A 40-mile loop of the Lake District has been named Britain's Best Ride.

Cycling Plus, the UK’s best-selling cycling magazine, announced the accolade.

People were asked to nominate the road rides they felt should take the crown by submitting a short film highlighting the best bits.

During the search, a pair of cyclists Lindsay McCrae and James Hodgson got in touch and nominated their favourite.

It was a 40 miles (64km), route covering 5,593ft (1700m) of ascent with a 30 to 35% gradient along the way.

The pair are members of cycling groups Lakes Road Club and Broughton Wheelers.

The route involves starting in Broughton-in-Furness travelling along the eastern shore of Coniston and then onwards to Barngates.

It drops down to Skelwith for the climb up and over Wrynose Pass (the steepest part), with a long gentle descent to Seathwaite, Ulpha and Duddon Bridge before making its way back to Broughton.

Each of the nominated routes was  ridden by the magazine’s editorial team and films put online where people could choose their winning route.

Rob Spedding, Cycling Plus editor, said: "James and Lindsay’s beautiful Lake District loop thoroughly deserves the accolade of Britain’s Best Ride. The ride beat off some extremely tough competition but I'm not surprised. It's got everything – stunning scenery, quiet roads and in Wrynose Pass, a proper cycling challenge!

"It’s a tough and very lumpy cookie that takes in the beautiful Coniston Water and the immensely challenging Wrynose Pass."

James won a Boardman road bike courtesy of Halfords, which he has chosen to auction to raise funds for the St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston, Cumbria.

Richard Greenwood, of Cumbria Tourism said: "Winning this award further highlights what many cyclists already know about our beautiful county. Cumbria has loads to offer as a cycling destination, with country lanes, quiet back roads and lots of National Cycle Network routes to explore, as well as more challenging off road routes over high fells and mountains.’’

To see the video of the winning route visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5dolf4DFw_4