Cockermouth Coast Road and Open Plain Loop

A different side of the county: harbour towns, a long straight coast road with the sea and Scotland across the water, and an open inland plain with the high fells lining the southern skyline. It is a flowing, relaxed loop of two-lane A and B roads, with no climbing and no tight corners.

The wind is the real obstacle, as the coast road has a clear run at you for most of its length, so dress for it. Fuel is thin once you leave the start, so begin with a full tank. It is at its best on a clear day in late spring or summer, when the views across the water are sharp.