Stainton to Mainsgill: the A66 Corridor over Stainmore: bicycle in United Kingdom
TrailTrack route Bicycle United Kingdom Multi-day
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Stainton to Mainsgill: the A66 Corridor over Stainmore

Distance
156.1 km
Estimated moving time
15 h 43 min
Elevation gain
—
Difficulty
Hard
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Route description

From Stainton near Penrith, the A66 corridor leads through the Eden Valley towards the open heights of Stainmore and onward to Mainsgill. Temple Sowerby offers its most intimate stop: reddish stone houses surround village greens, and the maypole recalls local celebrations. Farther east, the settlements give way to a broad road corridor through the Pennines. The complete option cannot currently be recommended for travel: some sections run against the permitted direction of one-way carriageways, and roadworks affect the Penrith area. Exploring this country by bicycle requires a newly planned permitted itinerary and checked approaches. Temple Sowerby can be a separate destination; a safe continuous cycle route to Mainsgill is not established here.

Route status

Проверяем свежесть данных по треку и учитываем сообщения сообщества

Запретов на посещение и пожаров рядом нет

Проверяем спутниковые данные о пожарах и предупреждения по региону.

Следить за маршрутом
Подробнее о состоянии маршрута No recent trail condition reports
Data source Information prepared

The description, logistics and points of interest were prepared using maps and open sources. Trail conditions may change.

Route data was imported from GPX and has not been field-verified.

Last updated 13.10.2026

Before travelling, check trail access, restrictions and the weather forecast.

Current conditions No recent trail condition reports

Conditions may have changed. Share a report after completing the route.

Community experience

Recent completions

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Elevation profile

gentle climb steep

Surface

Asphalt 63% · Unknown 37%

Surface data covers 97.9 km of 156.1 km; the rest of the track is not yet classified.

Asphalt 63% · 97.9 km
Unknown 37% · 58.2 km

Before you go

Всё важное о маршруте

Route at a glance

Главное за минуту
Discover the Eden Valley through Temple Sowerby’s village architecture and maypole, then plan your own journey towards Stainmore. The A66 name connects places of interest on either side of the Pennines, but a permitted cycling itinerary needs separate preparation. For this option, begin by revising the road sections while retaining time for an unhurried village visit.
Length
156.1 km
Elevation gain
1349 m
Surface
Asphalt 63%
Stainton to Mainsgill: the A66 Corridor over Stainmore: route photo 2 in United Kingdom

Route suitability

Кому будет комфортно
Without a car: Hard With children: No With a dog: No data By bike: No With a stroller: No Mobile signal: No data

Nearby

Countess Pillar lies near the western section, but its normal access is closed for works until 2030. It is not an included stop. Rey Cross near Stainmore likewise requires a separately verified approach and cannot be treated as an accessible stop from the trunk road. This option turns around near Mainsgill, before Scotch Corner; places farther east belong to another outing.

Getting there

Варианты и важные моменты Show on map
Without a car
Penrith North Lakes station can provide a rail arrival. Arrange a separate permitted connection or transfer to Stainton; the station is not the start of this option. Check bicycle carriage with the operator of your chosen train. Do not expect the eastern side to finish at a station or Scotch Corner: its turnaround lies earlier, near Mainsgill.
By car
For the western side, use Stainton near Penrith as the reference point and follow current traffic arrangements. Check A66 restrictions near Penrith beforehand. Vehicle support does not make the complete option valid: it includes pedestrian sections and wrong-way carriageway passages. Choose meeting places separately from traffic lanes and slip roads.
Parking
Parking is unconfirmed. Check where parking is permitted near the chosen start of a separately planned outing. The village green beside the maypole is not a car park; stopping on the A66 verge to visit attractions is not proposed.

Электрички туда и обратно

Расписание на дату и время, до которого нужно выйти на маршрут

What to expect

Places
Temple Sowerby Maypole a local festival landmark on an open green beside the village street. The tradition is recorded from the early nineteenth century, and the current pole was installed for the millennium.

Difficult sections and safety

На что обратить внимание
Elevation gainСуммарный набор высоты — 1349 м.
SurfaceAsphalt 63%, Unknown 37%.
Риски The complete option contains passages against the permitted direction of one-way A66 carriageways. Do not follow them or cross the central reservation to continue. A newly planned permitted cycling connection is required. Other sections include trunk roads without shoulders, pedestrian paths and private driveways. Construction restrictions affect Penrith; a signed pedestrian diversion does not automatically permit cycling. Wind and poor visibility add to road risks in the open Stainmore landscape.

How much time to allow

Оцените свой темп
Расчётное время в пути 15 h 43 min
С запасом на остановки + 30–60 мин
A multi-day plan for the complete journey has not been established. First choose a permitted itinerary and confirm accommodation, food stops and your return. A through-journey schedule cannot responsibly be assigned to the present option. Allow a separate stop for Temple Sowerby, approaching along available village streets.

Best time to go

Сезонность и рекомендации
For a separately prepared cycling trip, choose daylight with no strong wind, fog or ice. Longer days help planning but do not remove access restrictions. No season makes the existing wrong-way sections suitable to follow: the itinerary needs revision first.

What to bring

Базовый список для комфортного похода
For a newly planned permitted cycling trip: a maintained bicycle and helmet
Bright clothing and front and rear lights
Windproof and waterproof layers
Map showing permitted cycling roads
Phone and power bank
Water and food
Pump, spare tube and repair kit
First-aid kit

FAQ

Questions before the trip

Can I do this route without a car?

Penrith North Lakes station can provide a rail arrival. Arrange a separate permitted connection or transfer to Stainton; the station is not the start of this option. Check bicycle carriage with the operator of your chosen train. Do not expect the eastern side to finish at a station or Scotch Corner: its turnaround lies earlier, near Mainsgill

Is this route suitable for children?

Do not treat this as a basic child-friendly route: check difficulty, length, and trail conditions before going.

Can I download GPX and KML?

Yes, GPX and KML are available on the route page. Open the map, download the file, and use it in a navigator before your trip; key route facts: 156.1 km, hard.

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