The government's decision to reopen the bidding for the West Coast Main Line rail franchise may have an impact on those travelling by train to go walking or ride their mountain bikes in the Lake District.

Revelations that civil servants got their sums badly wrong when calculating the relative benefits of First Group's bid compared with incumbent operator Virgin have led to the quashing of the decision to take the line away from Richard Branson's firm.

The line includes Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith North Lakes stations, meaning the times, cost, frequency and quality of the service could be important to national park visitors not using a car.

Visitors to Penrith can access bus services on to Keswick, Paterdale and alongside Haweswater to Mardale Head, while connecting services at Oxenholme on the lakes line serve Staveley and Windermere in the national park.

Walkers travelling to Mardale Head may get off the bus and pass through the Nan Bield Pass to the Kentmere valley.

At the foot of this lies Staveley, whose station enables walkers to end a long day's trek with a train journey home.