Bowness-on-Solway – Port Carlisle loop from Kirkbride

Bowness-on-Solway – Port Carlisle loop from Kirkbride

Easy

5.0

(2)

riders

Bowness-on-Solway – Port Carlisle loop from Kirkbride

01:01

26.7km

50m

Road cycling

Easy road ride. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 13, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Solway Coast National Landscape

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

6.60 km

Solway Coast National Landscape

Highlight • Cycleway

You might have to fight the wind here.
🌊 The Solway Coast National Landscape is a vast and diverse coastal area in northwest England, stretching along the Solway Firth to the border with Scotland. Covering approximately 115 km², it has been legally protected since 1964 for its outstanding natural beauty. It comprises sandy beaches, salt marshes, peatlands, dunes, and cliffs. It is an important habitat for migratory birds, seals, dolphins, and rare amphibians. It includes parts of the South Solway Mosses National Nature Reserve, one of the largest unspoiled fenlands in the UK.

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Tip by

10.7 km

Solway Coast National Landscape

Highlight • Natural

The Solway Coast AONB was designated as such in 1964 in recognition of the quality of the landscape and significant historical interest. It covers 118 square kilometres and is managed for the diversity and heritage of the area.
It's a great place to ride, fairly quiet and flat roads with great views across the land and out to sea.

Tip by

15.9 km

Hadrian's Wall Start Point (Bowness-on-Solway)

Highlight • Monument

From NCL get a train to Carlisle and then a train to Wigton and have an enjoyable ride to the start point.

Tip by

15.9 km

Solway Junction Railway Viaduct Remains

Highlight • Monument

From the Car Park where the sign kindly tells you how far you've got until you reach Rome, you can spot where a railway bridge straddled the Solway at this point.
The Solway Junction Railway was built by an independent railway company to shorten the route from ironstone mines in Cumberland to ironworks in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.
It opened in 1869, and it involved a viaduct 1 mile 8 chains (1.8 km) long crossing the Solway Firth.
Initially it was a goods line only but passenger services were later introduced after some rebuilding of the structure. However the mineral trade did not live up to expectations and there were moves to close the line.
World War 1 saved it for a while as there were big munitions factories on the Scottish side at Eastriggs. In 1917, King George and Queen Mary travelled over it on their tour of Armaments Factories .
Being susceptible to damage from the tides and ice forming in the Estuary, it was closed down in May 1921. The structure was dismantled by the end of 1933.
You can see the remains of the ironwork on the English side and the Scotish side from here.

Tip by

16.2 km

Bowness House Farm Village Shop & Tea Rooms

Highlight • Rest Area

Café and bistro open everyday 11:30 - 22:00.
It opens at 11:00 on a Wed and closes a bit earlier (20:00) on Mondays.

Tip by

16.3 km

The King's Arms Inn, Bowness-on-Solway

Highlight • Pub

The Kings Arms Inn in Bowness-on-Solway is a historic pub and B&B that has welcomed travelers and locals for over 400 years. Situated at the western end (Maia) of Hadrian's Wall, it's a popular base for walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers exploring the Solway Coast National Landscape.

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16.5 km

Bowness-on-Solway

Highlight • Natural Monument

The village of Bowness-on-Solway marks the western end of Hadrian’s Wall. Situated within the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the village also marks the start/finish of the Hadrian’s Wall Path national trail. The sand dunes, salt marsh, and shingle bed of the coastline at Bowness is home to lots of wildlife. Keep a look-out for birds including: golden and grey plover, bar-tailed and black-tailed godwit, dunlin, redshank, lapwing, knot, and turnstone.

Tip by

17.9 km

Port Carlisle

Highlight • Other

📍 Port Carlisle is a small coastal village on the Solway Firth that was once a bustling port. Originally called Fisher’s Cross, it was given its current name in 1823 when it became the terminus of the Carlisle Canal. This connection made the village an important hub for freight and passengers, with ocean-going vessels using the canal to the heart of Carlisle. The canal was closed in 1853 due to silting, but the quay is still visible. Until 1932, it was converted into a railway line between Port Carlisle and Drumburgh. Old canal bridges to the former station are also still visible. Port Carlisle is on the route of Hadrian’s Cycleway. A notable detail is the Roman altar set into the wall above the door of the last building in the village.

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Tip by

26.7 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

26.8 km

Surfaces

26.8 km

Elevation