The route from Westlinton to the city takes you down to the edge of the Solway Firth, where the rivers Eden and Esk meet and swell a progress across vast acres of mud and sand until disgorging into the Irish Sea beyond Bowness and Annan. Here you pass such erstwhile centres of shipbuilding as Rockliffe and other vestiges of a prosperous past, before cutting through a large and unattractive industrial estate. Soon, however, you are in the heart of a vibrant and welcoming city.

These days this great border city greets its guests with open arms, but not so many years ago any visitor would have been treated with suspicion. It was the nerve-centre for bitter feuds and bloody battles created by the long-running dispute over the border betwen England and Scotland. Early in its history it was an important Roman headquarters for Hadrian's Wall. In 1092 William the Conqueror's son William Rufus started to build the castle where later the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots was incarcerated.

During a period of Scots occupation its ruler was one Macbeth; as `Carluel' it was, according to legend, the domain of King Arthur, and the Emperor Hadrian was perhaps the first to realise that whoever held Carlisle could influence the destinies of both England and Scotland.

14. Carlisle		Back to
G. Shipp		Abberley House, 33 Victoria Place, Carlisle, CA1 1HP
Tel		01228 521 645
Web		www.abberleyhouse.co.uk
Email		enquiries@abberleyhouse.co.uk
Rooms		3S, 2D, 2T, 1F.
B&B		£25-£30
4 stars		Pub 300m

City centre guest house, offering good quality en-suite rooms, secure lock-up and drying facilities. Close to restaurants, pubs and shops. Prices include a full English breakfast.

Martin & Rachel Perry		Angus Hotel & Almonds Bistro, 14 Scotland Road, Carlisle CA3 9DG
Tel		01228 523 546
Fax		01228 531 895
Web		www.angus-hotel.co.uk
Email		hotel@angus-hotel.co.uk
Rooms		2S, 5D, 4T, 3F.
B&B		£28-£50.
Packed Lunch		£4.70
Evening Meals		£15 (3-courses)
Distance from Reivers		On route

Small family run hotel offering personal hospitality, and superb food in Almonds Restaurant. Licensed bar, secure cycle store, drying facilities, packed lunches. Groups welcome.

Gillian Denison		White Lea Guest House, 191 Warwick Road, Carlisle CA1 1LP
Tel		01228 533 139
Web		www.whiteleacarlisle.co.uk
Rooms		1D, 1T, 2F.
B&B		£25-£30.
Packed Lunch		£4.50
Distance from Reivers		1km.
VisitBritain 4 stars		Pub 100m.

Victorian town house right in the town centre with all its facilities. All rooms en-suite with TV, hairdryer and welcome tray. Fully refurbished and immaculate throughout, there's also private parking.

Marjorie Dawes		Courtfield Guest House, 169 Warwick Road, Carlisle CA1 1LP
Telephone		01228 522 767
E		mdawes@courtfieldhouse.fsnet.co.uk
Rooms		1S, 3D, 2T, 2F.
B&B		£27.50-£30
Packed Lunch		£5
VisitBritain 4 stars/Silver Award		Pub 200m.

Comfortable, en-suite bedrooms, TV, tea/coffee facilities. Ten minute walk to historic Carlisle city centre. Rightly famed for its breakfast - a classy fry or fruit and yoghurt style options. Cycle friendly and very well run.

Yvette Rogers		Derwentlea, 14 Howard Place, CA1 1HR
Tel		01228 409706
Mob		07970 209760
Web		www.derwentlea.co.uk
Email		general@derwentlea.co.uk
Rooms		2S, 5T/D
B&B		£35
Evening Meal		£10-£25 (BYOB)
Packed Lunch		£5
Drying facilities		Safe storage

All rooms are en-suite and have tea and coffee making facilities and colour TV's. Warm Victorian house in a quiet conservation area with private car part only five minutes walk from the city centre. Family rooms, cots, highchairs available; drying facilities; laundry service; secure lockable storage for equipment.

Yvette Rogers		Langleigh Guest House, 6 Howard Place, Carlisle, CA1 1HR
Tel		01228 530 440
Web		www.langleighhouse.co.uk
Email		langleighhouse@aol.com
Rooms		1S + 3D + 3T + 1F
B&B		£35
Packed Lunch		£5
Evening meal		£10-£25
4 stars		Pub 5 minutes. Lock-up/drying facilities

Highly recommended by many tourists organisations, private road parking, five minutes from city centre, welcome trays, spacious rooms. Ideal place to stop for a final night before tackling the last stage.

Alan Dawes		Ashleigh House, 46 Victoria Place, Carlisle, CA1 1EX
Tel		01228 521631
Rooms		1S, 2D, 2T, 1F, 2Tpl.
B&B		£30-£35
VisitBritain 4 stars		200m from pub
Drying facitlities		Secure lock-up

Just yards from the cycle route, there's a warm welcome in this family run Grade II listed Victorian town house, just two minutes' walk from the city centre. All bedrooms en-suite with tea and coffee making facilities. For those staying longer or returning, there's golf, fishing and wonderful walking.

Blanche Tiffin		Aaron House, 135 Warwick Road, Carlisle, CA1 1LU.
Telephone		01228 536 728
Rooms		1T, 2F.
B&B		£25-£30
Packed Lunch		£4
Distance from Reivers		1km.

Family run B&B, centrally heated, en-suite facilities available, TV and welcome tray in rooms, special diets by prior arrangement.

Michael Potts		Greysteads Private Hotel, 43 Norfolk Rd, Carlisle CA2 5PQ
Tel		01228 522175
Email		michael.potts@greysteads.co.uk
Rooms		2T, 2D, 1S.
B&B		from £25
Packed lunch		From £4

Elegant and old fashioned family run hotel in a quiet part of town yet within easy reach of the centre. Bedrooms all offer tea and coffee facilities plus TV and there's bags of parking space and a large secure lock-up area. Greysteads is on the way out of town heading south, towards the Dalston road and is right next to the route. Afternoon teas available.

Susan Harper		Hazeldean Guest House, Orton Grange, Wigton Road, Carlisle, Cumbrian CA5 6JB
Telephone		01228 711 953
Web		www.hazeldeantherapycentre.com
Email		hazeldean1@btopenworld.com
Rooms		1S, 2D, 1T (SP: lounge).
B&B		£26
Packed Lunch		from £3.50
Evening meal		£7-£10.
Distance from Reivers		On route
VisitBritain 3 stars		Pub nearby

Friendly guest house, 50m from Reivers route. Large garden, secure parking for bikes. Complimentary therapies available - massage, reflexology and reiki. Spa suite, hot tub and sauna.

You only have to look at the vast ramparts of the castle to realise the city's strategic importance. It is the home today of the King's Own Border Regiment. If you get time, it is worth looking at its labyrinths to find the Licking Stones, prisoners carvings and the exhibition of Bonnie Prince Charlie's capture of the castle in 1745.

The cathedral is also worth a visit. The city's long-running commercial success is celebrated in the Guildhall Museum, once a meeting place of the medieval trade guilds. Carlisle's cultural renaissance and growing reputation for education have resulted in a host of art galleries, restaurants, cafés and vibey venues.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. Excellent audio-visual interpretation of the Border Reivers 01228 534781

Carlisle Castle. Medieval dungeons, exhibitions 01228 591922

Carlisle Cathedral. Founded in 1122, fine wood carving and wall panels (office)

01228 548151

PLACES TO EAT

Number 10 , Eden Mount - probably Carlisle's best eaterie. Small, popular and on route, so book well in advance. 01228 524183

Almonds Bistro , Angus Hotel - great fun, good food and reasonably priced.

01228 523546

Loaf `n Ladle , 16 Friars Court - value for money vegetarian food.

01228 596474

BIKE REPAIRS
Palace Cycle Stores, 122 Botchergate 01228 523142
Scotby Cycles, Old Bingo Hall, Church St 01228 546931