Edin – Preston – Edin (May 2011). Routesheet – please give generously.

[Bairn Again]

I’ve now received 4 entries for next years Edinburgh – Preston – Edinburgh, and it’s prompted me to think about a routesheet. 

As I plan to ride the calendar event too, I’ll be assembling the routesheet  without having ridden the event between now and the calendar event.  That’s not my normal practice but it’s a relatively simple route for the distance. 

I’ve cribbed the Edinburgh – Abington - Longtown section from Only For Softies but does anybody have a copy of a routesheet that encompasses any of the rest? 

I’m really looking for accurate directions for the quiet (non A6) bit through Carlisle to Penrith and then through Kendal via Endsmoor and the A65.  I used to have a hard copy of the directions through Carlisle (from the North West 600 IIRC) but can’t find it now.

When I rode EPE as a perm a few years back I ended up taking the seemingly obvious route south out of Kendal onto a rather scary dual carriageway.  Thankfully there was a turn off after less than a mile.     

I’ve also approached Lynda at the Carlisle Truckstop to establish if she’s prepared to open the Truckstop café especially for us.     

PM me if you can help.

ta

Graeme

[salar55]

Ask Tom Hanley.  He went on back roads at Carlise

[eck]

Ask Tom Hanley.  He went on back roads at Carlise

Good thinking that is, salar 55.

I've dug out Tom's routesheet for his Guid Nychburris (sp?)(pron??) 500k that went south from Carlisle. Including such morale-boosting hints as " Funeral Directors on corner" it does indeed trace a route from downtown Carlisle to Southwaite services, through Penrith and over Shap to West Burton services.
FWIW, I also have Andy Corless' routesheet for his Preston - Embra - Preston 600 perm. Fairly cryptic, but it might be of some use.
G, I'll post them to you if you think they might help?

[Exit Stage Left]

The A65 is not a nice road, it's a bit too narrow for its role, it takes a lot of milk tankers and feed lorries and it's a bit winding.
The only problem I've ever had on the A591 dual carriageway was at about 11pm Southbound when a group of us got egged, the gormless youth hang around the middle of Kendal and they can twig that there are targets when a lot of riders go through late at night. There is a quiet lanes route through Natland south of Kendal, shadowing the railway down to Beetham. That route would be more difficult to follow and the main road route has the virtue of being very fast.

[Bairn Again]

Ask Tom Hanley.  He went on back roads at Carlise

Good thinking that is, salar 55.

G, I'll post them to you if you think they might help?

aye go on eck that would be appreciated

[Hedgebanger]

Did both T H's 300 and Charlie Scott's 600 E P E in 2007. Probably got sheets for both events filed very carefully away. Hopefully I can remember where and I'll post you copies. One problem in 2007 was the Carnforth truck stop, we could only use it as a control on outbound leg, it closed at approx 10pm so we used Burton services on the way back.( Needed Mcnasty to guide me in!)
Other problem might be in Carlisle as part of the centre is closed on fri/ sat pm after 9 to allow the chavs to get pissed without getting run down.
Let me know if you need any other info as I hope to do this ride my self
Ian D.

[Bairn Again]

Thanks Ian. 

Was planning to contact Carnforth truck stop as i enjoyed B&B there when I did the perm version of E-P-E.  Bank Holiday weekend may impact.

Thanks for the heads up on Carlisle.  Sounds like another good reason to hole up at Carnforth or Burton Services til dawn rather than riding through.   

[innesh]

Tom's 'quiet' route out of Carlisle is recommended and the bit down beside Southwaite is much preferable to the A6 on the other side of the valley.

And I would disagree with ESL's dislike of the A65 - I dislike the dual carriageway bit south of Kendal; it was too scary when I last rode it and I found the slip roads/signage confusing coming north, but I was extremely tired.   I liked the Endmoor/A65 alternative but I'm guessing Mr ESL has much more frequent use of these roads than I.  

For finding Burton Services, I'm sure the wee lane is signed "Cinder Barrow Picnic Sign" (a brown tourist sign), then left near the top and over a cattle grid toward the heavenly lights of the services.  One remembers these things when it's an inky black night and one is exceedingly tired and narked off.    

[Hedgebanger]

Cannot remember which roads we used south of kendal in 2007 but it wasn't the dual c/way and all the roads seemed ok,this was late pm/early evening so watch out for the students out on the town in Lancaster!
The back road as used by TH and C S is the one that acts as a service road for Southwaite services  supposed to be non official vehicular access, but bikes are ok.

[seasider]

Plus one for the A65 out of Kendal,once out of the one way system use the lanes mentioned earlier to Natland and Sedgwick and onward to Milnthorpe where in the Square is a good cafe cum sandwich shop. A6 to Lancaster (side streets to avoid the Town centre )and then either the cycle track to Glasson Dock or the lanes to Cockerham and then across the Fylde to Preston.You can get to the middle of Preston on quiet lanes heading through Catforth/Cottam/Lea and down to the Docks etc.

[Exit Stage Left]

I was through Carlisle at about 3am on a Saturday morning in September, I just threaded my way through the revellers, and said hello to the Police on duty, there are fast food joints open at that time. I don't know if the same is true of Sunday morning.
The Carnforth Truck Stop closes from 23.00 on Saturday to 07.00 on Sunday. Truckhaven Truck Stop Lorry Park Transport Cafe Coaches Welcome M6 Carnforth, Morecambe
The Carlisle Truck Stop closes at midnight Saturday and reopens at 6am, I think, but it's ambiguous.

Crossing the Lune heading North there is a hairy three lane road that you have to be in the right hand lane of.Google Maps
The safe alternative is the Millennium Bridge,
Google Maps
Then down Lune Street and follow the cycletrack against the flow of the one way traffic. There's a 24 hour petrol station convenience store just North of there that does coffee and hot snacks.

[salar55]

On Charlies audax we had a police escort through Kendal just as the clubbers were spilling onto the streets.

[Hedgebanger]

Found EPE 2007 route sheet , its a bit vague in places ie ; Follow A7 south to Carlisle , stay on A7 becomes A6 ! Anyway no problem can sort that out.
We stayed on the A6 virtually all the way south of Lancaster no probs. Slept at Burton services on way back.
Still looking for TH's 300 sheet. Tom had very specific instructions for Kendal which worked a treat on both events.

[billplumtree]

There is a quiet lanes route through Natland south of Kendal, shadowing the railway down to Beetham. That route would be more difficult to follow and the main road route has the virtue of being very fast.

Nah, the lanes route isn't so difficult to follow, if you know where it goes     And it is a lot more pleasant.  Graeme, I'm happy to provide instructions for this bit, the route into Burton services, and owt else around this way if it helps.

And another vote from me for Tom's route through Carlisle.

- Bill, in Beetham -

[Bairn Again]

There is a quiet lanes route through Natland south of Kendal, shadowing the railway down to Beetham. That route would be more difficult to follow and the main road route has the virtue of being very fast.

Graeme, I'm happy to provide instructions for this bit, the route into Burton services, and owt else around this way if it helps.
- Bill, in Beetham -

Yes please.  My contact details are as per auk calendar for this event (I'd prefer word/excel electronic to  hard copy for obvious reasons but beggars cant be choosers i know). 

I will seek to craft the submissions into a routesheet of real beauty. 

It appears that I have finally mastered the art of delegation.....

[Grandad]

It appears that I have finally mastered the art of delegation

When my manager delegated work to me I don't remember hearing the words "please give generously"!

[valkyrie]

For getting through Carlisle my usual approach is to follow Cyclops. Always works well. The one time I arrived in Carlisle on my own I got lost trying to find the Truck Stop

[Bairn Again]

For getting through Carlisle my usual approach is to follow Cyclops. Always works well. The one time I arrived in Carlisle on my own I got lost trying to find the Truck Stop

164.2km : 3rd Exit (SO) @ RAB, A7 Carlisle [CARE - BUSY ROAD]

164.6 km : Follow Cyclops.    

165.5 km : Order cholestrol timebomb on a plate from truckstop cafe.   

[MercuryKev]

For getting through Carlisle my usual approach is to follow Cyclops. Always works well. The one time I arrived in Carlisle on my own I got lost trying to find the Truck Stop

164.2km : 3rd Exit (SO) @ RAB, A7 Carlisle [CARE - BUSY ROAD]

164.6 km : Follow Cyclops.    

165.5 km : Order cholestrol timebomb on a plate from truckstop cafe.   

I don't follow Cyclops through Carlisle but I do follow the route which he gave me to follow through Carlisle

[Hedgebanger]

No need to follow anyone. I have just given generously and sent by Her majesty's 2nd class postal service to your man, the definative route through Carlisle.

[Bairn Again]

thanks hedge,

local knowledge very much appreciated.

[noggy]

I'm planning to use Embra Pr4ston as part of longer Aberdeen- manchester charidee ride

Any chance  I could get any route maps you been given

ta muchly

[Bairn Again]

I'm planning to use Embra Pr4ston as part of longer Aberdeen- manchester charidee ride

Any chance  I could get any route maps you been given

ta muchly

Work in progress, but probably not a zillion miles off the final route for next year.

Bicycle Path - Edin - Preston at Bikely.com

NB.  The audax event has to take a small extra distance diversion as Edin - Preston at its shortest is under 300k, hence the route via Abington.  You'll be starting (as it were) from the Forth Bridge and not Edinburgh of course so it might be 6 and half a dozen whether to (i) go Kirkliston > Newbridge > Kirknewton to join the above route or (ii) to cross Edinburgh and head south Auchendinny > Leadburn > Broughton > Moffat before hooking up with the audax route.  This is certainly the shortest way with an Edinburgh start.

[valkyrie]

I'm shocked - it ain't the Cyclops route through Carlisle! Actually your version looks a wee bit better.

[Bairn Again]

Draft routesheet is now attached to the calendar page in the auk website. 

Thanks to everybody for their help. 
 
G.