The riders competing in the 2026 Lloyd’s Tour of Britain Women will face the longest race in the event’s history, with a total distance of almost 650km, across the five stages.  

Battling through 635.8km (395 miles) of roads with a total ascent of 8895m, the riders will travel through the picturesque counties of Cumbria, Lancashire, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy and Powys, before crossing the finish line in Warwickshire. 

On Wednesday 19 August, Cockermouth will welcome the world's top riders for the start and finish of Stage One, marking the first time the town has hosted the women’s race. 

The riders will tackle the longest stage of the entire tour, covering almost 159km through some of Cumberland’s most stunning landscapes. The route takes in Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Silloth and Wigton, before a challenging final circuit around Clints Crags, Watch Hill and Ruddings Hill. 

With coastal views, tough climbs, cobbled streets and nearly 2,000m of ascent, it promises to be an exciting day of racing as the battle begins for the first leader’s jersey of the 2026 tour. 

Every day, young people across Cumberland are making a positive difference, showing kindness, overcoming challenges and inspiring those around them. 

We're setting up a Making It Real Board and are looking for people with experience of Adult Social Care, including people who receive support and unpaid carers, to get involved. This is an opportunity to work alongside senior leaders to help shape what needs to improve and how services develop. 

A Making It Real Board brings together people with experience of care and support and senior leaders to understand what is working, what is not, and what needs to change. 

As part of the Board, you would: 

• Share your experiences. 
• Say what works and what does not. 
• Help shape priorities for improvement. 
• See how your input leads to change. 

Meetings take place every three months, with opportunities to get involved in wider work if you choose. You don't need any qualifications or previous experience of being on a Board. What matters is your perspective, your honesty, and your willingness to work with others to improve things. 

We recognise and value people's time. There is the option of receiving a payment in recognition of your contribution, and we will talk this through with you so you can decide what feels right. 

We’re reviewing how we provide equipment to help people live independently. We want to hear from suppliers for our daily living equipment service.  

We’re keen to understand the different options available and would welcome responses from anyone who can help. 

Our Bereavement Service has been awarded the highest ‘Gold Standard’ accolade following a recent independent assessment. 

The service was assessed by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) as part of its Charter for the Bereaved Process for Burial and Cremation. The Charter is a nationally recognised framework designed to improve the standards of services provided to bereaved families, with awards granted at bronze, silver, or gold level. 

We manage Carlisle Crematorium, Distington Hall Crematorium and cemeteries throughout the district from Carlisle to Millom. 

Achieving Gold Standard reflects a strong commitment to maintaining and continually improving the quality of care and support offered to residents during some of the most difficult times in their lives. The assessment process involves a detailed self-review, which is then externally validated by the ICCM, including an on-site inspection. 

People who live and work in Petteril Bank are invited to tell us exactly what is needed in their community. 

An event on Saturday, 25 July, will ask what you love about the area, how it works for you and what could be done differently. It will include an exploratory 'walkabout' and a workshop in the community hall to get everyone’s feedback and make sure it is fed into future decision making. 

The event will be led by council staff, and local councillors will be on hand too. Tea and coffee will be available in the hall. 

We are inviting children and families to discover the joy of reading, creativity and community as the Summer Reading Challenge returns to libraries across Cumberland from Saturday 11 July until mid-September. 

This year's exciting theme, Read to the Beat, explores the connection between stories, music and imagination, encouraging children to discover new books, develop a lifelong love of reading and enjoy all that their local library has to offer.

Enjoy the outdoors responsibly:

• Please park safely and legally. Poorly parked vehicles can block narrow roads and prevent access for emergency services, residents and farmers.
• Wild camping must be done responsibly. Camping on roadside verges, in car parks or without landowner permission isn’t allowed, and littering, fires or damage to the landscape will not be tolerated. Public Spaces Protection Orders are in place to protect these sensitive areas.
• Follow Leave No Trace - take your litter home, respect wildlife and leave places as you find them.