Going to Keswick and eyeing up an early start half day to do the bash next May. I’m a relatively competent rider, perhaps a bit less fit than I am competent. Is it doable in half a day for mere mortals or do I need to put the whole day aside for it?
It's plenty doable in half a day. Just start for 0800 and be back for lunch.
It's a great ride.
I think 4 hours is doable for most, especially if you're on your own so less faffing.
In May, half a day no bother, especially if you ride straight to Watendlath on the road as per the 'official' version.
PS - don't do that, climb up to Walla Crag from Keswick and down to Ashness Bridge from there.
What martinhutch said.
I pottered round in a bit under 4 hours inc stops so you should be fine. I'd barely ridden in the previous 6/7 months.
There's some stiff climbing in there so your ride will depend on how you manage that. If you pedal the climbs (apart form the impossible one above Watendlath 🙁 ), I can't believe it'd take half a day unless you get loads of pinch flats or choose to stop & psych yourself up for the tricky-looking bit
Absolutely smashing it (when we were both fully XC race fit), me and a mate did it in 90 minutes once but it wasn't enjoyable. Crack of dawn summer weekday so no-one on the trails which certainly helped!
I'd always reckon on about 3-4hrs at a reasonable pace although it depends if you do the Walla Crag bit which does add a bit of time.
Working at a bike shop up there many years ago, I hired out a couple of Rockhoppers to two lads who assured us that they were competent / fit etc. Gave them the usual printed route options, they decided on the Bash route which the route sheet said "allow up to 6hrs"
They returned at gone 5pm (about 8hrs after picking the bikes up), absolutely wrecked.
So your answer is "anywhere from 90 minutes to 8hrs"
I've attempted it three times, and failed three times.
I have ridden it a couple of times as an average rider. There are some stiff climbs but mostly rideable-Honister is a killer and the climb out of Watendlath is a carry for me.
There is a tricky section as you drop down from Watendlath towards Rosthwaite which I have never managed to ride, (rock steps and deep gulleys) and a section past Castle Crag which needs care. Good ride though.
and a section past Castle Crag which needs care.
Bent the seat stay on my Kona Lava Dome going over the bars on that in 1998 or something, frame still going strong though. Rock Shock Indy S forks and no talent didnt get the job done 😄😄😄
Yep, been close to doing that myself, probably going too slow to be honest but didn’t dare go any faster!
and a section past Castle Crag which needs care.
There's an article in one of the early issues of ST Magazine written by me and mate describing how he was helicoptered off there with a fractured pelvis.
But don't worry, you'll be fine. 😉
I saw Scott Beaumont ride it once - he was out for a shop demo day. OMG he just [b]flowed[/b] down there. Smooth as you like, little bits of air. And about 3x faster than anyone else could even come close to.
I did it in 2.21 this summer and I was reasonably fit. I did the road climb to Ashness Bridge and the traditional route.
Some good technical descending in it. It’s a tough one but easily doable in 4hrs without mechanicals.
Enjoy
The descent after Watendlath down to the road is an absolute corker! I always forget just how good it is coz when you're looking back on a ride you tend to focus on how hard the ups were. But love that descent
Definitely do Walla Crag, 4 hrs should be fine.
Just checked Strava and my moving time with Walla Crag and a couple of wee cheeky bits on the way back was just under 2½hrs, steady away after finishing night shifts that morning.
It's became my go to loop recently, well when I get chance of a ride!
Descent to Rosthwaite is one of my favourite sections that I've ridden anywhere in the UK.
I'm not super fit, and am a definite wincher on the climbs, but would expect to do the bash in about 3 or 3 1/2 fairly easy hours on my own. Longer if in a group.
Ridden it a few times. Last one was 2016 on a Fat Bike after I broke my forks the day before
Checking Strava, 4 hours elapsed including stopping for tea and cake half way round. And some mechanical faffage.
Descent to Rosthwaite is one of my favourite sections that I’ve ridden anywhere in the UK.
Aye, agreed, I love that bedrock section at the top, it's a lovely run down to Rosthwaite nd the Flock inn!
Just to add a bit of balance... I checked the last 2 times I did it (both in December, but decent weather). 5 hours elapsed for the regular route, 6 with Walla Crag. That includes the nadgery path to Watendlath from above Ashness Bridge and allows for some chatting and faffing with friends. I think the 6 hour day included a coffee stop and a flat that took a while to fix (thanks to the use of Muc Off sealant).
Alex - isn't that Ullswater?
Don't bother with the path that takes you to Watendlath...it's very tech which is great if you like that sort of thing but ploddy, some carry, no flow and VERY definitely not intended for bikes. The road will save you at least 30 mins...
Very easy to come a cropper on the bedrock part of the descent to Rosthwaite too as others have said. Great fun but you're a bloody good rider if you can clean that with no dabs 🙂
That is definitely Ullswater.
There's a few extra options to add to the bash to cut out road, but if you are short and time and have a car just park and ride from Grange. It's about an 11 mile loop that way and you get the best bits of the 'classic bash' and it's doable in under 2hrs.
For someone who has a brand new Garmin and has yet to learn how to download gpx files and follow a route, is there a definitive version of the Borrowdale Bash available anywhere? One with all the good bits in.
Don’t bother with the path that takes you to Watendlath…
Agreed, the path between Ashness and Watendlath is a slow one if you're on a schedule.
Crazy-legs, I remember that article but wasn’t going to mention it😧
I have also seen a good rider clean that top section above Rosthwaite smooth as you like and remember thinking WOW and then thinking why the heck Can’t I do that
Don’t bother with the path that takes you to Watendlath…it’s very tech which is great if you like that sort of thing but ploddy, some carry, no flow and VERY definitely not intended for bikes. The road will save you at least 30 mins…
Whilst I agree that the road is quicker, that singletrack is a real highlight for me. Really fun bit of technical trail.
To add to what Bungalistic said above, if you started in Rosthwaite you can end the ride with a pint at the Scafell Hotel 🙂 The flip side of that means starting the BB with a 25% road climb out of Seatoller which is the opposite of fun!
90 minutes!!!! Respect!
Strava tells me I've done it in 2h, including the little extra bit at Stonethwaite, but that's on my own in early morning, zero-faff, put-some-effort-in mode.
2:55 riding with a friend, but still minimal faff.
"That" rock section above Rosthwaite is how I know that I've got at least a bit better over the years. First time I saw it, I couldn't understand how anyone could ride it. I can now clean it on a very good day!
“That” rock section above Rosthwaite is how I know that I’ve got at least a bit better over the years.
Up from Watendlath, or down to Rosthwaite?
I would be highly impressed seeing someone doing the former.
I did it in the summer with a couple of friends in severe heat. I have never been so happy to find a tiny little tea room tucked away after I'd downed 2l of water by the time I'd gone from Keswick to Watendlath.
Great ride. Great views. Great bouldery descents with water channels.
Great fun but you’re a bloody good rider if you can clean that with no dabs
First time I've ever been described as a bloody good rider, thanks! lol! The climb up from Watendlath has always eluded me, the wee step up mibbe a quarter of the way always gets me, that's my excuse!
Don’t bother with the path that takes you to Watendlath…it’s very tech which is great if you like that sort of thing but ploddy, some carry, no flow and VERY definitely not intended for bikes. The road will save you at least 30 mins…
LOL...avoid all the off-road sections and save ateast 2 hrs. Trail Centres for 'flow', Lakes for more of a challenge.
Love the bash. We usually do it within 5 hours and thats including stopping at one of the cafes thats open for 40 odd mins and including other little rest stops. Although all cafes are closed at moment i think.
Usually start from keswick, push up a little bit after you cross a stream up to walla crag, then blast down walla crag. Another little push up where theres a trout lake.
Once we get to the bottom of honister pass, theres a gate to your right and we just go through that and push up as its not worth the big climb up the pass. Then the rest is a blast. Possibly one more push up a bit past castle crag. great route.
I need to go and ride it again on a modern bike, did it a few years ago on a MK2 Soul with 120mm reba's and a fixed seatpost. That was actually hell of a hardtail - dual air forks, thomson post, renthal bars, hope wheels. Aaah those were the days...
Climb from Watendlath I had to push the top half, Honister pass I got up seated, but jesus it's a pull. I rode alone, in patchy weather, it was quiet and I only saw full sus riders other than me... They were highly amused.
I survived, just about 3hrs, average fitness, it's a great ride, next time I'll look to add Walla Crag.
I did it in the summer with a couple of friends in severe heat. I have never been so happy to find a tiny little tea room
Yep, my aborted attempts were when the family rebelled on baking hot days and insisted we divert to Black Moss Pot for a swim. ( no great hardship)
I have also seen a good rider clean that top section above Rosthwaite smooth as you like and remember thinking WOW and then thinking why the heck Can’t I do that
I once "borrowed" a Cove G-Spot (it was supposedly for sale but it turned into a sort of "bike to be borrowed by staff if they wanted some fun") for a loop of that and remember wondering why the descent had ended in half the time it normally did.
Turns out a 6" full sus is really quite a skill compensator when you're used to a HT!
I don't think I've ever managed the climb up to the top of it from Watendlath in one go though.
This thread has made me want to go and do the Borrowdale Bash again now!
Love the Bash and haven't done it for a few years. I didn't even realise there was an off-road bit from Ashness to Watendlath.
Nobody ever seems to want to do the Rosthwaite descent AND go back up for the cheeky alternative.
me and a mate did it in 90 minutes once
Chapeau.
This thread has made me want to go and do the Borrowdale Bash again now!
This! 🙂
Yeah, I only ever tried it on my Superlight, the bloke I saw go down it was on some long travel plush sofa of a bike, no wonder he seemed to float over it. I ended up hanging on for grim death with a seat rammed up where the sun don’t shine- and that was trying to dismount before I endoed😜
LOL…avoid all the off-road sections and save ateast 2 hrs. Trail Centres for ‘flow’, Lakes for more of a challenge.
Not really. Natural flow can be found in the Lakes. The Castle Crag descent has flow and challenge, the Rosthwaite descent has flow and challenge...that path is admittedly a challenge but not really any fun element to it at all, and does slow you down massively if you're trying to get the Bash done inside half a day.
Crikey I used to knock that out in the 90's on a rigid bike no sweat, before they "sanitised" castle crag descent.
Probably pushed some of it though... memory fading.
did it a few years ago on a MK2 Soul with 120mm reba’s and a fixed seatpost.
Pfft! Did it on a 90's crosser... 🙂
Not a hardtail, but I did my fastest time down Castle Crag in 2012 on a 26in bike which I'd think was too tiny to ride now.
I had the Strava KOM at the time, but unsurprisingly Adam Brayton had gone 30secs+ faster a year later.
Just checked and his KOM from 2013 still stands.
The Bash. A tale of two halves. First half is great, the big descent down to the road/river/bridge is great. The rest is poor IMO.
The rest is poor IMO.
There is a LOT of road on it if you start from Keswick and do the "official" route. I think the whole thing is about 17 miles and there's really only 6-7 miles of off-road in it.
There's the Walla Crag extension at the start or you can also duck along the footpath along the front of the lake (but that gets very crowded in tourist season) to cut out some of the road.
On the way back when you cross the pedestrian bridge at Portinscale, there's a footpath option across the fields into Keswick instead of the main road but again, that one requires a bit of care to ride as it gets busy with walkers.
I can now clean that rock section of Watendlath to Rosthwaite, but not quickly by any means - more picking my way through than floating over. The first time I rode it though I had absolutely no idea how to tackle it on my little BFE. Next time out on an Alpine 160 it didn't seem quite so tough...
Pfft! Did it on a 90’s crosser… 🙂
Pfft. My kid did it on an Islabike Beinn 20 small.
Ok. I'm lying. For some reason I thought the Soul bloke was referring to the Castle Crag bit, but he wasn't.
My kid has defo not done it on an IB Beinn
😁
Great ride - usually stay near Grange and use it as a quick 2 hr blast in the evening.
The climb mentioned by Johnas7 is also one of my favs. Starts off as a steep but easy land rover track then turns into a boulder fest after the second gate half way up and finishes with mega steep and slippy grass haul up to a gate in the wall at the top.
Finally managed to clean it (apart from the 3 gates) after several attempts earlier in the summer.
Did it for the first time this summer as second of two days lakes riding. Took our time and had a lunch by the lake. A good day out. Whilst I enjoyed the Castle Crag and especially the Rothswaite descents the rest in between was a bit lacking flow (I know it's a different thing to trail centres). I'm happy with a challenge but the after the initial descent to the river the cheeky path up to watenlath is a bit soul destroying unless your name is Chris Akrigg I'd suggest. Road for this section.
Just checked my Strava, did it on the Sunday ride after a big ride on the Saturday so on sore legs. It was driving rain and a group of 6, including Walla cragb took us 3hrs riding, 4.5 hours elapsed.
It was great, loved all of it. Want to ride it again.
I love the first half, walla, falcon, watendlath, pudding bank, even the climb up honister and the nice trail along to castle crag start, after that it does nothing for me.
I've tried a few options to finish 'better', next time I'm gonna do it later in the day and haul up onto high spy, and ride along to finish off Cat Bells.
@rascal thanks mate, that's definitely the nicest thing you've ever said about me, it's usually something that starts with a 'c' 😁
Up from Watendlath, or down to Rosthwaite?
I would be highly impressed seeing someone doing the former.
Definitely the down one. Still a long way off clearing that climb!
bit soul destroying unless your name is Chris Akrigg
I'm a bit surprised by how many here are saying its 'too difficult'
I know mtb has changed to include more smooth flow lines with massive jumps and berms on every corner but that kind of trail used to relished didn't it?
Maybe I'm getting old, but I know a few visitors from Somerset that can clear all of the obstacles bar the walk up to the style/gate in the middle.
Even me, a 47 year old slightly overweight family man can complete enough to make it worth riding, even if it leaves me a puffing sweaty mess.
Up from Watendlath,
Same with this. It's a bastard hard climb, that unless you're a trials rider is never going to be done in one on a regular bike because of the wattage it demands, but in sections we've managed to make it up in the dry.
Maybe I'm just turning into Surfmatt.
Havent ridden the Bash in maybe 15 years. Used to do it regularly when I lived up that way, never cleared the up at Watendlath nor the down I dont think. Doubt I'd be brave enough to push it these days, I didnt seem to mind crashing then. Bought one of these from KMB, awesome bike!! As said on last page went otb by castle crag and bent the seat stay, frame still has the scar!!
Alex – isn’t that Ullswater?
Indeed it is. I posted the wrong photo. Probably because I like it so much. Can't find any of Fatbike/Bash on my flickr now. I'm sure there was at least one...
Realised it's been 4 years since I've been to the lakes. Really need to sort that out. As long as I don't leave my hand wrapped round the A pillar while my mate slammed the van door 😉
I did for the first time a few weeks ago, perfect autumn weather, think I took around 3 1/2 , plenty photo opps and a puncture kept me off the saddle plenty. Great ride, hoping to do it again next month if this all ends on Dec 2.
About 3.5 hours including Walla crag, but why stop there. Forget Castle cragg its not worth it to be fair and the trail under Cat Bell is like Blackpool sea front most days. Just nut up and shut the legs up and climb Honister , over Fleetwith and Hit Warnscale bottom then return via Rigg Beck. Make it a 6-7 hour day and for the love of god take money for a pint in Buttermere take pictures and brag to mates what an epic day you have had.
I love the bash. Usually the Friday afternoon opening ride for the lakes riding weekend we go up to do annually.
It's a great ride for getting your eye in. Nice Xc bits, bit of road to spin the legs up, but also some very testing bits that are all rideable and set you up for the remainder of the weekend composed mainly of terror tech.
Missed the bash this year for the first year in a very long time.
Also rosthwaite descent is one of my favourites also. Not the longest, not the techest, but flow aplenty and different discrete sections all different and all brilliant. Right down through Frith wood for the win! Last I looked I had 7th on Strava down there.
Oh yeah, and Walla crag every time.
The flip side of that means starting the BB with a 25% road climb out of Seatoller which is the opposite of fun!
You don't have to do the road climb from Seatoller. Just after the last building on the right, there's a gate giving access to a permissible BW which joins the route again at the 'footpath' gate before the good section to Castle Crag. It's still steep in parts, but engaging loose rocks instead of tarmac.
This thread has made me want to go and do the Borrowdale Bash again now!
It's made me want to go swimming in Black Moss Pot. Not necessarily right now, but still...
I've never heard of black moss pot but I want to swim in it now! 😆
I did the Bash in 2016, twice, on two consecutive days. 2nd time I definitely wasn't feeling as lively. Was following a breadcrumb trail on my Garmin, using as many unofficial parts of the route as I could to limit the road sections. Made an unwatchable video of shakey handlebar mount footage combined with German acid techno LOL. It was a lovely sunny day in the 2nd week of April and a bit boggy in places. Would do again. Like to think I'd handle some of the techy rock sections slightly better now, but probably wouldn't.
For those who haven’t ridden it or would like some visual memories of the bash, 2 local fellas do a bit of YouTube stuff which might be of interest. One is YouTube user MTBGuides uk, who I ride with on a regular Sunday night jaunt, the other is District Mountain Biker, the son of another of our Sunday group.
From Seatoller instead of going up the road, there's a gate on your right, but to be honest we usually go straight on and take the path on the road corner. It's a 10min hike a bike to get you to the castle crag path. It's much easier than either pedal (we are accustomed to hike a bikes so that might help)
You can hike-a-bike up into Maiden Moor before the Castle Crag descent. That does add quite a bit of time on though.
This is the reason why i looked for the Bash in the first place enjoy
Its a great run out and a good introduction to Lakes riding for those who have never ridden there.
Lovely part of the world and the options to extend / go high are limitless.
Shameless video plug. This is the first time I rode the bash. I don't know any of the place names anyone has mentioned. Can anyone identify them from my video? This was back in 2016.
Apologies for the old school GoPro shake, this was an old Hero 4!
Aye, that's starting off at castlerigg along past lady's rake and walla to ashness, then the puddingstone bank and frith wood descent into rosthwaite.
Line choice on the bed rock section at the top of puddingstone (where you got off and did it again) is tricky first time, tempting to go to the natural fall line at left hand side, but much better to stay high and keep right IMO.
Thanks all - this has totally confirmed my need to do it!
The vids are are great watch!
Enjoy, Lowey is spot on, it's a great introduction to Lakes riding.
bit soul destroying unless your name is Chris Akrigg
Really?! I cant clear it but it's good practice. Guess mountain biking and what people are looking for has changed. Seems to be all about willy waving your fastest time and looking for some mystical flow. That section probably takes 20 mins max and gets you off tarmac. You can have a coffee at the end and prepare to genuinely have your sole destroyed on the climb out of Watendlath.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the bridleway along the side of Catbells, a really great section on a sunny evening with views of Derwent Water and Skiddaw. It's not all road on the way back. I might be wrong, but that possibly has flow.... 😉