Lake district scarth gap/black sail pass
Hello there,
Can anyone give me any advice on the best direction to ride the above passes.
The route we are going to do is. Start at Gatesgarth farm and ride (push!) up the scarth gap pass then down into Ennerdale and the black sail pass round great gable on the Moses trod path, past styhead tarn and back down to Seatoller. Then up the honister pass picking up the bridleway at the slate mine and back down to gatesgarth via warnscale bottom.
Is this the best way to ride this route or would it be better doing it in reverse.
Cheers
Can anyone give me any advice on the best direction to ride the above passes.
The route we are going to do is. Start at Gatesgarth farm and ride (push!) up the scarth gap pass then down into Ennerdale and the black sail pass round great gable on the Moses trod path, past styhead tarn and back down to Seatoller. Then up the honister pass picking up the bridleway at the slate mine and back down to gatesgarth via warnscale bottom.
Is this the best way to ride this route or would it be better doing it in reverse.
Cheers

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Posts
Don't get carried away with the map showing bridleways, just because ponies can get over them doesn't mean bikes can.
Totally agree with him :shock: :shock: :shock:
Boardman CX Comp
Go if you wish, but you have been warned :roll:
We've done quite a bit of riding around the Lakes, Skiddaw, Borrowdale bash etc and were just looking for something a little different to do.
We are staying in Braithwaite, gonna ride at Whinlatter tomorrow and planned to do the other ride on Thursday. Have you got any other suggestions for a good ride out in the area?
Thanks
Along the old railway track to Threlkeld, past the Blencathra Centre and up the Glederaterra Beck. Skiddaw House. Cumbria way NE to Mosedale, then minor road to Calebreck. Take the bridleway shown going SW, but soon turn off onto a good tack contouring N of Low Pike to come out at Fell Side. Minor road to Green Head, then fell road to Longlands. Minor road to just S of Orthwaite then fell track to near Dash Farm, cross Dash Beck to pick up Cumbria Way. Past Whitewater Dash, back to Skiddaw House then Cumbria Way on opposite side of Glenderaterra Beck to the morning to come out at the car park near Latrigg. Then take the excellent swooping descent (watch for walkers) to cross the A66 back into Keswick. An excellent long day out in quiet remote hills. Can do you a .GPX if you like.
It is doable, but it's utterly soul destroying - be prepared to have to walk and carry down as well as up in some places.
Personally I'd start from Seatoller and head up Honister first, then over the top by the slate quarry and down Warnscale Bottom.
Scarth Gap is impossible to ride up - it's a carry all the way - but it's an interesting if slow and tricky descent down to Black Sail Hut.
You're then better of going over into Wasdale from Black Sail. Again, Black Sail Pass is impossible/improbable as a ride up but the drop down into Wasdale is doable again with care.
It's the climb up to Styhead that's the killer. Personally I'd keep to the right-hand (lower) path closest to Lingmell Beck as beign the lesser of two evils. At least once you're at Styhead it's downhill all the way to Seatoller (hence my suggestion to start there).
If you decide to do it, I salute your mentalism. I honestly think that mountain biking's gone a bit soft in some quarters. I was doing this sort of run 20 years ago and had some of the best adventures ever.
Help for Heroes
JayPic
He's not planning dropping to Wasdale, but going round the back of Kirk Fell, then under Gable Crags, on Moses Trod, or as it's known nowadays - Climbers Traverse. A completly different kettle of fish to climbing up to Styhead, which is purgatory with a bike.
Think we'll do the borrowdale bash but add a bit on by going all the way up the honister pass and back down to gatesgarth farm via warnscale bottom then back up to the slate mine on the road to pick up the bash on the way to castle crag.
Topsey, We,ve done that Skiddaw loop before, really enjoyed it.
Thanks for all your replies, would appreciate it if you know any trails that are not in any of the Lakes guides books that are worth riding