such temptations might wish to push on to Workington or Whitehaven, the official finishing point. However, I find Cockermouth quite irresistible - fine ales, great fish and chips and one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Britain (the Quince & Medlar).
One could quite easily undo all the benefits of several days hard cycling amongst such temptations.
This is one of the most attractive towns in the northwest and is just outside the boundary of the Lake District National Park. Perhaps for this reason it is not inundated with tourists. It developed at the confluence of two great salmon rivers - the Cocker, which flows out of lakes Buttermere, Crummock and Loweswater; and the Derwent, which runs through lakes Derwent and Bassenthwaite to Workington.
It has long fascinated writers, poets and artists and is the birthplace of William and Dorothy Wordsworth - one of the finest buildings here is Wordsworth House, the Lakeland poet's family home, which is now in the care of the National Trust.