A 16-mile cycle track will be turned into the route of all evil next week with Halloween horrors lurking along the way.

Troublemaking elves, ghosts and fairies will feature in Sustrans’ spooky storytelling event along the old Tracks of the Ironmasters next week, as well as a self-guided treasure hunt. The path runs between Whitehaven and Rowrah and between Workington and Seaton, Siddick and Broughton Moor, and got its local name because the route once formed the railway which hauled iron ore from local mines.

Steve Wharton will hold story-telling sessions next Wednesday and Sunday, October 27, at secret locations along the path between Moor Row and Rowrah, and Parkside and Frizington. There will be clues hung in the trees along the track which spell out a word and are part of a riddle in the story. Steve is also releasing a series of YouTube videos to help people find the clues and the storytelling sessions.

Nikki Wingfield, Sustrans Project Manager for Tracks of the Ironmasters said: “We’re very excited to be hosting Steve’s storytelling sessions on the Tracks.

"Steve has been written some spooky tales drawing on our fascinating iron ore history so prepare to meet an underworld of fairies, elves and ghosts lurking just beneath your local walking and cycle path.

"There’s also a self-guided treasure hunt along the path during half term and YouTube videos which are part of the story, so please come along and help solve the riddle, everyone is welcome.”

Mr Wharton added: “This is an exciting project as it combines local heritage with easily available technology to allow as many families as possible to take part.

"Being both a specialist in Cumbrian heritage and a regular user of the cyclepath, I’m hoping that people will be able to see the area in a new light, engage with the route’s history and have a bit of fun in the lead up to Halloween.”