A work mate and his lady are off for a Lakes visit this weekend and are taking bikes with them – they aren’t really ‘bikers’ but have a couple of decent hardtails but not really any trail centre experience.
They’re staying somewhere around Windermere and are after some ‘flat’ routes – I wouldn’t have thought there would be too many of them in Cumbria and TNF at Grizedale might be too much – think longish ‘pootles’.

Anyone recommend anything?

Cheers

Offroad or on quiet roads?

Offroad or a mix preferably. I think 😕

Get the bikes up to Keswick and a nice loop around Derwentwater then out along the old railway and back via Castlerigg?

i’d suggest heading down to Lake Windermere and heading across on the ferry. Once on the other side then head north along the lake road leading on to a made path that can be followed all the way to the Wray Castle. From there paths and quiet roads can be followed all the way to Ambleside where you can load the bikes on to one of the passenger cruise boats and head back to Bowness.

+1 Paulevans, Claife heights is ‘do-able’ for a novice and is a great ride.

The cycleway along the river from skelwith bridge to Elterwater – short, but posh cafe (cheaters) at one end and decent pub at other.
Back roads and lanes east of Windermere – towards Crook, then cycleway back from Stavely.

Tick.

Some of the tracks north of Stavely are just plain “nice” to ride on, yet its still proper mtb-ing. Probably worth popping into Wheelbase for some route advice.

+2 paulevans there s also a bike bus from ambleside back to Windermere

Fireroads in Grizedale are worth a look. Not flat but the way marked routes available from the visitor centre give a ride with a good balance of climbing, flat bits and descending

The Bridleway around Buttermere is excellent and often overlooked, some great cafes in the village too..

Around Loweswater and Lorton vale back roads also pleasant and quieter on bank hol weekend.