Lakes - Wasdale/Buttermere

DSA244

I was just wondering if anyone had ridden from Wasdale Head to Styhead Tarn then to Stockley Bridge on to Seathwaite. Then roads to Buttermere. Buttermere Lake to Red Pike vis Bleaberry Tarn?? Then from Red Pike past High Crag and Black sail hut back to Wasdale Head.

Wondered if anyone has tried this or something similar?? How rideable etc it is. I downloaded this route for Memory map and like the look of it, but looks a toughie which I like as long as there is some great descents.

Cheers

ibbowmb

i've walked the wasdale/styhead/stockley bridge section and i would honestly say it'd be more of a carry than a ride!!

chemdog

sorry its taken me a while to notice this, yes I have tried and wouldnt mind trying again. This was Singletrackworlds West Cumbria Hard route (I believe Keswick Mountain Bike phoned to complain as this route is borderline insane at least for those unexpecting).

My attempt goes something like this;

The climb up from Wasdale to Styhead is probably 30% rideable, a carry in a large number of places with interesting discussions with walkers all the way.

The route from Styhead tarn down to Seathwaite is superb, definately worth the ascent, suitcase style boulders (also mentioned in the "back to basics" singletrack article where one of their crew broke his leg(?) on the descent and had to get mountain rescue out). Anyways its a cracking bit of the route.

From seathwaite the climb up honister pass isnt the best but is rideable if your relatively determined and the descent down the other side is a bit disheartening losing so much height on tarmac!

The climb out of Buttermere is another one featured in STW, just a series of steps (think carrying your bike up the stairs in your house for 45 minutes and you might come close (not rideable at all), quick scoot round the side of a tarn and then another carry up onto 'The Saddle'. From the saddle up to red pike is the crazy bit and unfortunately where my ride ended. Getting close to the top is nuts, a complete scramble, trying to progress up the hill with a bike and both hands on the ground is a right challenge. (One of the guys i was with started to bonk here and gave up and not wanting to go on alone I retreated back to buttermere for collection and drive back out later for the car). Allegedly after that climb comes the best bit...

So.

My advice;
-do it on a good weather day only. I believe STW said 20miles allow 6-9 hours (yes thats not a typo) - send me a pm/your email address and I'll send you the STW article).
-Be prepared for an epic you wont be disappointed.
-Plan well in advance (so I can join you!)

Thinking about this, some of the guys from MTBbritain did a bit of this route in particle Red Pike; http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/lake_distri ... _pike.html note their quote "This is the most difficult part of the ascent of Red Pike. Without a bike it would be difficult, with one it was downright dangerous."

Hope that helps somewhat. Can provide magazine numbers for all the ones I mentioned above if youve got a back catalogue of them.

Iain

danny654

hi its my first time posting and i was just wondering what people think of the north face trail at grizedale forest? i thought i was alright well the parts that i took anyway. when ya get too the top theres a few trails then 1 long dh too the bottom.