Family FD is going up to the Lakes next week, and I will be taking my MTB and road bike.
Mrs FD wants to try out an e-bike, so to me thats an excuse to hire a full sus ebike so I can get to see what they are like too. It looks like either Whinlatter itself or E-Venture in Keswick?
Also where is nice to ride for a family? I was thinking the railway to Threlkeld, is there anything else suitable? Mrs FD didnt like the blue at Whinlatter last time we went (a few years back)
And any other good suggestions of things to do? Planning on canoe/SUP hire, maybe quad biking one day.
Thanks
Just rented a normal bike from the Whinlatter hire place and nothing but good things for me.
Think you'd be fine hiring from there if you want to try the trails.
If your other half is less keen on the blue, not sure what options there might be for suitably gentle e-bike riding from the Whinlatter hire shop though.
But their service and general efficiency is top notch.
I’m guessing E-Venture is the place by Booths? They’d probably have some route suggestions if you went there.
I believe Whinlatter now has a gravel route if the Blue was a bit much.
Whinlatter shows it has a 10 k waymarked trail on fire roads and a bike orienteering course to go at for family riding.
The railway path or the NCN Keswick to Whinlatter (uphill but you did say hiring electric bike). Also parts of the C2C west of Keswick towards Whitehaven are on an old railway line if that's your bag or combination of rail path lanes and C2C East of Keswick.
Sounds a good trip.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/whinlatter-forest/cycling-and-mountain-biking-trails-whinlatter
Can try these guys on Derwent Water for watersports
https://plattyplus.co.uk/
Try the Katsu Bells burger at the Round opposite the Moot Hall.
Walk to find Millican Dalton caves near Grange
Climb on the Bowder Stone
Visit to Castlerigg Stone circle
Railway line is nice, and it’s good to make a loop by coming back along the little lane towards Wescoe and brundholm before rejoining the railway about half way along.
The gorse trail at whinlatter is all forest roads but pretty hilly, fine on e-bike but wearing for kids.
If you hire from E-Venture, head out through Portinscale and up the Newlands valley, through Stair, to Little Town. As the road descends to the bridge, turn left and go uphill (a bit steep at first) on the BW which goes up Cat Bells.
https://streetmap.co.uk/map?x=323453&y=519560&z=120&sv=323453,519560&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map&searchp=ids&dn=686&lm=0
You can then traverse on BWs under Cat Bells all the way around to Manesty (short road stretch from Skelgill. Return on the back road you've done sections of already, with a refreshment stop at Lingholm Gardens cafe.
There is a steepish rocky descent on the last section to Manesty, so you could stop at the high point ( https://streetmap.co.uk/map?x=323453&y=519560&z=120&sv=323453,519560&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map&searchp=ids&dn=686&lm=0 ) and double back to where the BW briefly meets the road at the small quarry. Swinside Inn is OK for a drink
If you're going through to Threlkeld on the railway and you fancy a bit of easy off-road, you can pick up the Old Coach Road bridleway, which has some great views over the valley. I did it a few weeks ago just as the weather turned 'interesting'. I was like a drowned rat by the time I got back into Keswick. 🙂
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51297797161_e218af88f5_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51297797161_e218af88f5_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ma1BUD ]The old coach road[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/14162682@N00/ ]bin lid[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51298806445_f93a186488_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51298806445_f93a186488_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ma6MW6 ]View towards Keswick[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/14162682@N00/ ]bin lid[/url], on Flickr
The White Horse near Threlkeld is a good place to stop for lunch
Thanks for all the input very helpful !
Binners that Old Coach BW looks great
If you have a car to move bikes, a good way of doing the coach road is drive to the east end of it snd leave car there, head west back to threlkeld and deposit family at railway line or cafe (or white horse pub at scales) then ride back on the back road to troutbeck then on to matterdale for the car- we did this with the kids a little while back, big adventure but chose the right day as the coach road is very exposed to the weather.
Start of the coach road is a bit of a slog and loose, so hard for a beginner, even on an e-bike. No reason not to do it, just be aware of it.
Pic of the BW on the east side of Cat Bells - can see it descending further on, with the back road below.
Thats a great suggestion from @TomB.
We normally stay at the Troutbeck Inn* . You can head from there through Matterdale to the Coach Road, take that all the way through to Threlkeld, then take the small, traffic-free lanes back to the Troutbeck (which is a great boozer that does fantastic food, including great pizzas for the kids).
All in, its a 15 mile loop
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* If anyones looking for somewhere good to stay in that area, they've 3 self-catering cottages behind the pub. Couldn't recommend the place more highly. Nic and Al who run the place are brilliant