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Off to my uncle’s place near Cartmel in early July. We’ll be heading up into the central Lakes for mountain walks and rides but when we’ve stayed there in the past have never really explored the local area.
There seem to be plenty of bridleways in the Newby Bridge - Lindale - Allithwaite triangle. Looks like it might be a nice part of the world to explore but grateful for any tips of places to head to or to avoid.
Thanks!
Road or mtb?
It’s not thrilling, just old school xc but pleasant enough for an easy day, better riding around Simpson ground and whitbarrow scar, doable from Cartmel. But yeah bways around cartmel fine for a pootle and an ice cream sort of thang
MTB with some lazy teenagers who could be fitter. Old school xc pootling and quiet lanes sounds good. Pubs and icecream days between bigger walks is the sort of thing I’m thinking.
I reckon I can convince them to pedal up to the Swan in Newby Bridge via High Newton and Simpson Ground for a sandwich!
Is Whitbarrow Scar worth a visit? Can’t see a lot of bridlways?
Best riding in the area is in Chapel House plantation.
This. There's a lovely bit of strade bianche that goes from Newby Bridge over towards Fell Floot Brow/Gummers Howe direction. More 'gravel' than MTB but its a good climb.
I did a gravel bike loop from Cark up the road to Haverthwaite and towards Bouth then off road towards Hay Bridge and onwards to Ickenthwaite then back down to Greenodd and through Rousea. That was nice on a sunny day.
Also - some of these might be of use.
https://lakedistrictbikes.com/moderate-off-road-mountain-bike-routes/
There's a few cheeky bits in Eggerslack Woods off Hampsfell and down to Grange.
Some handy ideas and a useful link there, thanks. Strava heatmap of Chapel House/Simpson Ground looks interesting.
chapel house is a 5 minute drive for me so in there a lot, i'm in that vid near the end showing him where the track used to go before felling as i'd bumped into him at the top when i was checking out the damage they'd done. it did get sorted again after that.
few issues with forestry up there now and they've fenced of all that lower area(with cameras as someone cut the fence)
it was getting to busy up there really.
they haven't bothered about the tracks of the top, he does 2 of them in that vid and there is several variations to them so its still good for a ride in there, ideally suited to an ebike(recently got one) as the slog up the road or up through the field from the bottom of those tracks is a killer.
Root Run just above the bridleway is still there as well.