Kirkbride to Bowness Loop

A flat circular route following the shore line of the Solway Firth and Solway Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Comprising of mainly quiet country lanes with very little traffic, this route follows national cycle route 72 for the majority of the ride.

There is plenty of history and sights of interest along this route starting in Kirkbride where the route begins.  Kirkbride has an ancient history dating back to the Roman Fort built around 122AD. It is thought that the Kirkbride Fort pre dates Hadrian s Wall and was built as part of the Stanegate, a stone road built by the Romans linking Carlisle and Corbridge.

The route heads out onto the Solway Coast past Anthorn and the Anthorn Radio Station.  The Radio Station was built as an airfield in 1943, but was closed as an airbase in 1953.  It now consists of 3 radio transmitters and its main purpose is for time keeping, submarine transmissions and marine navigation.

The route then continues on through the RSPB reserve at Campfield Marsh where you may be lucky to see Barnacle Geese, Lapwing, Pink Footed Geese, Redshank or a Snipe.

From here the route then heads through the village of Bowness on Solway, which is the start of Hadrian’s Wall where the route follows the path of the wall for a short distance.  Before returning to Kirkbride the route passes Port Carlisle which was the start of the 11 mile canal to Carlisle (used between 1823 and 1854, before it was converted to a railway) and Glasson.

Please not that there are no Toilets or Changing Facilities at the start of the route.