I’m heading to the Lakes with some mates for a weekend of riding in mid November. We are looking for recommendations for an all day epic in the hills for the Saturday and a shorter 3-4 hour ride on the Sunday. I’d be grateful if any Lake District locals could share some beta! Cheers, Matt.

Where are you staying? It will depend on the weather. When there, drop into Wheelbase, Biketreks or Keswick Bikes and they’ll give you weather appropriate routes.

We haven’t booked any accommodation yet. Depends on where we’re riding! Recommendations for accommodation also gratefully received!

Mid November! you like trudging up mountains pushing your bike in the rain right?

I’d always recommend staying in Keswick as it’s right in the middle of lots of good riding plus it’s a lovely little town with great restaurants and pubs!

Have you ridden any lakes stuff before? where?

here’s some starters: http://flattyres-mtb.co.uk/route-guides/lake-district-mtb-routes/

Thanks for that. Any other ideas for amazing Lake District rides?

There’s loads to go at, but people’s tastes and experience varies- lots of hike a bike, for example, which some people might hate, or techy stuff where you end up carrying your bike downhill. Also, the high fells can get a little more serious that time of year- what is the group’s mountain craft/nav etc like. With a bit of an idea of what you enjoy, you are likely to get a few useful replies.

Coming in from the North East?

Borrowdale Bash is a classic route. It has a bit of everything in it and I would class it as a moderate. Start from Keswick usually.

Loop of Skiddaw is another classic from Keswick. Shorter route.

Whinlatter is an option for a Sunday.

Elterwater is another good centre to base your riding from. YHA’s are in both places.

Cheers, lots of experience in the group. We are all used to being active in Scottish winter conditions.   Level 3 MTB, Summer and Winter MLs, experienced winter climbers, ex-MR personnel etc so we know about bad weather. November is the only time we can all get away! We are all fine with hike-a-bike!

Get yersels up Helvellyn then… Little drive to Glenridding.

Keswick area- all dayer- Borrowdale Bash with Walla crag -ash ness bridge start, at rosthwaite head up langstrath right of the river, cross at the bridge just before stake pass and climb up there. At the top, head across to angle tarn, esk hause, styhead, down to seatoller to continue the bash. This is a big day, can be reduced by parking at rosthwaite and just doing langstrath to seatoller loop, that’s about 4 hours, and can be extended by dropping down to the bottom of stake pass on the Langdale side and climbing the purgatory that is Rosset Gill to continue the route.

Shorter ride- Skiddaw summit , ulloock pike descent, about 3 hours, could tag on threlkeld- Skiddaw house- Lonsdale fell loop before climbing Skiddaw.

Lots of other possibilities.

This was a good full day out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1055312329

You cant go far wrong with a razz round Grizedale, dont bother with the northface trail its pants. Get an OS map and get on the local bridal ways. Strava heat map would be useful

Have a gander at this website, pretty much all the info you could want, key information, no drivel and GPX routes,it’s a brilliant source of info for planning some day rides in the Lakes.

Lake District Routes

Was about to suggest the site letitreign beat me to! Will also second Ulloch Pike as a good 2nd day option. Will be unpopular but if it gets dangerously bad weather have Whinlatter as a back up.
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Whinlatter makes a great Sunday ride after a weekend in Keswick,that’s what we usually do.

Keswick is nice, but prefer somewhere in Borrowdale like the YHA. Borrowdale Bash is a grand day out and a good backup if the weather is limiting. Plenty of big mountain rides from the too – Four Passes, nip over Stakes Pass to the Dungeon Ghyll and back up over Rosset Gill and down  Styhead pass 😎