B5299

This article is about the current B5299 from Aspatria to Carlisle.
For the original B5299, now the A594, see B5299 (Papcastle - Maryport).

Caldbeck

The B5299 is a cross-country road in north Cumberland, forming a long-way-round route between Aspatria and Carlisle, being almost half as long again as the direct route along the A596 and A595. The road was originally unclassified but gained its number in the mid-1920s, making it an early example of a recycled number.

The road starts on the A596 on the eastern edge of Aspatria and heads east, quickly reaching open fields. From the outset the road is narrow enough that it does not have a central line. Some of the northern fells of the Lake District are visible to the right but the road remains fairly flat in comparison as it runs parallel to the River Ellen. To begin with the road is largely straight but there's a sharp right-hand bend at Watchhill which marks the start of a more winding section. After passing the isolated church at Allhallows we follow a dead-straight road into Fletchertown where there's a sharp right-hand bend after which we run down to the A595 at Mealsgate.

There's a short multiplex to the right over a stream then the B5299 regains its number by taking the next turn left. The road is now narrower still and far more winding than the earlier section. It also becomes steeper as we climb up out of the valley along an escarpment. After a brief descent into Boltongate, where we TOTSO left, we continue to climb. We run along the edge of a hill with a mast on top then bear right and descend to pass to the north of Aughertree Fell. A dead-straight section then takes us to a cattle grid, after which we enter the Lake District National Park.

The road TOTSOs left at a T-junction and we run across the moors with high hills back in the distance. After another cattle grid we go over the Parkend Beck and then bear left to follow the valley downstream into Caldbeck. In the village centre we TOTSO left and the road becomes S2 for the first time - but only briefly. We leave the village heading west of north and then climb steeply back up onto the moors. The central white line comes back before the road levels out and we soon have to give way at a crossroads. Here we turn right and leave the national park.

Now heading vaguely eastwards the road climbs almost to the top of Warnell Fell, where it bears left at a road junction and descends steeply back onto the flatter land visible ahead. We follow a straight road to give way to the B5305 then continue across the fields to pass through Welton. A few miles - and only a couple of bends - further on, we reach Bridge End, in the valley of the River Caldew. The river is followed downstream to Dalston, where we run through town along Carlisle Road and cross the village square from corner to corner. After going over the Cumbrian Coast Line we move away from the river.

It's not long before the road is dead-straight once more as it continues northeast. After passing a road heading off to the left towards the roundabout at the western end of the A689 we pass the Pirelli factory then the cemetery as we enter Carlisle. The road takes longer than expected to become built-up. The B5299 follows Dalston Road through the western suburbs, becoming more industrial as it continues. The road ends at traffic lights on the A595 just west of that road's bridge over the River Caldew on the western edge of the city centre.