is it rideable?
heading south to Birks.
I have only been there once, and didn't (want to) return to ride there again...
The first few hundred metres are fine, then it gets a little boggy if memory serves me right, then I lost the path... It obviously gets much better (i.e. rideable, but also boring) once one hits the forest roads that one can see on the OS maps halfway between Birks and Hardknott Pass. On a proper MTB, and if you don't mind getting off to push/navigate/carry bike, I'd ride it again to get to Birks, otherwise I'd take the road.
Can't get me mate to come and do it with me.... The first few yards do look nice though!
I am up at end of month. riding wrynose and hardnott. it looked like a fun way back down, then over walna back to Coniston.
There's an excellent section of bridleway from wasdale head to boot, which is at the end (I think) of hardknott pass.
Dunno about the one from the top of the pass, it's pretty boggy ground from memory. PostieRich is using the one from Brotherlikeld at the foot of the path round to Grassguards as part of the JennRide so that's another option, it's a bit boggy near Kepple Crag. The Lakeland 200 route takes that BW in reverse.
I didnt rate it Tony. Lots of felled tree stumps, some proper loose steep sections. I "think" Lakes MTB group did a bit of work on it last year though. If its still in the same condition that I rode it I wouldn't do it again. IMO