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Never ventured to the lakes before but i'm down there for 2/3 days riding soon, top recommendations "near" Ambleside area?
Nothing too XC please.
A quick search shows Nan bield and Sticks Pass/Helvellyn may be worth a shout?
An all day and a few half day rides would be idea. Bad weather options?
Cheers
Something I'm looking at myself as well. MBR have an article on 5 best lakes routes and this came up:
https://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=hxaejvzmmidjqyab
I've never loved doing Nan Bield - lots of effort for not much fun - I prefer when yuo don't come down Nan Bield and carruy on over to HIgh Street then back down towards Garurn - i.e. Staveley - Sadgill - Gategarth Pass - Harter Fell - HIgh Street - Ill Bell - Garburn - Kentmere - Staveley
One of my favorite low level rides would be - Ambleside (park next to River Rothay) - Skelwith Bridge - Iron Keld - Hodge Close - Little Langdale - Elterwater - Loughrigg Terrace - Ambleside
email me if you need gps
Depends if you want to ride from the door or not.
The one which Haggis linked is a pretty standard loop, with some nice descents, although unfortunately the best one has been turned into a slate motorway, and the one down Loughrigg Terrace will be infested with tourists. It also is a long drag up the road to start (and even misses out the climb over Loughrigg Fell towards the end in favour of more road).
If you want bigger mountains, the obvious one from the door is Fairfield via the coffin trail and Tongue Gill and back via Alcock Tarn.
You can head over Jenkins Crag out towards Kentmere and pick off some descents around there, including Garburn (towards Kentmere).
The other obvious route is to ride out to Grizedale Forest via Claife, do some of the non-trail centre stuff there and return via High Cross and Iron Keld.
@haggis1978 - that route is nearly 70% road!
OP - if you are on Strava have a look at PostieRich's routes plus there's his JennRides that you can use part of. If you've a car ("near" implies that you do) then starting from Staveley up the Kentmere valley a little way then cut across to High Borrans, Dubbs reservoir to pick up the track up Garburn pass, up this and down the other side to Kentmere then either climb past Kentmere Hall to pick up the three rivers descent or go on the other side of the valley and across green quarter - there's a descent through the woods I can't remember the name of. Then back to Staveley.
We did Garburn - Gatesgarth - Harter Fell - Nan Bield from Ambleside a few weeks ago, great ride although I agree with yoshimi that NB wasn't all that given the substantial pull up from Sadgill. Would like to try that fp descent over Ill Bell instead.
Quite a hard ride, not used to these Lakes miles - only 30 or so but felt like 50 tbh (was a hot day though).
have a search back - this has come up before.
Not sure if you'll be able to see these but from a trip last year. The first two of these are great rides. 3 passes disappointed - wasn't as good as I remembered it. Langdale is a bit more scenic than gnarr but worth doing if you've not been to the area before.
Tour de Coniston 42km, 1226m
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2676129545
Grizedale 35km 982m
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2686098912
Langdale 44km 1200m
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2689425347
3 passes 47km 1333m
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2681620942
Pedal over whatever way you fancy to get to dubbs road-garburn-yoke-ill bell-thornthwaite crag-nan bield-3 rivers-high borrans-Jenkins crag.
Aye, 3 rivers may have been sanitised a bit, but that is a peach of a day in the hills.
Nothing too XC please.
Don't think there is anything but XC there!
Good stuff folks, thanks.
We'll have 2 cars so happy driving up to an hour or so for good stuff, or even shuttling the 2 cars to enable 1 way routes if that's the best option.
Staying mid way between Ambleside and Ullswater.
I'll check out Strava and the Garmin links.
Brothers Water kind of way? Get up Helvellyn. Dollywaggon won't be too xc for yer😉
For balance I think Nan Bield is awesome, but I prefer to get to it via Ill Bell.
I think you have to attack Nan Bield (from shelter into Kentmere) a bit - and some fitness is good to make it enjoyable.
Grizedale is the classic south Lakes bad weather option.
100% what chaka says, need to hit it dryish and carry speed all the way as much as you can.
All the best riding is on the footpaths now so unfortunately unable to share!
Speaking of which, being from the enlightened North with our right to roam, is there likely to be any hassle if riding on paths etc and coming across walkers? Assuming, of course that you're not being a tit and shouting STRAVA as you nearly run over their dog/child/granny!!!
I'm tied to the weekend so there will likely be quite a few folks around.
Ta
As long as you avoid the proper busy routes around the gluepot towns, and don't act like a cock, you'll be fine.
Never had any bother.
is there likely to be any hassle if riding on paths etc and coming across walkers?
Unreasonable walker rage declines relative to distance from the car park/teashop. As a rule of thumb (assuming polite and careful), you'll get nothing but smiles and hellos on the higher paths. The classification of the path is irrelevant - the worst outbursts I've received have been on low level bridleways.