Lakeland loop

Silloth, North Cumbrian Riviera, Solway Firth

Ride round the Lake District enjoying my Ninja Z250SL newly nippy after its annual service and with fresh tyres. Frosty overnight but I made a prompt start to enjoy these challenging roads nicely clear of traffic on Sunday morning. Riding to Silloth on the Solway Firth, then A roads on to Cockermouth, Rowrah, Cleator Moor and Frizzington to Seascale on the west coast. A treat to see the locomotive “River Irt”, built 1894, in steam and ready to haul a passenger train on the Ratty Railway at Ravenglass.
Up the picturesque Esk Valley, then a steep climb to Birker Moor for a fantastic view of the south-western fells. Several more 25% gradients later, Seathwaite and up Dunnerdale and over the Wrynose Pass. Just muddy pickups, quads and Land Rovers until I reached Wrynose Pass, but there the squeaky-clean city SUVs were massing. Time to turn home, through the tourist honey pot of Ambleside, then past Thirlmere to Keswick. Great ride taking in the varied topography of the Lake District.