The wife and I are heading up to Windermere in the Lake District in about a fortnight for a week's holiday, and will be looking to do a couple of rides. I've done a bit of searching and have come up with the North Face Trail in Grizedale and the the Altura Trail in Whinlatter. Would anyone recommend these trails, or are there better places to go while we're up there? It's a bit of a trek to get up there, so it's unlikely we'll return any time soon, so I want to make the most of it!
Cheers,
Dave
Theres much better riding than either of those
Bogtrotters will be happy to help no doubt http://www.bogtrotters.org/
That Simon F Barnes is an exceptionally nice person too
I agree with the tragically1969, great book - Whinlatter is much better than Grizedale but the bridleways are generally much more interesting.
I got the book above but also downloaded a load of routes from other websites as well and linked some together 
I agree the natural trals are so good it would def be a shame to just do trail centre riding.
simple - come out with us:
Sun 2 May Parkamoor
Wed 5 May Gilpin Bridge
Sun 9 May Walna Scar
Wed 12 May Farleton Knott
Sun 16 May Borrowdale Bash
Wed 19 May Sliverdale
I'll be adding Saturday rides nearer the time
I'm also due to be visiting with my missus on the 17th May for a week. Haven't booked accommodation yet, does anyone have any recommendations for a self catering cottage?
Parkamoor and Walna on that list are must do. Grizedale purpose built trail is utterly shit, stick with the bridleway in Grizedale if your going there.
if you want to choose your own route, feel free to call me any evening (not Weds) on 01524 843474 for detailed info on Lakeland trails
yes why go all the way there to do trail centres?
Whinlatter is better in a bmx track kind of a way if that is your thing
walna scar is a must do if you like a little loose rock
A must do IMHO may even go and endure those boggies just for that ride 
A must do IMHO may even go and endure those boggies just for that ride
so long as you don't have a ponytail and talk all the time you'll be welcome
http://www.wheelwrights.com
http://www.heartofthelakes.co.uk/
http://www.keswickcottages.co.uk/
As for riding. The trail centres are well trail centres. The real lakes will possibly involve map work, steep climbs, bits you may or may nor be able to ride, great views, walkers, possible nice pubs and cafes enroute, sections of road etc.
You will know if this is what you love
I think the Bridleways of the lakes give this sort of rding as good as anything in the UK
Simon,
We'll be in the area for both the Sunday and Wednesday rides, so that sounds very enticing! How long would you expect Parkamoor and Walna to take? I'm going up with my parents too, and whilst they probably wouldn't mind looking after their granddaughter for a while, I don't want to take the piss.
Dave
I'm with plumber- there's so much good riding in that area you don't have to restrict yourself to the trail centres. There's a good ride around Claife Heights which is on the other side of Windermere. There's also a fab ride around Loughrigg Terrace. Bike Treks in Ambleside will sell you lots of maps with good routes on them.
Also try Chesters in Skelwith Bridge for afternoon tea- it's the best tea shop by miles.
Solar- have you tried Wheelwrights for accommodation? They specialist in places in Ambleside, the Langdales and the surrpuinding area. We stayed in a lovely cottage in Little Langdale and rode from the door on one day and a short drive to another start point the next.
Junkyard,
I looked for trail centres because it looked like a good place to start, and I'm used to riding at trail centres in Wales. On the advice of people here though, it looks like the bridleways are a lot more fun!
Dave
How long would you expect Parkamoor and Walna to take
3 to 4 hours typically
Also try Chesters in Skelwith Bridge for afternoon tea- it's the best tea shop by miles.
Yeh, it sells over priced pieces of cake & slate to the well-off city slickers who are stupid enough to go there. Its a classic tourist hotspot.
The food is nice though, never tried the slate like
3 to 4 hours typically
That definitely sounds feasible. I think the Parkamoor ride on the Sunday is the most likely, so I imagine we'll join you if the grandparents are willing.
Thanks everyone - can't wait!
Parkamoor is really good, but if its a 3-4 hour ride i imagine you'll be doing loads of other good stuff in/around grizedale as well.
That Simon F Barnes is an exceptionally nice person too
I've just seen that, and don't consider it to be true, however, I do enjoy helping people pick good routes
Real (none trail centre) Grizedale is the best, I'll add I've not ridden the trail centre Grizedale but the forest stuff is so good I can't see man improving upon it.
Get to Biketreks on your first day with an OS map, and get them to show you some of the gems. South/east of Ambleside must be some of the best riding in the country...
While there's better riding than whinlatter, it's a nice spot for a family outing. Nice cafe, way marked walks, adventure playground etc, so could do laps of the routes (about 1 hour each) while dropping back in to the visitor centre between rides.
Parkamoor is really good, but if its a 3-4 hour ride i imagine you'll be doing loads of other good stuff in/around grizedale as well.
The route takes in Ickenthwaite, Rusland Pool, Force Forge, Moor Lane etc so there's plenty of fun for everyone
Parkamoor recently:
and here's Plumber demonstrating the correct way to ride Rusland Pool:
You could ride to go down Garburn Pass from your door in Windermere and come back via Kentmere. Garburn Pass is fabulous, especially if you set off v early in the morning
Genius pic of Plumber 
Junkyard's pic of Walna Scar road being ridden:
Video of same - best with sound off at work...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowslave/3261006097/in/set-72157613504688104
If your in Windermere, then Garburn and Kentmere are just down the road. Went over Garburn yesterday and it was very quiet, everybody heads into Bowness or Ambleside, but on top of Green Quarter Fell you almost feel like you have the place to yourself. You certainly meet more bikers than walkers. Head to Wheelbase and the lads in there will mark a route on an OS map for you, or you can buy one of their laminated maps for a couple of quid.
Junkyard's pic of Walna Scar road being ridden:
simonfbarnes - MemberA must do IMHO may even go and endure those boggies just for that ride
so long as you don't have a ponytail and talk all the time you'll be welcome
so long as you don't have a ponytail and talk all the time you'll be welcome
Guaranteed Fail!
harsh but fair ...... so on that front been out riding recently ?
Yeah, did two towers yesterday, pigeon and mast, loved it!
While there's better riding than whinlatter, it's a nice spot for a family outing. Nice cafe, way marked walks, adventure playground etc, so could do laps of the routes (about 1 hour each) while dropping back in to the visitor centre between rides.
I agree. One advantage of Grizedale is that between the sculpture trail and kids play area everyone else wouldn't know that you were gone in the time it took to do a lap
trailofdestruction - Member[quote]If your in Windermere, then Garburn and Kentmere are just down the road. Went over Garburn yesterday and it was very quiet, everybody heads into Bowness or Ambleside, but on top of Green Quarter Fell you almost feel like you have the place to yourself. You certainly meet more bikers than walkers. Head to Wheelbase and the lads in there will mark a route on an OS map for you, or you can buy one of their laminated maps for a couple of quid.
+1
+1 sfb routes
http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/ and next door for the rest of family is; http://www.wilfs-cafe.co.uk/
Other must do`s are Borrowdale bash from Keswick and Blencartha/Glendettera(sp)loop. Maps from Keswick mtb for a couple of pounds. All the Lakes shops have small pre printed maps of the areas classics.
If you're really stuck, just go to grizedale and bomb up and down the bridleways between coniston and windermere. They're all good and you can't really get lost
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