Hey guys and gals,

Heading over to the Lake District for a week’s biking at the end of August, heading over from Belfast and have barely been in England let alone the lakes. Can anyone offer some info on a good area to search for accommodation and offer up a few good riding spots? All day epics and tech stuff.

Cheers!

Keswick!
& also have a go at the advanced search function, there is a million threads on lakes routes. 🙂

Buy (or borrow) the v-graphics Lake District Mountainbiking guide book & an OS map.

Keswick is probably the best place to stay, but imo you’ll get better access to more varied riding out of Ambleside..

Loads of info here-
http://www.golakes.co.uk/

There’s even downloads for the cycling guides (although won’t include the sort of riding it sounds like you’re after)-
http://www.golakes.co.uk/adventure-capital/cycle-guides-download.aspx

There’s lots of accommodation options so best to give some more info on what you’re looking for, budget, etc..

Have you got a gps? If you have i’m sure the kind folk on here will be able to sort you out with some routes & it’ll save you a shed load of navigation faff if you don’t know the area..

If you want quieter and away from towns, try Eskdale or Coniston. An hours scenic drive gets you between any of these places.

Staying in Keswick gives you a great range and variety of riding, it’s also a lovely little town with great pubs and restaurants and there is lots of accommodation. You have a choice of lots of natural riding but there’s also mtb trails in Whinlatter forest, which is just a few minutes driving north from the town. Some of the more popular natural routes include:
Lonscale fell route – A short but excellent ride out of Keswick, you’ll get some altitude, but not tons and get to see what the area has to offer. This ride is great for squeezing in with other day rides or if you get there late in the day and wanna get out riding: http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue_Map_TrailViewer.aspx?VenueNumber=170&TrailNumber=303&Unique=635738408406505082

The Borrowdale Bash – A longer and more demanding route. Lots more altitude and lots more demanding tech. Everyone generally enjoys this ride and covers some stunning scenery. Allow 3-5hrs I’d say depending on your fitness: http://fattyres.co.uk/routes/borrowdale-bash

If you’d like to get some proper altitude then there are 2 mountains you can legally cycle up. Skiddaw & Helvellyn.
.Skiddaw stands above Keswick and there is a simple route straight up the front of it. The path up is very steep and it is very likely you’ll be pushing your bike up it. You can get to the top in under 2 hours though so it doesn’t take all day. You can just go to the top and blast back down which is great fun but there is a cheeky route down Ullock pike. flick to OS map
.Helvellyn can be reached cycling out of Keswick if you like but people tend to drive round and start in Patterdale, cycling up the mountain up Kepple cove is generally accepted to be a good route as it’s just about all cycleable. Be prepared for a good workout and there are several tough uphill sections if you want to get to the summit ridge. The 2 main routes down: Dollywaggon pike, very technical and tough. This was beyond my skill set on a HT but lots of people like it. Sticks pass back to Patterdale is faster and less technical.

If you do any natural riding it’s very likely you’ll encounter people walking, moreso at the weekend and especially around Skiddaw, which is quite an easy mountain to ascend. Hope that helps, have fun. If you’re going at the end of August I’d advise getting some accommodation booked quickly, if you haven’t already done so.

Obviously, end of August will be very busy in the Lakes hotspots – Keswick, Ambleside, Windermere, Coniston etc – and the more popular fells (Skiddaw, Helvellyn). Getting around can be slow in the holidays, so choosing between North and South Lakes for the bulk of your riding is a good idea.

As above, get the vertebrate graphics guide and come back on here for accommodation etc when you’ve got a plan for the riding you’d like to do.

Ahem…

Other guide books do exist… http://www.walking-books.com/Lake-District-Mountain-Bike-Routes-22-Classic-Routes-in-the-Cumbrian-Fells-and-Dales.html

And the author is available if you’ve any questions etc. Just drop me an email (on profile).

Yep, thats^ a good guide too (& also has a Nan Bield route in) 😉

If you’re over for a week why don’t you do a few days in the South Lakes, then a couple of days in the North Lakes, you’ll get the best of both worlds then..

Good shout. I’d have a couple of days in Coniston then up to Keswick. Don’t try an do it all. Leave some goodies for next time.
South:
Big Coniston Loop
Day in Eskdale
Day razzing about in grizedale
North:
Four passes
Ullock (do it midweek though cos its cheeky)
Helvellyn
After four passes you might feel like a rest day!
Also plan some big days out but remember even if it’s peeing down (which it will be at some point) there’s always grizedale and whinlatter as back up.

Accomodation, if you’ve left it this late and want a roof over your head it’s going to be spendy, consider camping

Thanks a lot guys. Have booked the first half of the trip in Keswick for a really reasonable price given the short notice, a place called Beechings Folly. Planning on 4 nights there then 3 in or around Coniston. I’ll get sorted with a guide book and try to get some stuff on my GPS. This all seems like a really good foundation to work from, keep the suggestions coming so we can narrow them down and get some kind of plan together.

Beechings Folly is the old Station Master’s house. The railway line / path is right on your doorstep, which will take you out to the Dodds if you wanted to take that route up Helvellyn, and Spooney Green Lane (which takes you up Latrigg and onwards to Skiddaw) is just around the corner. The centre of town is a short five minute walk across the park.

Sounds spot on.

Keswick end: Lonscale – Skiddaw – Ullock (evening or early morning for walker avoidance).

‘Enhanced’ Borrowdale Bash including Sty Head

Helvellyn from the Ullswater side. Ullswater singletrack evening or early morning?

Coniston end

Walna Scar from Torver via Broughton Forest and Seathwaite (Duddon)

Grizedale Forest natural Bridleway Fest (not trail centre)

Three passes from Staveley.