I had a lot of help thanks from UKC, so thought it only polite to let people know how it went.
Bought a Genesis Tour de Fer 10 and 20, which are great. Tried Spa cycles, very poor for a newbie, total lack of advice and the owner is just awful, and it seems I am not the only one to have this experience https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7228 Thats the bad bit.
Decided for the first camping tour to get the train from Preston to Ravenglass and follow route 72 to Carlisle train back to Preston.
Train from Preston to Ravenglass went well, even though 7 bikes on train at one point, and the guard got a bit agitated, but dealt with it well. The transfer at Lancaster got a bit frought going up and down the stairs, but some huge guy picked up my wife's loaded tourer in one hand and carried it for her,
Cycled from Ravenglass to St Bees, and that was the only bit of route 72 that was hard to find, it goes along a narrow path that is quite narrow but worked well, then the ride up the coast to St Bees was a joy.
I phoned the campsite as we cycled up and the lady at head office said it was a 3 night minimum but would let us off and it closed up at 5, so paid in advance. The lady at the campsite was super chilled and said we could have turned up after 5 and pitched and paid in the morning.
St Bees to Beckfoot. St Bees is not the 72, because there is a steep hill out I think, and its about 1/2 mile from campsite, had to push bike for 10 feet as did not get gears sorted, not warmed up and got blown, thats my excuse. Took all day to do 35 miles, having coffees, chilling and having a picnic, great stuff.
Cooked tea on beach watching sunset across Solway ( how come Scotland is due west?) stunning, and deserted coastline. Campsite had a Peacock, do not stay on a Campsite with a Peacock.
Beckfoot to Carlisle on route 72. Superb safe cycling on cycle tracks and very quiet lanes, isn't that coast lovely. Bit warm really and bit jiggered after 40 miles at Carlisle and bum sore.
Went to book train, and found you had to book bike on, the Aviva ticket man sorted it and was most apologetic we would have to wait 1.5 hours for train.
The Trains were all superb and the staff most excellent, though a bloke did have to get off with his bike which was a bit sad, but I think we knew he was winging it, so not too bad.
For all our stuff, tents sleeping bags and clothes two panniers each, Ortelibs off course which are ace.
Thoroughly enjoyed and next trip is C2C via Hadrians wall and then up to Lindisfarne.
Thanks too all the UKC bike mob who made this possible.
Cheers Steve
Post edited at 21:34