The 500km National Cycle Network Route 6 links the Northern Fells of the Lake District to west London and is one of the longest and most varied of all the NCN routes. Following the leafy Grand Union Canal out of London, the route uses a mixture of old railway tracks, canal and woodland paths and rolls over the gentle and underrated countryside of the home counties. Once in the Midlands, many of England’s great cities come thick and fast - Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Manchester. You pass too, through many beautiful market towns, including Market Harborough and Kendal. The majority of the cycling is on excellent traffic-free paths, most of which are well kept and well signed. The ride over the back bone of England is truly memorable - the Winnats Pass is one of England’s great climbs and of course the route passes through the very heart of the Lake District National Park. There are plenty of appealing digressions along the way, from the largest cave in England to the oldest tree to the restaurants and museums of the great northern cities. A more complete and satisfying start is to begin in central London and follow traffic free paths to St. Albans and to push on using quiet country roads through the lush countryside of Cumbria to finish in Carlisle.