Day Ten: Ambleside to Gretna

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This should be a great day (unless you get p*ss wet through as we did).

Dunmail Raise is the major climb and it can be a busy road, but it is manageable and for most it will be preferable to taking on 'The Struggle', which is the alternative route out of Ambleside.

Once over Dunmail Raise and at the head of Thirlmere there are two routes around the reservoir - the main road or the West road. 

The mapped road is the West road, it's much much quieter, but a little further. In the event we took the main road principally because the West road was closed (and we had no way of knowing if it was passable by bike). This meant a long, fast, descent.

Once through the hills of the Lakes one reaches the A66 at the village of Threlkeld. The village is easily bypassed, but there's a modern community cafe that's good for coffee and cake.

The route now winds around the busy A66 along NCN 71 and then embarks on a flat run to Carlisle via intriguing Greystoke Castle and another good cafe, which has been set up to cater for cyclists. 

Once through Carlisle the route runs close to the M6 up to Gretna.

Congratulations - you've cycled the length of England.