Anyone got any great routes from Staveley for tomorrow? Can be a big one (4-7 hours), and we're after good singletrack with some steep and techy stuff - maybe Nan Bield the hard way down. Don't mind some pushing/carrying if it's worth the effort. Ta v much.
Here's a good route (gps) on bikely, starting at Stavely.
[url= http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Three-Passes ]Three Passes[/url]
A fantastic, epic day out, with some serious hike-a-bike. Make sure you carry some spares (my first attempt on this route totalled rear mech and snapped the hanger).
Three passes but leave out the descent from Gategarth to Haweswater. It's a waste of altitude. Go up and over Harter Fell (cheeky) instead to get to Nan Bield 😉
Cheers guys. Roughly how long are we looking at time-wise? We're pretty fit, but not athletes. We did the 4 Western Passes route (Black Sail, Warnscale etc) in around 8-9 hours, as a guide.
Staveley-Dubbs-top of Garburn-Yoke-Ill bell-Mardale-Nan bield-Staveley head fell-Stavely.
Cracking, especially on a clear day.
Staveley - green quarter - Gatesgarth - Harter Fell (cheeky) - Nan bield - Kentmere Hall - Three rivers.
OP - 3 rivers = Staveley head fell! Lovely wee descent.
I would always recommend Nan Bield all the way over and back- it is very technical but lots of fun.
As in decent to Small Water?
We done Kentmere-Gatesgarth Pass-Nan Bield-Kentmere on Saturday, cracking ride. EDIT- a leisurely 3 hours.
The push/carry from Small Water want too bad, doubt I could ride down it though!
So which way is the super-techy way to ride Nan Bield, please?
The descent to the north.
Nobeer - cheers!
http://www.strava.com/activities/131640371 - This route takes in both side of Nan Bield - bit of a biggy but takes in some great trails
Another way which is good:
http://www.strava.com/activities/59217116 - you can make it a bit shorter by not visiting the pub on Haweswater ;D
I love it round there, possibly my fav part of the Lakes and Nan Beild (north) gets better every time I ride it
Stavely, Stavely Head Fell, Green Quater, Sadgil, Gatesgarth, Harter Fell, Cross Nan Bield, climb Mardale Ill Bell, Thornithwaite Beacon, Froswick, Ill Bell, Yoke, Garburn, Kentmere Hall, Meadowplatts, Ullthwaite Bridge, Stavely.
Ended up doing what I think was probably 4 passes, including Nan Bield both ways. I have to say that Nan Bield heading north is possibly the best UK descent I've done - defo in my top 3. Cheers for the tips everyone.