Last Updated on July 4, 2023 by Igor Karni
Lake District National Park is located in Cumbria, North West England, U.K. The park includes all of the central Lake District – a region that is well known for its lakes, mountains, and forests – and is 2,362 square kilometers.
If you’re wondering whether or not you can visit the beautiful Lake District National Park by electric bicycle, this article will answer all your questions!
Are e-bikes allowed in Lake District National Park?
Yes, cyclists are allowed to ride e-bikes in Lake District National Park! However, before embarking on your trip, you must first ensure that your e-bike abides by the U.K.’s electric bicycle laws.
Known as electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) in the U.K., vehicles must meet the following requirements to be classified as such:
- They must have pedals that can be used to propel the vehicle
- They must show the power output or the manufacturer of the motor
- They must show the battery’s voltage or the maximum speed of the bike
- The electric motor must have a maximum power output of 250 watts and should not be able to propel the bike when travelling more than 25 km per hour (15.5 miles per hour)
Read also: Electric bike & speed e-bike rules / regulations in the UK. And, Best known e-bike brands in the UK.
Is Lake District National Park bicycle-friendly?
The Lake District is very well equipped for cycling, as it includes a variety of road cycling and mountain biking routes. Route types are comprised of country lanes, off-road mountain trails, and official cycleways, and bridleways and difficulty levels range from easy to challenging.
A few mountain biking routes include Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Braithwaite and Craghill Circular, Askham Fell Loop, and Lowther River Loop. Some road cycling routes include Ullswater Circular Route, Keswick to Moffat, Coniston Lake Circular Walk, and Martindale to Lowther Castle.
We will also include some additional resources later in the article to help you map out your cycling routes while in Lake District National Park!
Where to stay during the trip?
For travelers looking to stay in Lake District National Park for multiple days, rest assured that there are plenty of overnight accommodation options here! The Lake District area offers hundreds of options for visitors to choose from, ranging from hotels, B&Bs, and cottages to log cabins, lodges, and campsites.
Some hotel options include: Beech Hill Hotel & Lakeview Spa, Cedar Manor, The Glenburn Hotel & Restaurant, Merewood Country House Hotel, The Keswick Country House Hotel, Waterhead Hotel, Oak Bank Hotel, The Wordsworth Hotel and Spa, and The Swan at Grasmere. Visit Booking.com for more hotel options!
If you are looking to camp, here are a few camping sites: Crake Trees Manor, Birchbank Camping Site, Little Acre Holiday Park, Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Blakebeck Camping Barn, and Fisherground Campsite. For more camping options, visit Campsites.co.uk’s “Lake District” webpage here.
Where can I eat? Or should I take my food with me?
With many farmlands occupying the Lake District, various restaurants in this area offer locally sourced cuisines, as well as classic pub fare, quick eats, fine dining experiences, and international food. And while you can definitely take food with you on your trips, there is no shortage of dining options here!
For quick bites and café fare, here are some top recommended spots: Fresher’s Café, Dr. Brews Coffee, The Moon & Sixpence Coffeehouse, Homeground Coffee + Kitchen, Mr. H’s, VeeVa!, Panino Italiano, Helvellyn Country Kitchen, Choccobar, and Syke Farm Tearoom.
For sit-down restaurants, some top options include: The Old Stamp House Restaurant, Manor House, The Grasmere Hotel Restaurant, Graze, Aspava Restaurant, The Smith, Quince & Medlar, and BLOCKS Steakhouse.
There are also many farmers’ markets that take place on certain days of the month, where visitors can buy fresh and local produce, including markets in Brampton, Brough, Cockermouth, Keswick, Milnthorpe, Sedbergh, Ulverston, and more!
What gear should I take on the trip?
It’s extremely important to bring the proper bike and safety gear with you on your cycling trip. This includes: a helmet, backpack, water, a raincoat, bike-appropriate clothing, an e-bike charger, sunscreen, sunglasses, a bike lock, a bike repair kit and pump, a first aid kit, and front and rear lights.
Additionally, if you are planning to camp while in Lake District National Park, you should also bring a sleeping bag, tent (if required), extra clothes, food, cutlery, dishware, and a valid ID.
Read also: What to take with you an an e-biking trip? And, Can an e-bike pull a trailer?
Where can I charge my e-bike?
Due to the excellent infrastructure for e-bikes in Lake District National Park, there are plenty of e-bike charging points available in this region!
Some electric bike charging locations include: Brockhole Visitor Centre, Ulverston, Cockermouth, Grasmere, Windermere Station, Eskdale Valley, Muncaster Castle, Keswick, Coniston Boating Centre, Uldale, High Lorton, Penrith, and Bassenwaithe Lake Station.
For more comprehensive details of e-bike charging stations and their locations, view the full list here!
What kind of e-bike do I need to ride in Lake District National Park?
Since Lake District National Park offers both road cycling and mountain biking options, the type of e-bike you ride here is dependent on the routes you are planning to take.
For example, if you are primarily planning on taking mountain bike routes, we highly recommend using an electric mountain bike (eMTB). However, if you are planning to only take road cycling routes, a cruiser or commuter e-bike will work.
Read also: How to select your first electric mountain bike? And, How much does a good eMTB e-bike cost?
Lastly, if you are planning to enjoy the more hilly and mountainous landscapes as well as flatter landscapes, we recommend using an all-terrain or hybrid e-bike!
Read also: Why fat tires are good news for electric bikes? And, How to select the best hybrid e-bike?
Where can I rent an e-bike in Lake District National Park, or should I take one with me?
Yes, there are a few rental companies in Lake District National Park to choose from, which we will feature later in the article!
You can also take your e-bike with you, but be sure to check that your vehicle abides by the U.K.’s electric bicycle laws before embarking on your trip.
Read also: Top trusted electric bicycle brands in the UK. And, Top specialized e-bike insurance companies in the UK.
What else can I do while on an e-bike trip in Lake District National Park?
The sprawling and vast Lake District includes many amazing natural and historical sights to see!
Most obviously, there are dozens of lakes to explore while in this region, which you don’t want to miss out on. Some of the biggest lakes here are Windermere, Ullswater, Bassenthwaite Lake, Coniston Water, Haweswater, and Thirlmere. For a full list of lakes in the Lake District, visit Wikipedia’s page here.
Other natural landscapes that are ideal for hiking, sightseeing, and other outdoor activities are Buttermere, Scafell Pike, Catbells, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Skiddaw, Castle Crag, Rydal Mount and Gardens, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Lowther Castle & Gardens, Aira Force Waterfall, The Old Man of Coniston, and Loughrigg Fell.
And if you are interested in seeing more historical architecture, museums, and attractions, some options include the Wordsworth House, Dove Cottage, The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, Lakes Aquarium, Lakeland Motor Museum, Sizergh Castle, Wray Castle, and Muncaster Castle!
Read also: Check out best UK travel destinations by electric bike.
What is the best time of year to visit Lake District National Park on an e-bike?
The Lake District region is reportedly the wettest region in England, which means rain is a possibility at any time during the year. That said, October through January tend to see the highest amount of rainfall, as well as colder weather that averages anywhere between 1 to 13 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the late autumn and winter months may not be ideal for cyclists to visit this region.
April through July see the least rainfall and warmest weather, with temperatures in the summer months ranging from 9 to 19 degrees Celsius. We recommend travelers visit the Lake District National Park during these months to enjoy the warmer and drier weather, and to avoid heavy amounts of rain, fog, and other wet conditions that may make cycling more difficult.
Resources to help plan your trip
To help plan your trip to Lake District National Park, visit the official park website here (and for more cycling-specific information, visit this webpage).
If you are looking to rent an e-bike, there are a few options. First is Lake District Bikes, which offers rental options for mountain, hybrid, and road e-bikes. These e-bikes can be rented for 1, 2, 3, or 6-day increments. The company also offers guided tours and provides route maps on its website.
The next company is E-Venture Bikes, which also offers a range of different e-bikes and guided tours, and whose e-bikes can be rented in half-day or multiple-day intervals. Lastly, Country Lanes Lake District offers e-bike rentals in 1-day intervals, and also includes route descriptions on their website.
For further cycling route map information, check out All Trails’ Road Biking routes and Mountain Biking routes recommendations lists for Lake District National Park.
For more recommendations on things to do while in Lake District National Park, visit Google Travel’s list here.
And lastly, to view more dining options, visit TripAdvisor’s list here!
Take a few minutes for a video trip to the Lake District:
Igor is a sustainable mobility and green energy advocate. His mission for Easy E-biking is to help make electric cycling simple, practical, and fun. Follow him on Facebook and LinkedIn.
