The hill out of Little Salkeld is very steep. Stop off and do some sightseeing, says my esteemed colleague and C2C expert, Dik Stoddart: " Visit Long Meg - it's an excuse to have a rest. "

You will shortly be presented with a choice: whether or not to take the cross-country route over Hartside. If you do you will be pushing or carrying your bike for quite a bit of the stretch. If you take the alternative road route via Renwick you will have a winding and steep ascent, but one that is manageable from the saddle (I suspect that I'm not the only cyclist to have dismounted a couple of times on this section).

At the top is Hartside Café, a (motor)bikers haven. At 580 metres (1900 feet), it is the highest tea shop in England and on a fine day (they do happen) you can see Scotland across the Solway Firth. Views of the Eden Valley are terrific: not for nothing was the drive along the A686 voted one of the ten best in the world by????

13. Salkeld		Back to
Donald Newton		The Highland Drove Inn & Kyloes Restaurant, Great Salkeld, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 9NA
Tel		01768 898 349
Fax		01768 898 708
Website		www.highland-drove.co.uk
Email		highlanddroveinn@btinternet.com
Rooms		3D, 2T. (SP in pub)
B&B		£35-£65
Packed Lunch		£7.50
Evening meal		Bar: 2-courses £12. Restaurant 2-courses £20
Distance from C2C		3km

A real country pub with open fires, real ale, quality wines and beer garden. Separate restaurant 'Le Routier'. Affiliated bistro with eclectic cuisine, Routier-rated. CAMRA Winter Pub of the Season. Now in the Michelin pubs with restaurants guide. Top spot with well chosen wine list.

Raymond Atkinson		Bank House Farm, Little Salkeld, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 INN
Tel		01768 881 257
Email		bankhouseequ@aol.com
Rooms		2D, 2T, 2F
B&B		From £30-£45
Packed Lunch		£4.50
Distance from C2C		On route. Pub 2km

B&B, self-catering, camping in converted barns and farm cottages for individuals , families or larger groups. Secure cycle storage. A warm friendly family welcome awaits.