Lake District Routes

Yecomb wrote:

The worst bit (for me) would be betweem Thirlmere and Grasmere as it's a slog up a narrowish 2 way road with buses, caravans and plenty of cars. If you have the time/energy go a bit further round from Keswick past Ullswater and over the Kirkstone Pass to Ambleside. And as Garz says, try the Wrynose from Langdale.

Thanks Yecomb (and Garz). Depending on the wind, I was thinking of doing this anti-clockwise, so it'd mean I had the cycle up to Dunmail Rise on the wide road, then the descent down to Thirlmere on the narrower bit, so I should be around the 35mph mark on that section you mention, so shouldn't be so much of a problem, I think. I'm not sure my legs would want to go the long way round via the Kirkstone Pass, however picturesque it is.

Re Wrynose - I'm hoping I'm not misjudging my climbing ability, as I'm on a 50/34 compact, and I hate getting off and walking up hills (it's partly that reason I've bypassed Hardknott); I seem to remember the climb Wrynose West-East is not too savage, though I can't exactly remember it (I've only driven it before). I've done a fair bit of walking in the Lake District, but this will be my first jaunt with a bike, so I'm not going to be too adventurous this time!

Both rides now done - both highly enjoyable.

I did extend the north run, up to Skinburness (a more godforsaken place it is hard to imagine) via Bothel and Aspatria, but it was nice for a Devonian to ride some straight level roads round there. Back via Wigton and down to Caldbeck. No scarily busy roads, and no major climbing.

The circuit down to Gosforth from Keswick was a stunner - about 8,500ft of climbing, and (boo!) heavy legs caused me to walk a couple of short bits (the first bit up to Birker Fell, and the last bit of Wrynose), but it's hard to imagine a more varied and pretty route. The short bit of road from Calder Bridge to Gosforth wasn't a problem, ditto Dunmail Rise. I did the St John in the Vale diversion for the last bit into Keswick, to avoid the main road. 77 extremely tiring but rewarding miles. I'd recommend it to anyone.

EDIT: I should mention that the road that leads from Ting Mound near Little Langdale to Middle Fell Farm in Langdale is in a shocking state of repair - enormous potholes all over the place, including one about 3ft wide and 1ft deep right in the dip by Bleatarn House. Proceed with caution!!!

Garz wrote:

Shocked that you had to walk some, but at least your man enough to admit it. This year tackling wrynose after 60 miles I admit I nearly gave in as my fitness was lagging the previous years preparation.

I take it you done both rides solo?

Yes, both rides solo. My only vaguely plausible excuse for the two bits of walking is that I did the Mosedale Horseshoe up to Pillar (on foot, I hasten to add, though I did meet someone walking a mountain bike down Black Sail pass as I went up) on Tuesday, and my legs have been very stiff since then, so found today harder work than I'd have hoped.

In Gosforth the lady who served me in the shop told me of a Gosforth man who did his last Hardknott/Wrynose ride when he was 77, and kept his bike in the bath.