Lakes for a day on MTB – WWSTWD?

Meeting up with the brother for a day’s riding in the Lakes towards the end of June. It’ll be a weekday in the hopes of avoiding the hoards. We’d earmarked the Borrowdale Bash as a ride worth doing, but it doesn’t seem like day out territory at 17miles. Total newb to riding in the Lakes, but for reference our last ride out was a 50mile 8500ft loop of all the best bits in the Dark Peak.

Route suggestions please – probably up to around 40miles as we need to factor in 2.5hrs travel at the start and end of the day. Don’t mind a bit of suffering, definitely want good views and ideally not many people about. Bonus points if there’s a pub lunch partway round, but very much not a dealbreaker as we’ll be carrying plenty food.

Thanks!

The Bash probably won’t be sufficient, no – but you could add something else on. I’ve ridden up to Whinlatter and done a mix of trail centre and off-piste after doing the Bash via Walla Crag from Keswick before.

I’d say it’s best to think of Lakes rides in terms of height gain rather than miles covered though.

Why not have a go at something like the Four Passes or a Helvellyn double?

A meandering loop picking up the good stuff in Grizedale and across towards claiffe heights would give you plenty to go at with the options for pubs in Satterthwaite, either of the Sawreys or Hawkshead between some cracking riding.

I have a similar plan this weekend coming – day to do whatever the flip I like from Keswick on Sunday. I’ve looked at loads of options (including hiring an ebike when I thought I couldn’t take mine) but I’ve settled on a lap of the Bash (because I don’t have to drive from Keswick) with an ascent of Langstrath in the middle of it based on some advice from here. Around 30 miles/5600ft.

No idea how good it will be (well, I know the Bash is a decent ride but not massive). I’ll update next week. Probs worth checking out the threads for some tope tips. Also I think the map link I’ve made is in there if you want it.

I’d say a loop of Coniston. Lots of woods stuff in Parkamoor, an obscure but interesting bit round the South end of the lake and the walna scar road for a big mountain feel.

You should probably be clear whether you are after a bike ride or bike carry

40 mile loop wanted in the Lakes, let us know the route so we can prepare mountain rescue to carry your spine off the mountain because that’s bound to be A LOT of Hike a Bike!

I think the Borrowdale Bash is a classic and a must do…

Then add in the Lonscale fell loop : https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/114716155

Brilliant day out from Keswick there..

DrP

I second the coniston loop. For me it was one of the best lake district rides.

It is a hard climb out of coniston though.

 mind a bit of suffering, definitely want good views and ideally not many people about

Mutually exclusive aims. Do a round of Cross Fell and High Cup Nick instead.

You should probably be clear whether you are after a bike ride or bike carry

This. Please tell us whether you are up for HaB or not. That’s the most important thing.

Also, how tricky do you like your descents? Easy like the Peak District, dull and grapefruity like the Peak district or gnadgery tech? ( Can you tell I’m frustrated at living right next to the peak district)

Also, third very important question, does it need to be Bridleway?

Weirdly enough I’ve never done any 2600hm routes in the lakes.  Usually 1600 or 1800 is enough for me, but will give you what I’ve got….

Add Esk Hause onto the bash as flyingmonkeyciros suggests. Preferably via Langstrath, or also by grains gyll

https://strava.app.link/ga7l3MwnvKb

Or add The Portal Trail 😉 ( which I guess it what DrP suggests

https://strava.app.link/L6cfhyLnvKb

( Ignore the 2041hm info, that’s bollocks)

Combine the two best descents on Helvellyn ( ooh, contentious)

https://strava.app.link/oUAJ1FZnvKb

Combine the best bits of Grisedale with Walna Scar…

https://strava.app.link/YMvNPp7nvKb

<Edit: I think this is what @ampthill suggested>

Your OP has made me realised just how few actually big rides I have done in the lakes…. Pretty much none by your definition!

four passes is great, but nowhere near long

Three passes is also ok, but much improved by eliminating Gatesgarth descent and replacing it with Harter Fell.

PS. How did you manage to get Jacob’s, Cavedale, Cut Gate and Devils Elbow in a 50 mile ride? 😉

I’d do the bash starting with Walla Crag of course then to extend it head up to Dale Head from Honister top. Should be rideable and the views over to Wastwater and surrounds from Dale Head are pretty awesome. Descend to the tarn for some steep ass fun then down to the usual bash bridleway through the old mine workings.

40 miles is quite a long way in the Lakes if you’re doing a bit of HaB in there as well.

Depending on your appetite for carrying/pushing and technical descending as well.

For example, the four passes route is 18 miles, 5000ft of climbing but definitely an all-dayer.

My recommendation as mentioned above would be Borrowdale Bash starting with Walla Crag to warm you up a bit to Lakes riding, then aim to keep going at the point the BB turns back and head up Langstrath towards Stake Pass, turn and head towards Angle Tarn, Sprinkling Tarn , Styhead and back to Seathwaite to rejoin the bash. Only downside is that there will be walkers, no avoiding that in June.

+1 for up Walna Scar down via Stephenson ground and seathwaite and back over Walna Scar.  then in the afternoon  grizedale via Lawson park, down parkamoor then up stock farm and down ickenthwaite ride to satterthwsite and back up the north face red and finally down Lawson park to coniston. If you’re not knackered after that you’re a superman!  Beers in the black bull on completion.

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https://strava.app.link/YMvNPp7nvKb

<Edit: I think this is what @ampthill suggested>

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Yes this is exactly what i was suggesting. Although i know the various bits it’s not well enough to say this would be a a great try route.

Can you both hike-a-bike? You need to know the answer before you go, some people just can’t stand it.

Thanks all, some great options to pick through here!

Yep, HaB is a selectable menu item. Would always choose a rideable alternative if available, but wouldn’t strike off a route if some reasonable HaB with worthwhile reward was required.

@thegeneralist easy when you haven’t heard of the devil’s elbow! Added to the to-do list now, ta!

To answer the tech fruitiness question – open to giving most things a whirl. Have both ridden Cavedale/Jacobs/Peaks classics on 120-140 hardtails without death occurring, and are relatively good at knowing our limits. Both now on skills compensating 130mm 29er full sus, so have a bit of insurance there against sustained lumpiness.

I’d do the bash twice. So good 😊

We’d earmarked the Borrowdale Bash as a ride worth doing, but it doesn’t seem like day out territory at 17miles

If you really put your mind to it – and have the necessary fitness and skills – you can get round that in <2hrs.

Equally, plenty of people will take at least half a day for it. It’s a deceptive loop. The normal format if you want to make it a true big day out is to add on Lonscale Fell afterwards to turn it into a figure of 8 with its centre on Keswick.

You could also cut over to Whinlatter from the northern end of Cat Bells (the BW that runs along the hills to the west of Derwentwater) and finish with a lap or 2 of the trail centre before dropping back to Keswick.

Im a fan so trail and all mountain days in the Lakes .

Often parking in Keswick and ride up to Whinlatter and do the north and south loop . Heading up Grizedale pike after and off over Whiteless and Rannerdale Knott.  A brief wallet oscapy in Butetrmere and back to Keswick via Rigg Beck.     Something for every taste even finishing in Oddfellows beer garden for a pre M6 snack.