Glenridding /Patterdale / Helvellyn - MTB routes?

MrGeebs
MrGeebs Posts: 62
edited April 2012 in Routes
Hi, Looking at an OS map of the area covering patterdale and glenridding at the bottom of Ullswater, there appears to be several bridleways going over the mountain towards thirlmere.
In particular Deepdale Beck, the track that follows Grisedale beck and the one coming out of Glenridding up to Keppel grove.
Has anyone cycled these routes and could recommend if it's better to cycle in one way or the other on any of them for the more fun downhill?
I find this pathfinder website useful http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?lat=54.53461122801332&lon=-2.9903782659368785&gz=15&oz=7&gt=1&jos=1

Any other tips or route suggestions welcomed, thanks.
um .. . . . .

Comments

  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    I've ridden that area, many years ago, 1991 actually! I followed a route printed in a book at the time, but I can still remember it fairly well.

    Park at Aira Force waterfall, ascend by road to Dockray, turn left across Matterdale common (muddy, swampy), climb over several parts such as Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd continue to Raise, then before you actually get to Helvellyn, descent into Glenridding, it's steep with boulders and zig zags.

    For all I know the above has been tarmaced now ;) Though I do go walking in the area sometimes.

    Refreshing to hear of someone planning a 'proper' MTB ride, starting to think MTBs were just for trail centres.
  • sniper68
    sniper68 Posts: 2,910
    The "classic" route seems to be up Keppel Cove then along to Helvellyn summit then turn around go over Raise and then down Sticks Pass 8)
    We did this but Sticks pass was under repair so the descent was ruined for us :roll:
    You can also continue on from the Summit over Nethermost Pike and descend Dollywaggon Pike which is quite steep and Technical.This would be my choice if we rode Helvellyn again.
    Lynskey R480

  • TheGeneralist
    TheGeneralist Posts: 99
    Done Helvelyn (sp) twice. The first time we followed the advice in some awful mountain bike guide and went up by the ski club car park, which involved a lot of pushing up. We went over the top and then down Dollywaggon Pike which involved a lot of pushing down. I was furious that the guidebook suggested doing it in this direction. At least the other way would have involved being able to ride down.

    Then did it again 6 years ago. We started way up north on the ridge pretty close to the A66 road and just headed south along the bridleway, past Raise. Then came down the zig zag route to the ski car park that we'd gone up years before. It was utterly brilliant. Almost every bit of the ascent was rideable and the descent was good too. The ground was frozen solid which helped.


    What I'd really like to do is combine Helvelyn and High Street in a days ride. The two mountain ridges both have bridleways along the top and face each other across Ullswater. Let me know if anyone fancies it.

Categories