I am planning a trip to the lakes and I want to descend off Helvellyn either down Sticks Pass to Glenridding or from Grisdale Tarn to Patterdale.
The plan is to ascend from Grassmere up to Grisdale tarn then either down to Patterdale then across to Glenridding or up to Grisdale tarn then zig zag up to summit then down via sticks pass to Glenridding. Which of these descents is the most payback for the climb. My bike is a 140mm hard
Wrong climb mate. I'd ascend kepple cove iiwy. It's the accepted usual route.
Wrong climb mate
Is there a right or wrong climb? Surely that's down to the individual?
Yeah pushing up the tongue would be a lesson in abject misery.
Also unless you're getting dropped off in Grasmere and rendezvousing in patterdale it's a looooong way round or back over the top
OK but which is the best way down ?
Both descents are excellent.
If you start at Glenridding you could do both.
Up keppel cove, down sticks, along road, up the descent to Grisedale tarn then back down again.
Done that myself this year.
Keppel cove is the standard climb / push.
Birk side is the best descent, but you end up in Thirlmere so you then have to hike-a-bike up to grizedale tarn (to descend from there).
You can save the hike a bike and descend dollywagon, but whilst lumpy this isn't actually that interesting.
The other alternative is sticks pass, turn left at the line workings and descend seldom seen. This is frankly, the most coherent lap of the three.
One of my favourite routes in the lakes is to park at Wythburn church, head south along the fire road/permissive footpath. Hike/carry up Raise beck to Grizedale tarn then descend to patterdale. Then the long ride/push up keppel cove and descend Birk side.
Best done on a full suss, but perfectly possible on a hardtail. You might find the section of steps on Birk side a bit tiring though
Does anyone actually enjoy the descent to Grizedale Tarn since it was paved?
Dollywaggon?
Never actively enjoy it but there are some rewarding sections.
So much wheel grabbing potential and rim damage risk.
My friend took a hard otb crash down there this year. Was a worrying couple of minutes until we established she was ok.
Does anyone remember before it was pitched though?
While this thread is here I've been wondering about going up Helvellyn by bike. Not looking for a tech fest just getting up high on my bike. Is coach road then Dodds the easiest way up and down?
While this thread is here I’ve been wondering about going up Helvellyn by bike. Not looking for a tech fest just getting up high on my bike. Is coach road then Dodds the easiest way up and down?
I don't like out and back by the same route so I started at Grasmere, up past Grizedale Tarn to the Summit then rode the ridge all the way to the Coach Road and then back round. Had perfect weather which made it even better 😊
Is the angry farmer on seldom seen still a thing?
I am staying in Keswick and this is the route I intend on riding.
Keswick to Grasmere via Castlerigg and Thirlmere then up Helvellyn via Grisdale Tarn. Descend to Glenridding via Sticks pass for lunch by the lake. Up past Aira force to Dockray and then along the coach road to St John's in the Vale. Cut across to Threlkeld for another coffee (if the cafe is still open) back to Keswick along the railway track.
Should be a awsome day out.
Thanks simon
I rode Dollywaggon first in 1985... and it was pitched then