Lake District ideas?

Marik
Marik Posts: 40
edited October 2014 in Tour & expedition
Hoping to grab a last minute 3 days cycling in lake District starting 20th Oct, either day trips from one base, circular route, or whatever turns up - don't know this area at all, so hoping folk familiar with these parts might be able to suggest some routes, ideally quiet roads, around 60/80 mls per day - thanks

Comments

  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Where will you be staying?
  • Marik
    Marik Posts: 40
    No idea! was hoping to book somewhere after getting some ideas about wheres good to cycle
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Coniston/Hawkshead area have some nice roads right from the doorstep and are a bit quieter than Ambleside/Windermere/Bowness/Keswick.
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    From Coniston/Hawkshead there's plenty of good routes. Langdale valley, Wrynose, Ulpha valley, Broughton, Woodland, Subberthwaite, Lowick bridge, Back to coniston. Or through Grizedale back to Hawkshead.

    Or skip the Ulpha valley and do Hardknott aswell, then back via Birker fell, Broughton and torver.
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Roads to try and avoid:

    a5092 between newby bridge and bowness
    a590
    a5091
    a66
    a595
  • milleman
    milleman Posts: 181
    Definately worth doing a route to include Broughton, the village bakery is superb!
  • Marik
    Marik Posts: 40
    Thanks very much for that, think will keep to quieter areas as suggested, still looking for reasonably lively base to stay, just for eating/pubs, etc, hopefully will strike lucky.
  • The western lakes are well worth thinking about. A there & back up wasdale from Gosforth (great bakery there too) might not be considered a big ride, but it is worth it just for the scenery & a pint at the Wasdale head inn. Broughton is a good call. From there, you've got some cracking roads - out through Ulpha to Cockley beck, over hardknott and back over Birker Fell. You'll probably see half a dozen cars once you're off the main road at duddon bridge (which could be avoided I think by going through Broughton Mills to Ulpha). You've also got a quiet route up to Coniston from Broughton.
    Or even think about The Howgills & western yorkshie dales instead. Some fantastic routes around Sedbergh. I'd agree wholeheartedly with the list of roads to avoid if you can. Don't be scared of the A6 though - A lovely wide road that looks like it should be busy, but is by-passed by the M6.
  • Marik
    Marik Posts: 40
    Managed a few short routes but curtailed by weather - arrived tail end of hurricane day, and just hid among narrow sheltered lanes following day. Really are some cracking hills in that area - had no idea - thanks for all the info :)