Has anyone rode from Windermere to Wasdale Head (on trails/paths, not on the main road)? Is it a huge epic ride or long but not insane? Also, any thoughts on a place in Windermere that might be willing to hold onto two duffel bags for a couple of days? I'm thinking of arriving at Windermere by train with all my holiday baggage, then riding out to Wasdale Head for two nights with just a change of clothes and lunch, emergency gear, etc., on the bike. Thanks! (If these questions sound inane please bear with me - I'm trying to plan a trip from the US, never having been to the Lake District.)
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Windermere to Wasdale Head?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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youth hostels might hold onto your bags http://www.yha.org.uk/
as for routes simonfbarnes is probably your man alternatively ordnance survey maps. and the pub at wasdale head serves some proper beer, none of that US crap
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bowness, ferry, Claife, Hawkshead, Grizedale, Coniston, Walna Scar, Duddon Forest, Harter Fell (flank), Eskdale, Burnmoor Tarn, Wasdale Head. I've done it in reverse in a day on the 3rd day of a tour of The Lakes - it's about 30 miles and tough going. About 7 miles of road.
You could make it slightly easier bypassing Claife to Hawkshead
if you're serious I can do you a detailed route plan and/or a track for a GPS
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks! Yes, I'm looking forward to that good beer.
Which ordnance map(s) should I be looking at, and can you please recommend a good source for purchasing them online? If we want to ride it one way, stay in Wasdale Head, and then get back to Windermere without doing the hard ride in reverse, are there any good options? (Riding the road? Begging a ride in a car from someone? Other ideas?) I take it there is no bus service out to there... We're trying to avoid hiring a car, while still getting out to Wasdale Head.
Posted 2 years ago # -
There is another route, which I've also done, possibly slightly easier, which you might use for the way back:
Wasdale, Great Gable BW, Sty Head, Esk Hause, Angle Tarn, Rossett Gill, Great Langdale - Ambleside (road), Windermere (mostly road side cycleway). Note this will involve a lot of pushing/carrying. If you want a road route back it's a LONG way round...
OS Maps are Outdoor Leisure 6 & 7. You can get them from Amazon
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks again! I appreciate the help.
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you are not singular in wanting to do this route how about doing the coast to coast instead, link below
Posted 2 years ago # -
There is another route, which I've also done, possibly slightly easier, which you might use for the way back
That's possibly the hardest single day's ride in the Lake District.
OS maps can be bought directly from the OS website, and delivery is usually quicker than Amazon. Get the waterproof ones - Active Maps they are called.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I rode the Great Langdale, Rosset Gill, Sty Head route in the early 90s on the way over to Black Sail Pass and staying at Ennerdale YHA. We started from a house about a third of the way up from the bottom of Windermere and rode into Bowness etc etc on the way.
Wasdale Head was a nice stop for lunch on the way.
Oh, admittedly I was riding a rigid Clockwork Orange with cantilever brakes amd carrying a 40 litre rucsac so you'll find it much easier.Posted 2 years ago # -
That's possibly the hardest single day's ride in the Lake District.
I disagree, and I have done is as a raw beginner, however, as I said there's a lot of pushing or carrying - though to some extent this is compensated for by the spectacular scenery (if visible).
There's also a road alternative - down Wasdale to Santon Bridge and over into Eskdale, up the valley to Hardknott (ugh), across Wrynose Bottom and down Wrynose and on to Ambleside via Elterwater or Skelwith.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Good ride did it on the crosser last summer no problem mostley ridable carried on to ravensglass fo a late lunch after setting out 9.00am
enjoyPosted 2 years ago # -
Out of interest, do you HAVE to get to Wasdale Head. It's a nice spot, but Eskdale is nicer I reckon.
If you have to get to Wasdale, your best route is as Simon described, then on day 2 , head west to the coast and catch the train to Barrow, then back to Windermere, or you may get a bus. A nice way to do that would be to go back over past Burnmoor tarn to Eskdale, then pick up the Esk Trail, which takes you off road to Muncaster Castle (worth visiting in it's own right), near Ravenglass.
Train from Ravenglass to Windermere
Alternatively, you could ride back over to Eskdale, then pedal over Hardknott and Wrynose passes to get back to Windermere - that would be my choice - the roads are 'awesome' as I believe you folks like to say
This would be the last section of a classic road race we have round here: Fred Whitton Challenge
Please feel free to mail me if you'd like more info, as all of this is local for me.Posted 2 years ago # -
Wasdale head Inn does not serve chips with its meals.
That is all.
Posted 2 years ago # -
No chips! Good point well presented
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'd be inclined to go up Irton Fell (though sadly a nasty carry) and take the exciting downhill through Miterdale Forest, instead of dragging my bike up the rockfest to Burnmoor. Good call on the train though - I'd not thought of that, having never been beyond Barrow on it, though bizarrely, you'd have to come all the way to Lancaster as the Windermere train cannot stop at Carnforth!
Posted 2 years ago # -
No chips! Good point well presented
they have chips (of a kind) in America...
Posted 2 years ago # -
The day after I rode from Ambleside to Ennerdale, we rode to Windscale - did the tour, then rode back over Harknott and Wrynose to Ambleside again. The next day we rode over Kirkstone before going over Cross Fell and ending up at Edmundbyers YH.
Posted 2 years ago # -
OK, so the thought of no chips has me reconsidering...
Now I'm thinking we will ride from Windermere to Eskdale, and use that as our base for a couple of day rides, then ride back to Windermere. Any recommendations for a place to stay and places to eat in Eskdale? The Bower House Inn looks nice, but the other options do too... Also, would it be sane to arrive at Windermere mid-afternoon and ride over to Eskdale that day, or should we plan on a first night in Windermere and then on to Eskdale in the morning? We're fit and relatively hardy riders.
Posted 2 years ago # -
It's do-able but it might be a bit of a rush and there's always the chance (mechanicals/getting lost etc) that you end up doing the last bit at night or missing out some off-road and doing it on-road just to get there.
I'd go for a night in Windermere or Ambleside (about 4 miles down the road), there's Youth Hostels in both towns plus endless B&B's (although you'll almost certainly have to book).
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think its worth pointing out SFBs route is the most "rideable route" and a great ride as an introduction to the Lakes.
I would say the Rosset Gill option is a lot more direct, and potentially has the longest decent,but if your carrying gear it will be difficult to ride as its very technical.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I can recommend the Boot Inn (formerly the Burnmoor Inn) as a great place to stay good ales fantastic food.
I don't think Styhead/Rossett Gill is a good return route at all if you like riding your bike and not carrying it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
There is a couple of great campsites in Eskdale at Boot.
I prefer the Fisherground campsite as it's a little cheaper & you don't have to pre-book, just turn up on the day.I'm taking my novice g/f there next week & we're riding from Boot, into Wasdale up to Wasdale Head, then back into Boot over the fell (can't remember what it's called)
Last time we only went as far as Black Ghyll before climbing over the fell back into Eskdale, hope she can make it this time!Looking forward to the beer at Wasdale Head though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hollins farm campsite is the best camping options - they have pods too, so no tent needed - Pods at Hollins
Any of the pubs in Boot do decent food - Brook House being the pick of the bunch. The King George is pretty good too. Either would be nice for accommodation too. Just over the hill and on route to Eskdale (foot of Walna Scar) is The Newfield Inn, one of my favourite Lakes pubs. You could comfortably reach the Newfield Inn from Windermere in 5 or 6 hours, by taking the car ferry to Sawrey, then over through Grizedale to Coniston and then over Walna Scar - including the fantastic trails round Stephenson Ground, if you are a bit quicker.
With the weather as it is at the moment you'll have a memorable trip.Posted 2 years ago #
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