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The Lakes have been few and far between for me of late, but I did manage a morning over Xmas to do a ride over Lough rigg and along to Elterwater ,Over Lingmor fell to Little Langdale . on to Tilberthwaite . At this point the xc ride took a turn for the up and I headed up Weatherlam as the ground was rock hard due to well below freezing conditions, made riding almost tarmac like . From the summit I descended down to Hole Rake and down to Coniston .. Conditions were sketchy at best with ice and frost . The police had closed the road at Shepards bridge due to a sideways campervan and ice but this was no match for the Maxxis Aggressor on the rear of my Tallboy and my size 12 northwave outriggers as I slid past with a look of confusion and bewilderment on the officers face...
After a few miles and a pedal back up to the YHA at Loughrigg I had a clear run back to Rydal before the 1.5 mile on the worlds busiest tourist lane under Loughrigg just full of ewww people!
Fingers crossed with the M6 now open this weekend a trip to Keswick or Torvor might be on the cards weather pending that is .
Great write up Sanny.
My lakes trips are a bit curtailed these days due to travelling and just not managing to get up there.
Your not the only one to fall foul of the farmer there. I've had a few words fired at my direction too. Grumpy bugger. He's quite well known in the area for hating just about everybody.
@Sanny - not too much lakes riding for me in the last wee while. The kids' enthusiasm for riding has centred on trail centres and jumps so I've been dragged (happily) into that for days out a lot of the time. And the great weather for most of 2025 has meant loads of local riding in prime conditions so travelling further afield has seemed less worth the effort.
Still had a few good days out in the lakes, mainly variations of familiar favourites - Borrowdale bash plus Honister into Warnscale and back via Rigg Beck, a few times into the NW fells from Braithwaite, Helvellyn, some Caldbeck Fells and a couple of others but very little exploratory stuff from me.
Borrowdale bash plus Honister into Warnscale and back via Rigg Beck
Sounds like a big day but a great route. How long did that take?
I guess a fair few places are boggy and very wet at the moment . Im debating something tomorrow but not really up for a boggy start .
Borrowdale bash plus Honister into Warnscale and back via Rigg Beck
Sounds like a big day but a great route. How long did that take?
Last time was almost 5 hrs riding, plus an hour at the beer garden in Buttermere rehydrating. Was a very hot day. Think that's pretty typical for me unless pushing on. I wouldn't bother in too slow (boggy or icy) conditions though so could be longer on the wrong day.
Another update - the western fells.
Back at the tail end of August, I grabbed a sunny Sunday window and headed down to explore some of the less frequented western fells. Target no 1 was Lank Rigg. With wispy clouds streaking through the blue, I set off on a Land Rover track just off the Ennerdale Bridge to Calder Bridge Fell road. Easy to follow, it rises gently before descending to the River Calder with Lank Rigg prominently in the eastern skyline. Crossing the ford at Stinking Gill, I followed what initially seemed like a promising low track across Lankrigg Moss on the lower slopes of Whoap. Progress was a bit stop start as exposed rock littered the path meaning that I didn’t find a smooth riding rhythm. Eventually joint a higher path (mental note: take the higher path next time), I rode on a nice bit of singletrack before a brief carry up on an easy to follow path that led to the saddle between Whoap and Lank Rigg. From there, it was an easy push on grassy trail for a few minutes to get to the summit of Lank Rigg, barely an hour after starting the ride. Looking south, Sellafield came into view while Pillar and the likes were prominent to the east. Retracing my steps, the descent to the saddle took what like a handful of second before the gradual and entirely rideable rise to the summit of the wonderfully named Whoap. As summits go, it was definitely not the most exciting. However, looking over towards Iron Crag and Caw Fell, I spotted a clear trail that would lead all the way to Haycock. I saw it from Caw Fell when I was up it in September 2024 doing a circuit including Haycock and Steeple. I rather fancy riding it from Wasdale for an old school XC day out.
Gradually descending on clear tracks towards the Land Rover track between Crag Fell and Grike, I met a couple of Geordies who were out with their ridiculously friendly collie. They were doing my route in reverse and had clearly started even earlier than me. It seemed mad that they would be on the way home by lunchtime when they had a whole day of good weather to accompany them. Reaching the wide track, I made a bee line for Grike. Another gently riding grass track took me to the summit where someone had made a decent wind break from the rocks. After a peperami and chatting with a couple of friendly walkers, I headed over to the summit of Crag Fell, passing several walkers and associated four legged pals on the way. Again, the going was easy but would no doubt be a bit boggy in the depths of winter.
The views over Ennerdale are truly fabulous, the flat calm lake below looking cooly inviting. I moved away from the other summiters as one women, a local judging by her accent and ranting, taking it upon herself to lob rocks over the edge in rage at the presence of a rocky cairn. I struggle to see why someone would allow themselves to get quite so upset over something so trivial but they had a real bag on. I felt sorry for her walking companions.
Her rantings drifting into the warm morning air, I decided to make a loop of it and drop down an invitingly steep, grassy singletrack path that soon turned to loose shingle as it crossed Ben Gill. It was an unexpected joy which ultimately led me to the flat valley of Ennerdale, stopping only to take pictures and to chat to a lovely family and their two collies, who had moved up from Norfolk and were fully embracing Lakeland living. A steep final section spat me out at a footbridge which led to an interesting stone doocot by Ennerdale Mill. Hitting the road for an easy spin on quiet tarmac, I spotted an interesting animal trot across the road in front of me - a water vole. This was the first time that I have ever seen one in the UK so was absolutely delighted.
So thoughts. Falling into the category of XC riding on rolling hills with a lovely descent thrown into the equation and some smashing view to boot, I would heartily recommend it for those who fancy a three hour ride away from the tourist fleshpots of the Lakes.
Soooooo, the morning done and with plenty of time left before heading to the Duddon Valley to meet my mate James at The Newfield Inn for post ride grub and chat, I headed over to Dalegarth Station in Eskdale, home of Old Ratty steam trains. With it being a sunny afternoon in August, the car park was rammed but I managed to find the last space. After the obligatory oohing and aching over the engineering joy that is a miniature steam train, I followed the bridleway south to Eskdale and Gill Force waterfall. I had never ridden this particular section of trail before but it was absolutely glorious. It is hard to beat a combination of Lakeland fells, native woodland and the sound of running water to lift the spirits. I admit that I felt somewhat jealous of the folks swimming in the river below but I was on a mission to ride some more summits. Crossing the river, I was left to my own devices, the water being the main draw. the bridleway follows the path of the valley floor to Wha House Farm where it reconnected with the road. However, I was aiming for Jubilee Bridge thus continued on for several hundred metres through woodland and ferns, passing a solitary female walker with European accent that I could not place, who expressed surprise that the track was even rideable on a bike - it was!
Turning south west, I gradually made my way up on the bridleway that skirts the side of Birker Fell. Initially rideable, despite the encroaching ferns, it gradually got a bit looser meaning that a bit of pushing was called for. Descending towards me, I was past by three heavily laden German bikepackers who looked like a bit of a rag tag bunch - a mix of a full face, armour, Action cam and massive panniers, one told me they had 100km to ride that day. Judging by their general demeanour, I’m not convinced they were entirely enjoying the experience and were rapidly realizing that 100km in the Lakes can be no small challenge. Passed quickly thereafter by a fellow Scot who had been up Harter Fell, I took my time to enjoy the expansive views north to Bowfell and Scafell. It was hot but not unpleasantly so. As the trail levelled off, an XC Lycra clad rider bid me hello as he rode past me to head down the descent I had just come up - lucky devil. I was on a different mission.
Green Crag was my first target and it came with a serious health warning - leg sucking bog is the order of the day so despite the extended period of dry weather, I travelled more in hope than expectation. Following an at times vague track over lumpy terrain, kit was easy to see that in the wet months, this would be a bloody trauma. I had clearly picked my day wisely. As the terrain turned gently upwards, I was riding on a nice sheep trod before a final steep and rocky carry to the summit proper. Chatting with a couple who seemed astonished that I had taken my bike up there (a definite theme of some of my Lakeland adventures), I soon had the top to myself and relished the views in every direction. Joined by a runner who told me that he had recently retired from being a submariner based in Faslane, he asked if I had lost a lens wipe bag. Unbeknownst to me, I had. He had helpfully placed it under a rock for me to find on the way back down. Top man! With it approaching half three, I carried back down the first section of the trail as it was too steep to ride, before heading back the way I came to rejoin the bridleway that goes round Harter Fell. A steeply rising trail by the treeline was the obvious line of ascent but my map indicated otherwise. After a fruitless fifteen minutes of searching to find a trail that does not appear to exist, I was back at the same spot and carrying my bike up on my back. Although steep in places, it was a fairly easy carry and all the way up, I thought it would make for a nice, albeit short, descent back down to the bridleway.
After the best part of a thousand feet and a couple of much needed stops for food and water, I was at the rocky summit. Big sections of slab and crag litter the summit. It looks and feels like how the summit of a mountain should look and feel. It was now approaching tea time (5 o’clock in old money) and I was conscious that I was on the clock to get to the Duddon to meet James. Dropping of the summit with only one minor carry down, I bumped into a fellow biker (on foot sans bike) who had recently left Orange Bikes and had seen the weather forecast and decided to make the most of it followed by a woman whose teenage daughter I had met a few minutes earlier at the summit. They had started in Coniston and were heading for Boot that evening. I was impressed as that is a big old walk over mountainous terrain - what a cool thing to be doing.
The descent off Harter Fell starts promisingly but then gets a bit meh as it gets boggy by Peathill Crag - the clue is in the name. Eventually hitting the top of Hard Knott Pass, my plan had been to knock out Hard Knott Fell. I felt pretty fresh but time was against me thus I rode down via the old Roman Fort, taking plenty of pictures in the warm glow of the evening sunshine before blasting back along the road to where I had started. Done and dusted by just after 6pm which gave me enough time to get over to meet James for a much anticipated gammon steak and chips. Nom nom nom. It was a most excellent way to end the day over food and drink with a pal. He had ridden over from Ambleside via Walna Scar and had managed to do so in a couple of hours. That is mega fast. He clearly earned his pint and big bowl of chips.
All in all, an excellent day out. Harter Fell is definitely best done from the Duddon side as it is more rideable on the ascent while a carry up and ride down from bridleway as an out and back would be my go to option. That said, I am tempted to try the ascent from the Duddon on the footpath as a descent, having walked it in 2024.
Another fine day out!
The Far Eastern Fells - there may be dragons!
Eager to finish the Far Eastern fells, I saved potentially the worst for last. Back in the summer, I managed to persuade my friend Dave to accompany for a trip into Wet Sleddale. Fair to say that you don’t get the wet moniker without truly earning it thus it was we set off a tad trepidatiously from the top end of Kentmere on a warm and sunny Saturday morning. The BOAT from Stile End over to Longsleddale will be familiar to many Lakeland locals. It had been years since I last rode it and it has seen a lot of changes - the far side now has stone pitched switchbacks on the eastern side which I don’t remember from one roasting hot day in May many moons ago when I rode my first generation Santa Cruz Heckler up it. From the west, it is 100% rideable up and down to the next valley and was an easy warm up for what lay ahead - Gatesgarth Pass. There are those who hate Gatesgarth - it is a long and at times steep climb but I have always had a soft spot for it. When it gets steep, the stone pitching offers plenty of traction, in the dry at least. The surrounding vertical crags that run the length of Kentmere Pike offer welcome distraction from the task at hand. To our right, Buckbarrow Crag loomed large thus lending the ascent a feeling of the mountains slowly encroaching upon you like those creepy assed angel things in Dr Who (shudders!) After a bit of effort, we crested the steepest section for a welcome levelling. At Brownhowe Bottom (the etymology of that definitely intrigues me), we headed towards Mosedale on the bridleway. Thankfully mostly dry, it was a mix of riding with the odd bit of pushing before heading south on a grassy track which rose steeply to the summit of Tarn Crag. I won’t lie - it was a carry most of the way but being less than a kilometre long and starting high, it wasn’t terrible while the going underfoot was pleasingly solid. The summit is marked by a concrete and stone tower which denotes the route of the Haweswater Aquaduct tunnel dating back to the 1930s. It is a cool spot for a snack and a view.
From the tower, we followed a lovely (and dry!) singletrack path to the summit of Harrop Pike - not a Wainwright but the path looked nice so we rode it as an out and back. Partially retracing our tracks, we broke south and descended on a vague path that led to what looked like it would be a bog of eternal despair in anything other than the driest of summers (we chose wisely!) or hard frozen. As a summit, Grey Crag is relatively nondescript but the views are still lovely on a summer’s day. Not exactly a ride classic but still worth doing if you want to explore somewhere new.
Doubling back to Tarn Crag, the descent back down to Gatesgarth was most enjoyable. Neither steep nor technical, it was entirely in keeping with the rounded hill vibe of this part of the Lakes. Stopping only to chat to a couple of locals out on a fell walk with the obligatory collie, they warned us to be wary of the farmer in Kentmere whose dogs have a nasty habit of biting passing runners and cyclists and whose attitude seems to be less than sympathetic.
Reaching our turning off point, we were back climbing again up the Pass. It was oppressively hot at times - then lack of shade meant we were gulping down our water. The climb has gotten noticeably looser since I last rode it and cleaned it. this time round, even on an e bike, the dry and dusty track was just that bit too loose to spin up. A very short push and we were back riding the final rise. Keen to sample the delights of the Kentmere Pike ridge, we broke west up the path that would eventually knead us to the top of Harter Fell. I last rode this twelve months previously when I did a loop from Glenridding that took me over and down Kidsty Pike and up Branstree so knew it was a steep but rideable ascent. Dave opted for shanks pony at a couple of moments as the sun beat down on us. I suspect it would make for a rapid descent but with Harter Fell and Nan Bield the alternative descent, I doubt many folk do it.
Reaching the rusty fence post summit of Harter Fell, we followed clear trails all the way to Kentmere Pike summit. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. It was not in any way technical but the ease of travel gave us time to look around and enjoy the scenery. At the summit, we met a walker travelling in the other direction with his rescue Doberman Husky cross. He was a friendly soul and took great delight in licking the salty sweat off of my legs - the dog, not the walker - that would be weird! After he departed, we were soon joined by a couple from Manchester who despite claiming to not be particularly fit were despatching the Kentmere Horseshoe at a fair old rate. They were not clad in the latest of gear and I rather suspect old Wainwright would have looked down upon them as he was by all accounts a right grumpy old git. Me, I really liked them.
Dropping off the summit, we made our way toward Rough Crags. I know that it is possible to keep heding south directly but we dropped down onto a promising singletrack that would eventually drop us out at Hallow Bank. It was a bit chunky of rock in places and the ferns meant that we were at time riding by braille down a narrow channel of bouldery singletrack meaning we had to go easy but it was an excellent way to round off the ride. Well that and knowing there would be a cup of tea and biscuits waiting for us at friends Pete and Jess who live at the bottom of Nan Bield Pass.
Looking back, Tarn and Grey Crag are for the completionists. I’m glad to have ridden them but there are far better rides to be had in the area. Kentmere Pike was much more fun in comparison. It’s not as good as the Harter Fell / Nan Bield combo but i thoroughly enjoyed it as a day in the fells exploring somewhere new.
Cheers
Sanny
So @mark88 @stevedoc @lowey @thegeneralist @justinbieber @fergal @Neb @bajsyckel @thenorthwind @stuF @munrobiker @johnx2 @fingerbang @continuity @TomB @hb70 @parkedtiger @neilthewheel
Really keen to hear what folk have planned for the Lakes over the coming months. There are several I fancy a crack at so feel free to critique my ideas.
Black Combe - why have I never ridden this?
The trails over toward the M6 around the other Borrowdale - lots of bridleways on the map.
Whiteside again but not going off the end but rather heading down the not steep as hell carry down that I did last time.
Clough Head riding north off of Helvellyn.
Lad Hows off Grassmoor.
Kirk Fell as part of a loop from Ennerdale. Carry up (and down!) from Black Sail Pass then down into Wasdale, up Yewbarrow by the trail on the side the over towards Ennerdale via the trails near Haycock.
Hard Knott Fell - still not done it.
Rosthwaite Fell as a loop so not down the stone pitched steps of shitness.
Buckbarow Fell at Wasdale.
Pretty much any / all of the Outlying Fells, in no particular order but Whitbarrow for sure as well as Scout Scar.
Whiteless Pike / Gasgale Gill / Grizedale Pike.
Really fancy an extended Four Passes starting in Eskdale and heading north through Eskdale to the saddle and head up onto Great End for an out and back before doing the Styhead / Warnscale / Stake Pass and Black Sail before returning via Illgill Head which I absolutely loved doing last May. It adds a bit of height and makes more of a day of it.
Robinson descent cos I have never ridden it.
Broad End descent off of Skiddaw - again an omission in my local knowledge.
Thoughts? Advice?
Really keen to hear of the plans of others too.
Cheers
Sanny
I broke my finger in Norway last weekend so currently restricted to reps up the staircase on the local flyover!
Hospital on Tuesday ( other) fingers crossed.
That sucks! Something utterly trivial or do you now have an epic tale for your back story?
Thats a bummer @thegeneralist hope it heals up soon.
@sanny getting time to explore the Western Fells is my 2026. Ive never gotton round to riding further over than Fleetwith. so any suggestions welcome .
I have some suggestions. Assuming you have not done stuff west of Haystacks and Wasdale as I have some suggestions you may like. 👍
thanks Sanny for the nudge. I've done bugger all lakes riding in the past year for one reason or another (might have done a version of the kentmere round for the umpteenth time but that's about it). I hereby resolve to do something round t'other Borrowdale and something altogether more ill-advised from Langdale when I'm back in the country in March.
Lad Hows is pretty good - steep to start but mellow thereafter unless you go James Vincent's way off the side.
Naturally Whiteless/Gasgale/Grizedale is amazing, but the top of Grizedale is very spicy and not one I'd do alone. I'd say it's my favourite ride in the Lakes.
I didn't ride in the Lakes at all last year, which is remiss of me. Next one on my list is Robinson and Hindscarth.
the top of Grizedale is very spicy and not one I'd do alone
it's a fantastic descent but as a v v average rider I pushed down some of the top cone of wet slidy sandy scree etc. I've also ridden the hobscarton end descent which is fast and straightforward as I remember it.
Me and boxelder of this parish did a big, fairly mellow loop of the northern fells over Christmas when it was frozen pretty solid up high. Hope to get back over when we get some longer days and better weather for some rocky tech. This thread is a mine of inspiration/information for when I do, though it does give me decision paralysis!
Did Robinson for the first time last summer on an evening ride. We normally head for hindscarth if we find ourselves over that way, but fancied a change and I’m glad we did. Quite frankly incredible. Yes, there were a couple of sections you had to carry down, but they didn’t detract from the fun at all.