England’s beautiful Lake District is a magnet for tourists and one of the best – and healthiest – ways to see many of the region’s most famous attractions is by bike. Better still, you could hire an electric bike (e-bike) to make it easier to cycle the miles and hills.
Cycling tours and holidays
Cycling is a popular way to explore a new region, or discover new places in your local area. A bike is also an eco-friendly form of transport – and at pedalling speed you’ll cover many miles but still enjoy an up-close experience of the landscape and environment.
If you are worried about your fitness levels, an e-bike provides some power assistance. You’ll still need to pedal, but the electric power gives a boost on gradients and when your legs are feeling a bit tired.
In the Lake District, E-Bike Safaris has a fleet of e-bikes that can be hired for a day or multiple days. The comfortable electric bikes are easy to operate and because they are “hybrid” bikes, they can be used on both tarmac and well-maintained paths and trails.
The company, which delivers the bicycles to your base or accommodation, hire three types of bike: Step through e-bikes, crossbar e-bikes and also e-tricycles.
E-Bike Safaris also offer a range of cycling tours of the Lake District, from one day to multiple days, with various options, such as a self-guided Heart of the Lakes Tour, a traditional pub and lunch day tour, or customised tours to suit an individual’s itinerary.
Here we reveal why e-bike hire in the Lake District could be a great idea for your next holiday.
7 reasons to hire an e-bike
- Cycling is a lovely way to travel to new places and an e-bike allows you to pedal further with greater ease.
- The Lake District is hilly in places but an e-bike takes the strain out of riding uphill thanks to the power assistance of a rechargeable battery.
- It’s possible to cycle day after day, or travel further in one day, on an e-bike because they require less effort to pedal.
- If you are a couple, or a group of people of different ages and fitness levels, an e-bike helps to equalise physical abilities. Each cyclist can use as little or as much power assistance as they require.
- If you have been wondering what it is like to ride an electric bike, hiring one for a day or two allows yo to try, before you decide if you might buy your own.
- Many people care about the environment – and e-bikes provide a sustainable form of transport that is much better for the planet than motorised vehicles.
- Cycling on holiday keeps you fit and allows you to indulge in plenty of food and drink without worrying so much about the calories.
Why an e-bike tour of the English Lakes?
- The Lake District is acclaimed as one of England’s most picturesque regions and a trip to the area is on many people’s bucket lists. Exploring by e-bike offers the opportunity to easily visit pretty villages, attractive towns, historic landmarks and take in beautiful views of lakes, hills and mountains.
- E-Bike Safari’s tours have been created by knowledgable cyclists. They take you to highlight attractions and hotspots, as well as some lesser-visited gems. You can let the locals guide you to the best locations so that you don’t need to do your own research.
- Discover a wealth of excellent local hospitality at cyclist-friendly cafes, award-winning rural pubs and restaurants and hand-picked accommodation.
- Start the tours at the vibrant tourist town Kendal – town as “The Gateway to the Lakes” – or from Windermere, both of which are easy to reach by road or public transport.
- Enjoy a more sustainable holiday making use of an environmentally friendly e-bike rather than driving a car.
E-bike delivered to you
E-Bike Safari staff deliver hire bikes to wherever you are, whether it is your holiday accommodation or perhaps a train station if you arrive in the Lake District by public transport.
The best Lake District e-bike tour options
Planning the best e-bike tours requires local knowledge and experience. E-Bike Safaris offers a range of tours to suit different aspirations. Cyclists receive detailed route maps, GPX files and route briefings prior to departure each day, along with luggage transfer and mechanical support back-up for the duration of the tour.
Tailormade e-bike tours
The tours are tailormade by Phil Thomas, the founder of E-Bike Safaris, and each route is plotted from the customer’s accommodation. As well as providing the routes on a Garmin device, they are plotted on printed maps, which means that even if you hire a bike for only a day you will also be able to enjoy a a self-guided tours.
I have picked some of the highlight tours of the Lake District, although Phil can also provide a wide variety of customised tours. You only have to ask.
Full Circle of the Lakes (7 days, 6 nights)
Cycle a classic tour route that journeys around the Lake District at a relaxed pace. The Full Circle of the Lakes covers an average distance of 30 miles per day taking in many must-see attractions such as Lake Windermere, Coniston Water, Ullswater and Moss Force Waterfall, as well as the well-known passes of Newlands and Kirkstone.
There are plenty of villages and towns to stop for refreshments and a stroll, such as Hawkshead, Coniston, Eskdale Green, Keswick and Troutbeck, plus tranquil valley roads and the chance to gaze up at the majestic mountains of Skiddaw and Blencathra.
Cyclists stay in a variety of accommodation including hotels, guest houses and traditional pubs.
Heart of the Lakes Tour (6 days, 5 nights)
With an average daily pedalling distance of 30 miles – and options to reduce or increase the mileage – this tour sticks to quieter country lanes and takes you through scenic valleys and over stunning fells and mountain passes.
The Heart of the Lakes includes classic must-dos such as a cable ferry crossing of Lake Windermere, a climb over Wrynose Pass and down the Langdale valley then via the scenic craggy outcrops on Matterdale Common and over to Ullswater lake.
South Lakes Tour (3 days, 2 nights)
Make the most of comfortable e-bike hire on the South Lakes Tour. The first day of cycling offers a circular trip around the scenic lanes of the south Lakes with plentiful options to visit different local attractions, cafes or traditional pubs.
A second day of cycling takes you across Lake Windermere by ferry to discover the stunning scenery of the central Lakes on a mixture of cycle tracks and quiet country lanes.
One day e-bike tours
E-Bike Safaris has several one-day bike tours including the 27-mile South Lakeland, a Traditional Pub and Lunch Tour and a 28-mile Wrynose Pass & Coniston Loop Day.
Plan your own
If there are Lake District attractions and highlights that you particularly want to visit, or you would prefer to create a longer or shorter bike tour to suit yourself or a group of friends, E-Bike Safaris can create a bespoke tour just for you.
To find out more about e-bike hire and tours in the Lake District check out E-Bike Safaris or contact the knowledgeable team.