The best traffic-free bike rides around Wigton

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.

This historic and interesting harbour area in Port Carlisle is a great place to watch birds. In the autumn and springtime you can see a variety of bird flocks migrate, whilst wildfowl and waders flock here from Arctic breeding grounds to escape extreme cold.

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.

📍 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.

Here you are at the Path Pavilion, the symbolic start or end of the walking route and therefore a popular photo spot. It offers breathtaking views of the Solway Firth. The small wooden pavilion is open on both sides and features a guest book where hikers share their experiences. The pavilion has a starter side with the message: "Good luck go with you" and a finish side: "Welcome the end of Hadrian's Wall Path." You can easily cycle the loop through the pavilion.