[Closed] Keswick routes

Three rides in a weekend? With other people? In England? Are you feeling OK? 😉

the Borrowdale Bash!

I'm keener that the average Spin. Probably solo on the Friday and Sunday. Plans are coming together!

I have fond memories of MTBing quite a while ago in the Lakes. Been maybe 15 years.

Borrowdale Bash +1

This guidebook is very good. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lake-District-Mountain-Biking-Essential/dp/1906148236/ref=pd_lpo_200_bs_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CWM4KEGT3Y7YWKBHAN4Z

The Borrowdale Bash is great. For a shorter ride the route from Threlkeld up to Skiddaw House and back to Keswick via Latrigg is nice.

If you are driving in and out on Friday and Sunday you could ride elsewhere in the Lakes on those days.

The book is a good starting point, Bash is fun with some variations available though there is a bit of road and if your not keen on rocks the funnest bits might be lost on you.

Thanks for the suggestions folks. Don't have time for the book as leave in two days and delivery to the Highlands where I live is slow.

Jambalaya - correct, care to suggest a route?

Anyone got something a notch more challenging for than the Bash? That'll do the group ride if people agree. A mountain day also would be nice, if weather permits.

Ta.

Bash is good
also the back of skiddaw loop from Threlkeld around Lonscale fell with a detour up to Skiddaw house YHA where you might get a cup of tea is good.

Better bash -

Keswick - Castlerigg - Walla/falcon crags - Watendlath - Rosthwaite - Seatoller - Castle crags - Bridleway back to Kesick.

Though, tbf I don't do castle crags anymore, find it a bit meh, but if you haven't did it then carry on.

Mountain route? - Up skiddaw and Ullock pike. Folk'll say not to at the weekend, but at this time of year it won't be busy, and I've never had any issues - I find if I'm overly pleasant, folk are cool.

A touch more tech?

From Borrowdale valley, up Langstrath, then just before you start decending Rosset pike, take the footpath across to Angle tarn, and then up to Sprinkling tarn. IMO the descent from there down to Stockley bridge is one of the top descents in the whole of the UK.

Enjoy, it's a brilliant area to bike and to enjoy good company.

Anyone got something a notch more challenging for than the Bash? That'll do the group ride if people agree. A mountain day also would be nice, if weather permits.

Ta.

Start at Whinlatter, go almost to top of South Loop, take a faint track off westwards towards Grizedale Pike, head over this, Hopegill Head then down towards Whiteless and off this to Buttermere, back up Gasgale Gill - Crag Hill - Barrow Door then traverse off and down the n side of Barrow to Braithwaite. Heading back down Grizedale rather than the other side of the horseshoe is more tech if you're after that sort of thing Finish up the road or across to Thornthwaite and up the BW to Whinlatter VC.

Not sure how it will stack up if the weather is poor.

I don't do castle crags anymore, find it a bit meh, but if you haven't did it then carry on.

Nobeer - what is the best alternative to Castle? I don't like it either.

Dependant on weather and time, If short on time I'd just head bake along the side of Derwent, if part of a bigger day out, I've either did your Gasgale gill route, or rigg/sail beck.

There's the option of going up Dale head too, which I haven't done yet.

I do love a North Lakes thread. 😀

That's quite a bit extra! I suppose OP could do the Warnscale descent from Honister if he's after a bit more tech.

Actually, four passes from Seatoller might tick his boxes provided the weather is OK. Not sure I'd want to be out on it on my own though.

http://my.viewranger.com/route/details/OTIxOTE=

Nobeer - what is the best alternative to Castle? I don't like it either.

Carry up through Rigg Head Quarries and onto High Spy, Maiden Moor and Hause Gate.

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7499/15758362168_163f283a5f_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7499/15758362168_163f283a5f_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/q1vJ4s ]20141203_152615[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/ ]Dave Lowe[/url], on Flickr

Thanks Lowey! Often wondered about that.

Alright Jeffster!

No beer's Borrowdale extension is great. I like to add on the bridleway carry over the shoulder of Cat Bells as the traversing descent on the other side is great.

Ullock Pike is great but may be a bit too tech for your tastes at the top where it is steep and loose.

Whiteless Pike is mint. There is one section you will need to carry down but drop the saddle and the rest is lovely. Steep in places but a bit of a classic.

The Angle Tarn and Sprinkling Tarn descent is wonderful. There has been stone pitching done on the bottom section but it has been done sympathetically. I rode it again back in September and was grinning from ear to ear. The surroundings are stunning. Big fan!

Cheers

Sanny

The Angle Tarn and Sprinkling Tarn descent is wonderful. There has been stone pitching done on the bottom section but it has been done sympathetically. I rode it again back in September and was grinning from ear to ear. The surroundings are stunning. Big fan!

Must've done the 5 hour round trip to do that descent half a dozen times in the last 2 years, really fantastic place.

I'm keeping a close eye on this thread, won't be in the Lakes till Easter (boo!) but will be staying in Keswick so some useful stuff in here... We ride South Lakes more often so it'll be a nice change.

Don't have time for the book as leave in two days and delivery to the Highlands where I live is slow.

You could probably find a copy in one of the Fort Bill shops or pick it up in Keswick. It's got full descriptions and Harvey's maps so you don't need an OS too.

Some interesting routes can be found here, http://www.pedalnorth.com/content/lake-district-mtb-routes

tick

Just a word of caution. There are some great suggestions above, but please bear in mind the increased seriousness of some of the big high day out stuff at this time of year. A minor injury or mechanical that slows you down by an hour could leave you running out of daylight fast, and nav errors will also have greater consequences. No significant snow at the moment, but will be sub zero on the highest fells and bitter winds today. Go prepared and it'll still be great, as long as your route matches your experience and skills. Have a great day out!

Hello Sanny hope you're well. It's Iain Nicholsons 40th, you might remember him from the Glasgow bouldering scene.

Cheers for the advice folks lots to go on. Weather looking like encouraging (but not forcing) lower level rides.

Go prepared and it'll still be great, as long as your route matches your experience and skills

+1. It is very very easy to come unstuck. These are proper mountains and should be treated as such. ALWAYS have a plan B.

+1. It is very very easy to come unstuck. These are proper mountains and should be treated as such. ALWAYS have a plan B.

Aye, much as I loved the four passes route suggested in an earlier post, it's not one for this time of year as there ain't much if anything in the way of bail out options.

Wadey, If you need to ride a bit lower down -

Park Glenridding - Hartsop - Hayeswater reservoir - wee push up the Knott - Satura crags - Angle tarn - Boredale hause (corking descent from there!) - Rooking - Ullswater bridleway.

Then about 5km of road to Pooley bridge, and then Askham fell - bridleway descent to Howtown - Ullswater bridleway - Glenridding.

Nice day on a bike that, with only a very short section of hike a bike.

You could also start at Pooley bridge if you wanted.

Ta again. Off to pack now!

Skiddaw summit was bloody freezing and blowing a gale 2 weeks ago.
Ullock Pike decent was very techy at a few points but def worth doing.
Agree that an off or a mechanical up high with the cold would be a massive spanner in the works especially with it getting dark so early...be careful.

Basically everything Nobeer and Sanny said. Lots of pushing / carrying on the langstrath route but well worth it for the descent. I absolutely Love it up there in the N lakes, it's a 2nd MTBing home to me 🙂
Only did whiteless for the first time this year - fantastic route up & over from braithwaite. and then down to crummock behind rannandale knotts

And yes, big hills, limited light, be careful

It seems to be an unwritten rule on here that when you discuss riding above about 100m and half an hour from the car some prophet of doom needs to come on and warn of the dangers.

'Aaaaarrr, be aware of the perils of the fells my lads, there's better than you died on them thar hills.'

TomB gave good advice on riding at 900m, 90 minutes 'from the car' in winter conditions. That's a very different scenario. I've been living and riding in the North Lakes for 20 years, and even the most familiar routes can radically change in the winter. The extreme conditions can be part of the appeal, but if you're not used to being on the tops in a white out, with 60mph winds it's easy to get into trouble.

The thing is, that most folks already get that and a 'be careful' comment on a forum is unlikely to influence those that don't.

The thing is, that most folks already get that

Dream on 🙄

No whitestone, my comment is factually correct. Most folks know that winter hills have dangers and prepare/act accordingly, it's a tiny minority that get caught out.

You guys can relax with your well meaning hand wringing. I've a bit of prior for going into the hills, although of course I'm fallible like anyone else.

Packed two bikes, one with and one without ice tyres. I should be above the snowline by lunchtime.

Be nice to each other!

The envy is oozing from my every pore, Wadey!...

Enjoy, have a cracking weekend, hope the cloud lifts for you.

Lucky git! Sunday looks OKish, save the big one for that.

How was it then?
Plenty of snow on the tops on Saturday!

Had a brilliant weekend. The snow and hangovers restricted the Saturday group ride to a visit to Winlatter, but was good crack. I felt a bit ill at the start but perfect by the end.

Today I took out a rigid Orange R8 with ice tyres on it and cycled Threkeld-Keswick-Winlatter-Lorton-Honister Pass-Cat Bells-Keswick-Threkeld. More road than off road but I still had fun 60km for 1500m climbing. -4 degrees over Winlatter among the trees.

Oh and today was perfect winter weather. Snow ice and sunshine. Just so you know!