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Im going to head across that way tomorrow as i have a day off and the forecast is looking better (sunny and far less windy) over there than anything my side of the Pennines. I'm looking for a route, 50-60 miles that ideally has a decent bit of climbing in it (4-5000ft is fine...i managed 6500ft in the Dales yesterday), a pass or two preferably, and on decent roads but that arent jammed with traffic or dual carriageway (i know, Moon on a stick and all that). I know Keswick well enough but dont know the roads for road riding on - whats good and whats bad....so over the STW Hive mind.
Starting from loweswater. Winlatter newlands honister winlatter should keep you busy. And it’s a beautiful ride. Could start at Braithwaite and begin with newlands and do honister twice.
Nice 50 miles ish is Keswick- St. John’s in the vale past the stone circle then south to thirlmere, grasmere, Ambleside, up the struggle (great climb) Kirkstone pass, glenridding, lefty up and over matterdale then the back road parallel/ just south of A66 to wallthwaite then join a66 for a bit and left past burns farm and back over stone circle to finish.
I’m down in Allonby and done loop round whinlatter/buttermere etc got 60 miles . I’m doing same route tomorrow but from buttermere side to take in honister and whinlatter climbs from other way(or proper way)
Loop round the back of Skiddaw is good. You can always add on a loop of Honister and Newlands if you want some extra, or go via Whinlatter and Lorton.
If you go round skiddaw you can add some extra distance by going Keswick -> Basenthwaite -> Heskit Newmarket you can then loop out east (lots of lanes but flattish) or head over towards Ulswater/ Aira force. There’s a lovely climb from Matterdale end back towards the old coach road across to St Johns in the vale and troutbeck you can then take the lanes on the south of the a66 back towards Keswick.
Alternatively and as Gkeefe says the Crummock water and bassenthwaite are lovely. Quieter roads out west. Either Whinlatter and honister or whinlatter and Newlands. Alternatively you can do a figure of 8 riding new lands in both directions (my favourite is sticking to the cat bells side of deferent water.)
I've had my eye on doing from ambleside, over wrynose to cockley beck, down dunnerdale, kiln bank cross, to torver, round the bottom of coniston then back up to ambleside. 40 miles with 5000 ft depending on the exact route you follow.