Romans, Reivers and Riders

You don’t have to be the next Bradley Wiggins, but you’ll need to know your way around a bike and be fairly fit to take part in our Challenging rides. If you’re comfortable riding with other people and fancy a fresh challenge, these rides are perfect for you. They start at around twenty miles long, and are paced at between 11 and 12 miles an hour. The route on quiet roads include some of the best scenery in north Cumbria. Much of the route has  strong historical connections with the Roman period. St Michael's Church in Brough is built on the site of a Roman fort  as also is St Bride's in Kirkbride. Burgh Marsh follows the line of the Roman Wall. The wall ended at Bowness on Solway. During the reign of King Edwand 11 and after, the area became increasingly lawless and there were frequent raids by Border Reivers. Reiving was mainly the stealing of sheep and cattle. There were also bloody feuds between rivaling families. The architecture of some of the churches in particular, reflect that period. St Michael's Church in Burgh is a fine example of a fortified church.