Britain's favourite view - across Wastwater
The Lake District National Park in the mountainous north-west corner of England offers some of the country’s most stunning scenery and endless mountain bike trails for all levels.
Some of the Lakes’ best riding is to be had at high altitude on the mountain ridges, but the problem with these routes is getting up there in the first place, so a good level of fitness is a must. These rocky peaks offer a good mix of fast single-track and technical rock sections, just take the descent of Lower Man for example, or the trials-like bridleway that descends to the south of Dollywaggon Pike to Grisedale Tarn.
For the less energetic riders, don’t worry, there’s plenty of great riding at low level in the valleys and by the lakes. There’s always something special about a slow summer’s afternoon amble around one of the area’s lakes and tarns, or for the more technically-inclined there’s plenty of gnarly stuff too, try the Ullswater lakeside bridleway for example.
But the main appeal of the Lake District is the scenery; nothing can beat the feeling of being atop a mountain with a 360 degree vista of nothing but mountains and water, with views as far as Scotland on a clear day and no sign of civilisation in any direction. There’s only you, your bike and 1,000m plus of pure downhill pleasure. Enjoy!
Routes in the Lake District:
Added on 28th August 2010
Statistics
- Distance: 30km (19mi)
- Ascent: 1,366m (4,482ft)
- Effort: 4/5
- Technical: 4/5
- Scenery: 5/5
- Off-road: 76%
Summary
Our second Helvellyn route (the first is here) takes a slightly different approach. We tried to consider which of the many bridleways on the ridge are actually the most ridable, and this is what we came up with.
This route starts one the Thirlmere side of the Helvellyn range, from the carpark at Thirlspot. We climb from here on an old pony track onto the ridge, a lot of which is surprisingly rideable. After a quick there-and-back of the summit (ok then, maybe not quick!), the route follows the whole ridge from south to north before descending from Great Dodd on grassy singletrack. Finally, a blast along the Old Coach Road and a short road section gets you back to the car.
Read the rest of this route »
Route Tags:
Big Mountain Routes,
Great Dodd,
Helvellyn,
Lower Man,
Matterdale Common,
Old Coach Road,
Raise,
Ridge Route,
Singletrack,
Stybarrow Dodd,
Thirlmere,
Thirlspot,
Watson's Dodd,
White Side
Added on 24th August 2010
Statistics
- Distance: 17km (10mi)
- Ascent: 589m (1,932ft)
- Effort: 2/5
- Technical: 3/5
- Scenery: 4/5
- Off-road: 75%
Summary
This is a fairly easy route by Lake District standards and yet still manages to give you a true feeling of remoteness in parts. It has one particularly technical section around the flank of Lonscale Fell, with a tasty looking drop off one side.
This route is good for beginners, although you may be pushing around the Lonscale Fell area, but it’s also a good route if you’re more advanced but are looking for a shorter ride, as it sqeezes some great terrain into a relatively short distance.
The route itself begins in Keswick, and starts off on the old railway route to Threlkeld. It then climbs onto the flanks of Blease Fell and follows the contours before crossing Glenderaterra Beck and returns to Keswick via the Alps-like track around Lonscale Fell.
Read the rest of this route »
Added on 19th August 2010
Statistics
- Distance: 29km (18mi)
- Ascent: 869m (2,851ft)
- Effort: 3/5
- Technical: 4/5
- Scenery: 4/5
- Off-road: 51%
Summary
A medium-difficulty route in the heart of the Lake District with enough technical riding to keep it interesting and some stunning scenery along the way.
We start in Ambleside and initially head south, keeping to the west of Windermere before veering right and heading west to Hawkshead. The route then takes you across the rocky crags of Furness Fells into Little Langdale.
Then, passing Elterwater and traversing Loughrigg Terrace, you’ll be spat out on the banks of Rydal Water ready for the short blast back to Ambleside.
Read the rest of this route »
Added on 15th August 2010
Statistics
- Distance: 36km (22mi)
- Ascent: 1,333m (4,373ft)
- Effort: 4/5
- Technical: 4/5
- Scenery: 4/5
- Off-road: 61%
Summary
This tough route takes you right around the immense Skiddaw in the Lake District, followed by the there-and-back climb and descent to its summit. The ride has an almost alpine feel at times with singletrack clinging to cliffs and a sometimes worrying-looking drop off one side when traversing Lonscale Fell.
The routes starts and ends in Keswick and uses the road to get around the east side to the north of it. This is followed by the first of the offroad with the famous Whitewater Dash climb. Then there's the sweet descent to Skiddaw House followed by a climb onto the flanks of Lonscale Fell for an amazing piece of singletrack with a long drop off one side. This brings you back to the south of Skiddaw where your task that lay ahead is to climb the remaining 631m (2,070ft) to the summit and then, to make it all worth it, the return journey!
Read the rest of this route »
Statistics
- Distance: 26km (16mi)
- Ascent: 823m (2,871ft)
- Effort: 2/5
- Technical: 4/5
- Scenery: 4/5
- Off-road: 37%
Summary
This easy to moderate route starts and ends in Keswick and performs a full loop around the picturesque Derwent Water. Despite being relatively easy effort wise, the Borrowdale Bash includes several miles of wonderful technical singletrack and beautiful views across Keswick, Derwent Water, Skiddaw and the fells beyond.
As mentioned the route starts in Keswick (making it easy to access directly from the A66). The first leg takes the road south along the east bank of Derwent Water before climbing into the fells past Ashness Bridge and towards Watendlath Tarn. It then drops you back into the Borrowdale valley and climbs the other side where it climbs once again, flanking High Spy and returning North to Keswick via the Allerdale Ramble high above the west bank of Derwent Water.
Read the rest of this route »
Route Tags:
Allerdale Ramble,
Ashness Bridge,
Birkett's Leap,
Borrowdale,
Bowdergate Gill,
Brund Fell,
Castle Crag,
Cat Bells,
Derwent Water,
Grange,
High Scawdel,
High Spy,
Honister Pass,
Keswick,
Rosthwaite,
Seatoller,
Watendlath Farm,
Watendlath Tarn
Added on 18th February 2010
Statistics
- Distance: 22km (14mi)
- Ascent: 698m (2,274ft)
- Effort: 2/5
- Technical: 2/5
- Scenery: 4/5
- Off-road: 70%
Summary
Of all the mountain pass routes in the Lake District, Garburn Pass is an ideal place to start if you're new to this kind of high altitude riding. It can also form part of several longer routes including the infamous three passes route.
The route starts at Staveley in the Lake District and circumnavigates Sour Howes and Sallows as it climbs the pass before dropping down into Kentmere and a fast road spin back to the start. The views across Windermere are stunning when they reveal themselves from behind as you climb the pass.
All in all this is a not-too-strenuous mountain pass route and a must-ride route for all mountain bikers.
Read the rest of this route »
Route Tags:
Browfoot Lane,
Dubbs Reservoir,
Dubbs Road,
Garburn Pass,
Garburn Road,
Kentmere,
Mountain Pass Routes,
River Kent,
Sallows,
Sour Howes,
Staveley
Added on 11th October 2009
Statistics
- Distance: 20km (12mi)
- Ascent: 1,077m (3,534ft)
- Effort: 3/5
- Technical: 4/5
- Scenery: 4/5
- Off-road: 91%
Summary
This is a technical and strenuous route taking you to the summit and back of England’s highest peak legally accessible by mountain bike, Helvellyn.
Although this shouldn't be attempted by the faint-hearted, the promise of 1,077m of descending offers enough motivation to make all the climbing worth it. This combined with the breathtaking views across the Lake District and as far as Scotland on a clear day should be enough to put Helvellyn firmly on any serious mountain biker's to-do list. So what are you waiting for?
Read the rest of this route »
Route Tags:
Big Mountain Routes,
Dollywaggon Pike,
Glenridding,
Grisedale,
Grisedale Tarn,
Helvellyn,
High Crag,
Lower Man,
Nethermost Pike,
Raise,
Ridge Route,
Ruthwaite Lodge,
Sticks Pass,
White Side
Added on 9th October 2009
Statistics
- Distance: 37km (23mi)
- Ascent: 1,461m (4,793ft)
- Effort: 4/5
- Technical: 4/5
- Scenery: 4/5
- Off-road: 95%
Summary
This difficult route takes in not only the High Street summit but also 4 (or more with a few detours!) other summits and the Ullswater lakeside bridleway. As you can imagine it blends tough climbing and technical riding with long sections of single-track and fun technical sections. It’s not for the faint hearted, but it’s definitely worth it!
Read the rest of this route »
Route Tags:
Big Mountain Routes,
Hartsop,
Hayeswater,
Hayeswater Gill,
High Raise (Martindale),
High Street,
Kidsty Pike,
lakeside route,
Loadpot Hill,
Patterdale,
Rampsgill Head,
Ridge Route,
Singletrack,
The Knott,
Ullswater,
Ullswater Lakeside Bridleway,
Wether Hill
Added on 9th October 2009
Statistics
- Distance: 35km (22mi)
- Ascent: 875m (2,871ft)
- Effort: 3/5
- Technical: 4/5
- Scenery: 4/5
- Off-road: 39%
Summary
This route is perferct if you fancy something technical, but without too much effort because it involves hardly any climbing and yet it still manages to take in what is probably the best technical bridleway in the country – the Ullswater lakeside path from Howtown to Glenridding. Not only is the technical riding superb, it also affords breathtaking views across Ullswater.
The only downside of this ride is the long road section it starts with. The first 11 miles are on-road but this just serves as access to the ride itself, and it’s over in no time anyway and the scenery is fantastic.
Read the rest of this route »
