Whinlatter - what's it like? Alternative natural routes?

Bike Forum

Whinlatter - what's it like? Alternative natural routes?

21 posts & 13 voices | Started 6 months ago by Rusty Spanner | Latest reply from Rusty Spanner

Tags:

No tags yet.

Rusty Spanner - Member

Off to Braithwaite for a bit of a do and planning on having a pop at Whinlatter.

Is it any good?
Worth missing out the local natural stuff for?

Interested in how it would compare to, say, The Marin, Penmachno or Kirroughtree.

Don't mind trail centres if they're really good fun and well thought out, but if it's a bit 'samey' would rather just have a big day out instead.

Can anyone recommend a non too techy natural ride in the area as an alternative - big hills not an issue

Thanks in advance.

Posted 6 months ago #
Trekster - Member

Whinlatter is easier than Kirry, bit more like GT in that it is a climb followed by a descent on both north & south loops. Good fun but the Borrowdale Bash is much better as is loops around Skiddaw such as Blencartha/Glenderterra(sp?). All depends how far/long you can/want to ride.
Boggies guide;
http://www.bogtrotters.org/route/showrouteframe.php?route=109
http://www.bogtrotters.org/route/showrouteframe.php?route=87

Posted 6 months ago #
neninja - Member

I thoroughly enjoyed the Skiddaw Loop - ride from Ormathwaite up to Skiddaw House - Mosedale - Calebreck - on the mining trails to Fellside - Orthwaite - Whitewater Dash - Skiddaw House and back down to start.

Not particularly technical plus some great views and fun trails. The bit from Skiddaw House towards Mosedale feels like a proper wilderness ride.

Posted 6 months ago #
Trekster - Member

Think I prefer it the other way round Makes Mosedale to the YHA a tough pedal but I enjoy that. `tis good the other way tho!

Posted 6 months ago #
Sanny - Member

Whiteless Pike.... except it is tech so not much use! Sorry!

Posted 6 months ago #
Lucas - Member

I like Whinlatter - very good for a 2-3 hour blast from Portinscale where we stay on holiday. I'm normally escaping from wife and kids so have to do a short route on my own. From Portinscale up the bridleway, round the 2 red loops and back down the bridleway is about 20miles.

If I have friends to ride with then the Borrowdale bash is a great route - looks like a lot of road on the map but it's worth it.

Posted 6 months ago #
robarnold - Member

I did the red route a few weeks back to get a bit of an escape from the missus and kids and absolutely loved it, very flowy and some nice technical bits thrown in too. Descent back down to the trail head after the north loop as it switchbacks down with big banked corners is absolutely mega! Very easy to navigate and great views...thoroughly recommend

Posted 6 months ago #
ir_bandito - Member

Borrowdale bash isn't too much on-road if you set off early/late to ride the cheeky trail above Walla Crags to Ashness Bridge

Apparently

P5250014 by ir_bandito, on Flickr

The Altura trial is a fun blast, but fairly short. South loop is basically one big climb and one big descent, but can feel very exposed on the top. North loop is a bit more varied.

Posted 6 months ago #
Lucas - Member

So if you have wife and kids to escape from for a few hours it's great!

Don't do what I did once - a mile into the first climb on the north loop there is a bit where you leave a bit of single track go about 50 meters on a fire road before going back on single track. this next bit of single track doubles back on the fireroad and you end up on a narrow track with a drop onto the fireroad very close to you on the right hand side. There are a few rocks to get over and then a root. this root was very slippy so my front wheel slipped and pointed off the edge of the drop. Before I knew it I was going over the bars off a 2-3m high drop. I broke my wrist and had to ride home one handed. I still can't bring myself to ride that bit even though I've done it loads of times in the past.

Posted 6 months ago #
Sanny - Member

ir-bandito

Which route do you take to get uo there when you, errr, take a wrong turn and end up on the fell?

Cheers

Sanny

Posted 6 months ago #
ir_bandito - Member

I accidentally rode up to Rakefoot and rather than retracing my steps, I carried on to Ashness Bridge.

Posted 6 months ago #
parkedtiger - Member

Which route do you take to get uo there when you, errr, take a wrong turn and end up on the fell?

Whatever you do Sanny, don't go up Springs road, past the mast, keep left, right at the road, right at the farm over the beck. Left fork after the four bar gate.

Posted 6 months ago #
parkedtiger - Member

Given the choice Rusty Spanner, I'd choose Whinlatter over that full figure of 8 Skiddaw loop - it's a boring drag. Or maybe do the short Glendeterra version (as that gives you the best bits) and then head down Borrowdale. KMB in town have route maps.

Posted 6 months ago #
collie - Member

Did Whinlatter for the first time last week and really enjoyed it. As per suggestion from Cycle Wise did it in the following order, Blue, Red South, Red North. Nice and varied, a lot of the climbing is on singletrack which makes it much less boring than other trail centre climbs.

Posted 6 months ago #
Rusty Spanner - Member

Ta all.

Will hit the maps tonight.

Much appreciated.

Posted 6 months ago #
teamhurtmore - Member

Visited W for first time last week. Excellent fun and given your location, the obvious choice for a good blast. Like Collie, I did blue, red south then red north. Very easy navigation and you can link blue and red south very easily (just don't do down the joint finish first time around). Can be hard work with all the climbing and top of the blue was quite exposed (slippy rock sections). But both red routes have great mid/bottom sections with fast sections with berms, small jumps - perfect for when you are too tired to bother braking!!

Buy your ticket in the shop - ladies are brilliant, give change and a bit of get ready time. Cafe is good with piping hot coffee afterwards.

Some of the sections on RN are quite exposed, especially with clipless pedals - at least that was my feeling, but the finish is a real blast.

Enjoy - but be careful of slippy bridge on backside of blue. I lost my back wheel and smashed my helmet on what looks quite innocuous!!

Posted 6 months ago #
fergal - Member

Sanny my last sortie in t' Lakes, Grisedale pike to Whiteless, down the edge, then Rigg beck which is glorious singletrack fun, much how i imagine descents in the alps to be.

Posted 6 months ago #
robarnold - Member

Lucas- know exactly the bit you mean - I did it on a nasty slippy day and nearly came down to earth with a thump too but just managed to save it with an unintentional 10 yard long 45 degree rolling stoppy!

Posted 6 months ago #
senor j - Member

When you get to the top of the south loop don't whatever you do, go up the "path" to the right ,nor over the fence,or carry your bike up Grizdale pike . You really shouldn't go down the stoney ridge to the right of the summit a little , then bear left and follow the trail down the hill.through the trees, back to the start of the south.no sir'ee.
you can however park at powter how car park and do the bonus climb up to the visitor center.

Posted 6 months ago #
Mugboo - Member

Aye one of my mates nearly hurt himself falling off that little bridge. Very slippery.

I think Whinlatter is excellent. The north loop feels very natural in places & the south loop is a nice, lazy descent.

Borrowdale bash was a good ride too. I think we followed a Bogtrotters route. We started on a techy, rock footpath (on a Monday), superb.

Posted 6 months ago #
Rusty Spanner - Member

Cheers for all the advice folks, just got back.

Blue was excellent, despite lots of standing water and a vicious wind.
Lovely and swoopy, great surface, plenty going on.
Way, way too short though.

I loved the southern loop of the red, really enjoyed the climb and nearly managed to clean it without dabbing. Foiled by wet roots.
Next time!

Had a couple of moments on the first bit of the descent and Ms Spanner managed to come off on the last drop (just before a right hander) before rejoining the main track
No serious damage, but a bit of bruising and a real knock to the confidence.
We both really enjoyed the place, definitely one of the nicer trail centres we've done.
Great cafe too.

Bit surprised to find a couple of kids pushing back up the red to redo the berms though - how stupid is that?

Posted 6 months ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.

Singletrack Mountain Bike Magazine

Bike Forum

Whinlatter - what's it like? Alternative natural routes?

Reply

Don't miss…

Singletrack

Website & Forums

Exits