Lake District routes suggestion please?

shaunlfc1

Hi all,

I am coming up to the lakes with 9 friends on the 20th August and staying in Staveley, and plan to spend 7 days doing lots of superb riding.

We plan to do Grizedale & Whinlatter, but plan to do as many of the famous XC trails as possible, and so far plan to do the following:

Garburn
Nan Bield
Hellvellyn

All the routes I've lifted straight from www.gpsies.com and have been reviewed by a well known magazine, so we're pretty safe with them regards to knowing what to expect etc....

So does anyone have any hidden gems or recommendations they would like to share with me. Preferably if you have, I'd love the GPX file. We're using a big van to transport the bikes so we dont mind moving around the Lakes at all to take in all this superb riding.

Cheers all,

Shaun

Mancunianfightingcat

I've got a great 33km proper route in and around Grizedale, that ignores all of the man made North Face trail. I'll get the .gpx of my lap top tonight.

ratty2k

Some great stuff in Grizedale forest and Walna Scar is worth the trip.
IMO Helvellyn is more a case of because you can, wasn't overly impressed as a ride... Mind we had shite weather which didn't help.
Whinlatter also IMHO sucks balls, and the NFT aint any better... But it does lead to greatness in the forest , so redeems itself!

sniper68

ratty2k wrote:

IMO Helvellyn is more a case of because you can, wasn't overly impressed as a ride... Mind we had shite weather which didn't help.

Plus the fact that Sticks pass(our chosen descent on the day) was a building site :roll: Would have gone back down Keppel cove had we have known :x
Agree on Whinlatter and the NFT,there's much better riding to be had in Grizedale 8)

cammer

I notice Tour of Coniston is on that site. Definitely worth checking out, and takes in the best descent of Grizedale and also includes Walna Scar.

Also plenty of good riding to be had between Coniston and Ambleside if you don't fancy a big mountain day.

Further North, Borrowdale Bash is liked by many (but personally not one of my favourites)

Mancunianfightingcat

Struggling to upload my route anywhere, if anyone wants the gpx, pm me your email address. Or tell me where I can upload it to

shaunlfc1

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies much appreciated.

I've actually done Whinlatter and Grizedale trail centres and think they are pretty good especially Whinlatter. Last time I did Grizedale we were directed by some locals to take a liitle detour via Parkamoor to take in some XC and a great downhill then loop back to the North Face loop.

So it sounds like Hellvelyn is not worth the effort then? What about High Street and Walna Scar what sort of riding are they?

Thanks again, I'll PM to get that GPX file cheers.

Shaun

trailpuppet

If you are there for a week there will be shop rides from Wheelbase, Biketreks and Keswick Mountainbikes. Get in touch, look at their web sites for info.

Get in early to any of those shops and the guys will/may show you the local stuff

http://www.bogtrotters.org/list_routes.php as good a resource as any.

All of the high level rides are weather dependant, not good on cluody, rainy days.

you might also consider the Howgills ie Cross Fell and Calf/Bowderdale from Sedburgh, much better than Helvelyn imo

A lot of Lakes knowledge and locals over on stw :oops:

http://www.mountain-bike-cumbria.co.uk/
http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/nan_bield_pass_route.html
http://www.northernmunkies.co.uk/
http://www.ridethelakes.co.uk/cms/
http://www.offroadadventures-online.com/
[/u[/url]

sniper68

shaunlfc1 wrote:

Hi all,

So it sounds like Hellvelyn is not worth the effort then? What about High Street and Walna Scar what sort of riding are they?

Shaun

High Street is pretty much a bog along Loadpot Hill unless it's been very dry and if you do it from Hartsop the climb up from Hayswater is just an out and out carry up a steep grassy Mountainside with little or no path as such.
Walna scar is very rocky/techy on the Coniston side,more of a steep fire road on the Seathwaite side.As said ealier do the loop from Coniston that takes in some of Grizedale and finish off with Walna Scar.
Personally I'd pick Walna over Helvellyn everytime and Helvellyn is one of my Favourite fell walks.
I have a gpx of both long(22m) and short (11m) Walna routes.

Scottsparkrider

Get yourself a guidebook. They are cheap enough and contain plenty of routes for you to have a go at.

busta gonad

Nan Bield is excellent, really captures the ambience of the Fells, techy in places and would have thought few walkers.

If the weather is dodgy the Borrowdale bash, is pretty good value.

busta gonad

Ahhh yes Hellvelyn..........I really enjoyed it via Glenridding - Keppel cove, then descend Lower man over Raise, Sticks pass, if you don't mind some hike a bike, it's a great route. via Dollywaggon there is the giant manmade staircase, it seems some rate it, some hate, it probably depends on how much travel you pack.

Scottsparkrider

Nan Bield - expect to shoulder your bike for at least 45 mins as you scramble up from Mardale Head. Gatesgarth Pass is much better.

gaanrowl

skiddaw loop is a belter, in most guide books

shaunlfc1

Hey all,

Thanks for all the info hugely appreciated and it has been invaluable.

The big day has come, we set off early doors tomorrow morning and hope to hit Staveley about 11am, ready for a pub lunch and our first outing on the bikes.

Cheers again....

Shaun