The best road cycling routes around Woodside

This is a great cycling stretch of road with good views out over the Solway Firth. It's as flat as anything, and you can get a good bit of speed up. A super nice highway to ride all the way to Carlisle.

A noteworthy fact about Burgh Marsh is that it was the place where Edward the First, one of the most formidable English monarchs, died when he developed fever during a campaign against the Scots. Where he is supposed to have died on the Marsh is marked by a rarely visited monument that is well worth a visit. It is a tranquil and peaceful place.

Bowness-on-Solway is best known as being the western end of the iconic Hadrian's Wall. There is a small shelter here to mark the start of this national trail. You will not see much of the wall until after Carlisle, but the wall did originally start at the village with even more forts further down the coast. Being an estuary, this area is also a haven for wildlife and birdwatching.

Here you'll drive along Burgh Marsh, a vast salt marsh on the Solway Firth, where nature, history, and mystery converge. The area is located near Burgh by Sands and forms a key part of the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. King Edward I died here in 1307 during his campaign against Scotland, an event marked by a monument in the middle of the marsh. Bordering the western section of Hadrian's Wall, Burgh Marsh also bears traces of the Roman presence. Today, Burgh Marsh stands as a silent witness to centuries of frontier history, with a landscape that invites reflection and exploration.

Burgh Marsh is a vast salt marsh on the Solway Firth, where nature, history, and mystery converge. Located near Burgh by Sands, the area forms a key part of the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. King Edward I died here in 1307 during his campaign against Scotland, an event marked by a monument in the middle of the marsh. Bordering the western section of Hadrian's Wall, Burgh Marsh also bears traces of the Roman presence. Today, Burgh Marsh stands as a silent witness to centuries of frontier history, with a landscape that invites reflection and exploration.

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.

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open Wednesday through Sunday, with lunch and dinner service (e.g., Fridays: 12:00–2:00 PM & 5:30–8:00 PM). The Joiners Arms is housed in a historic stone building with low rooflines, thick walls, and an asymmetrical facade typical of Northern English rural architecture. The original structure exudes the atmosphere of an 18th- or early 19th-century inn, with exposed wooden beams, fireplaces, and an informal layout that invites people to socialize.

St. John's Church in Newton Arlosh, officially known as St. John the Evangelist's Church, is a rare example of a fortified church in Northwest England. It was built in 1303 by the monks of Holmcultram Abbey in response to the unsettled border situation with Scotland. Built of red sandstone and cobblestones, it features a massive west tower with arrow slits and a vaulted ground floor. The tower has a narrow entrance, a stone spiral staircase, and a hearth room, possibly used as a waiting room or priest's quarters. Newton Arlosh was founded after nearby Skinburness was destroyed by the sea; the monks built a new settlement and church there. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, the church fell into disrepair and remained a ruin for over 250 years. In 1844 and again in 1894, the building was repaired and extended, with the chancel being placed perpendicular to the nave. Today it is a working Anglican parish church within the Diocese of Carlisle.