Day 4
An easy ride from Brough or Appleby to Penrith.
Anne Clifford places to see: Brough Castle, Appleby Castle, Appleby Almshouses and Appleby Church, Brougham Castle and possibly Ninekirks Church and the Countess Pillar.
27 (or 16) miles approx.
You can learn more about all the specific points of interest on the way here.
Leave Brough heading west along Main Street, turning left as the houses turn into factories (sp. Great Musgrave). After about 2 miles and just out of Great Musgrave, turn left on the B6259 (sp. St Theobald's Church). Pass the church on the left (worth a look), and then turn right onto Swillings Lane. After 2 miles and after passing through Little Musgrave, turn right (sp. Bleatarn and Warcop) down a narrow lane. In Bleatarn, bear left and carry straight on with the white house on your left. Follow the road round as it takes a left and then turn right (sp. Appleby). At the T junction turn right (sp. Appleby). After 3.5 miles join the B6260 by bearing right (sp. Appleby).
Appleby deserves a slight diversion and stop and you might want to allow a couple of hours here. After spending time in the town, with its Anne Clifford sites and food and drink, cycle back to the top of the town and turn right just beyond the castle, joining national cycle route 71, a single track road with passing places (sp. Colby). Pass through the village of Colby staying on route 71 (sp. Kings Meaburn) and after about 2.5 miles bear right (sp. Kings Meaburn and Penrith).
2 miles beyond Kings Meaburn, turn left at the T junction towards Penrith sp. Penrith). Pass through Cliburn and after 3 miles, turn right (sp. Brougham).
Pause at Brougham Castle, the northern home where Anne Clifford died. You could now carry on to the centre of Penrith and the end of the trail.
Alternatively, lock up your bike and find the Countess Pillar on the edge of the very busy A66. It's about 0.25 mile East of Brougham Castle. There is no easy footpath or track so take care. Even more interesting but also more of a challenge to get to, especially after the start of major roadworks here in the spring of 2026, is Ninekirks Church. The safest way would be, somehow, to get by taxi or car to the small car park down below the A66 on the left, just opposite Whinfell Park. The car park may soon disappear under the roadworks though. But it is definitely worth the effort. Leave the car park and follow the track which heads north above the river. It's less than a mile to the remote church, renovated by Lady Anne and unchanged since. In terms of atmosphere, it is the place where I felt closest to a remarkable woman, a committed Christian and a generous benefactor.
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Leave Brougham Castle, turning left over the River Eamont. Don't try and get on the A66. Instead turn left and use the underpass, ride parallel to the A66 and head up the lane passing Frenchfield Sports Centre, towards the town centre crossing the A686 via the Pelican Crossing. Penrith has an excellent range of both shops and accommodation. It's also on the main West Coast railway line north to Scotland and south to London. The official end of the trail is At Andrew's Church. National Cycle route7 runs alongside it.