Planned this route after stopping at Shap chippie during our Lejog ride.

On our Lejog tour we stopped over night and had fish and chips at the rated chippie and said we would return another day to do the same but from our home town.

The route is more or less the shortest route but has plenty of variety. The bit along the A66 is not nice but is is easy and faster than Whinlatter (especially when carrying the tent etc.!) The quieter part off the south side of the A66 down to Pooley Bridge and then along and up to Shap is off the usual cycle routes but quiet and very pleasant.

We camped over night at the New Ings Lodge which we can recommend.  

We went home via Penrith then Greystoke and then CtC route to Keswick.

All in all and very enjoyable mini-tour.