Natural routes around Whinlatter / bike hire

I’m off up to the Lakes at the end of June, staying just outside Keswick. Probably won’t be able to take a bike. but I’ll have a day to ride, so looking at hiring one. Which leads me to two questions:

1. A quick google suggests the best place to hire a bike from is Cyclewise in Whinlatter. They have Nukeproof Megas at £73 a day. Anywhere else I should be looking at locally?

2. Decent routes around Whinlatter. I’d sooner not just do the marked trails. I’ve had a quick google / look at the OS map and it looks like Grisedale Pike is decent, and I think I’ve heard good things about Whiteless Pike and Causey Pike and most of the other peaks around there to be honest. I’m reasonably fit and not afraid of a bit of tech but I am a bit rusty (had a baby last year!) so a mix of tech and more flowy singletrack would be preferable to full-on tech assault.

I’ve ridden a fair bit round the back of Skiddaw so it’d be nice to explore this side a bit.

Cheers in advance.

You have mentioned the good stuff I know of and I’m sure there’s a lot more info from locals. Grisedale from top o whinlatter down sleethow to braithwaite. Along the road up below causey pike hike a bike up whiteless down to rannerdale then up gas gate gill with the option of climbing grisedale again and home. Epic. Last time I was up there you could see the IOM.

Cyclewise is probably your best bet for bike hire.

As for routes, when most people talk about grisedale pike, they generally mean climbing up the main footpath from the top of the south loop of Whinlatter, then descending via hobcarton back into the forest. Riding down the front of GP is pretty full on and something of an acquired taste.

I would probably go for Whiteless if conditions are good, seeing as you’ve not done it. A few short techy steep sections but loads of flowy singletrack in a spectacular position. You can return via Rigg Beck, which again is not techy but lovely flowing singletrack. Still a step up from anything Back o’Skiddaw.

If you’re on an unfamiliar bike and aren’t feeling like committing to tech, you can still have a great ride just by hopping off and walking those few short bits. Might be worth spinning around Whinlatter North just to make sure the brakes on the hire bike are in good order though!

That sounds good, I remember having Whiteless on the list of spots to try a while ago.

Might post some routes up here when I’ve had time to browse some maps.

Oh, and if you’re starting up Grisedale, you can just follow the Whinlatter South loop to the top and branch off just before it to meet the ridgeline track. Saves a nasty step push/carry from Braithwaite.

Yeah I saw that, looks like the perfect way to start the ride.

Then I can finish on Hobcarton back into the forest.

I’m no expert but all that NW fells group look okay. Search the “riding the wainwrights” thread which has routes over Robinson.

I’ve ridden Grizedale pike an around two or three times I think. An alterative to the great routes above would be up Coledale then up Grassmoor summit as an out and back to the hause (steep grassy push up at one point, but singletrack with no real tech, Then up Sand Hill (mainly rides) and ridge to Grizedale and pick your descent. The slippy stone pyramid at the very top of sleet how was a bit too much for me the one time i tried it but after couple of bits of awkward pushing the rest of the decent is a joy.  Other options take you down to the bike circuit (which is v worth doing) but aren’t as good.

So here’s what I’m thinking (based from starting at the VC at Whinlatter). Gonna be a pretty chunky ride but should be good… Thoughts and suggestions very welcome.

Up the South Loop of the trail centre trails.

Up to the top of Grisedale Pike

Over to Coledale Hause

Then to Whiteless Pike

Probably cut across to Rannerdale rather than going down to the road

Up the road then up to Gasgale Gill

Over Sand Hill to Hopegill Head

Over Hobcarton Crag and back to Grisedale Pike

Down Hobcarton End back into the forest

Figure out a way back to the trails / VC

did the push up from braithwaite on the hottest day of 2022, horrendous, soul destroying. the descent to whiteless pike was good, for what i could ride, walked down a little cliff i didnt fancy..

riggbeck was good, but a dog to get to the start of the uphill singletrack, flow was good, then an icecream and cold drink from the braithwaite village store,

followed by a warm bath in windermere at ambleside YHA and 8 bottles of magners :0)

I did a similar route last week, on the 77 bus.  Driver was brilliant, had about an inch clearance on some cars coming the other way, the look on some car drivers faces was priceless.  It was pouring down so best 2 quid I ve ever spent.

I’ve actually ridden the ridge to whiteside and back from hopegill head. Well, I rode some of it;.

Don’t head back into the forest at the end keep going down the trail towards Braithwaite. It’s flat out and ends up at a small car park then climb back to whinlatter. Just don’t **** yourself on the wee steps at the end like I did.

Ha I think I’ve read about those steps. Noted though, I guess then it’s just a road slog back up to Whinlatter.

Those steps are lethal! If you want to come down the Grisedale ridge, finish down the Whinlatter Red. It’s a trail centre, but it’s not that bad!

Ah okay, where do you pick up the Whinlatter red from the bottom of the Grisedale ridge?

Great day and exactly the route I’d recommend. Beware the flog up gasgale (generally pushing rather than shouldering bike)  is tedious and seems endless, there is a ‘least bad’ path but I can never remember which one! There’s a little enduro style track towards the bottom of Hobcarton end, hang a right above the last tree line and it should become apparent, short but fun and no surprises you can’t stop and look at first. If weather is poor I’d recommend something like Borrowdale bash.

Ah okay, where do you pick up the Whinlatter red from the bottom of the Grisedale ridge?

As mentioned, there’s a faint path that branches off the main ridge track and goes directly to the top of the south red route.. It’s visible on aerial photos, but not marked on the map, I think.

Crosses into the forest here:

54.596525, -3.224652

Me and Simon did a similar route one Nov with snow on the tops but started and finished in the car park at the bottom of those lethal steps. Instead of going up to Whinlatter first, we headed up the valley from the back of the car park and over to Whiteless from there.

Don’t make the mistake of taking the bike up the path above those crags on Gasgale, that was a tough old carry!

What a day to be up there though, stunning.

Still need to do Rigg Beck at some point.

Big old day but classic NW Fells cheek.

Depending on when you are doing it, you may want to avoid Rannerdale. Its a carpet of Bluebells when they are out and will be RAMMED with walkers and NT wardens. With it being a footpath you might attract the worst kind of attention.

Ah fair one @lowey, I ride in the Moors quite often so I know the pain of daffodil season, I imagine this will be similar. I’ll be riding on a Sunday in June so will definitely avoid Rannerdale. I guess I could just drop down to the road and skirt it that way, else go over Rigg Beck instead and scratch Whiteless Pike.

@martinhutch I get you. Thought you meant descending Grisedale all the way down to Braithwaite then cutting back.

You’ll probably be ok in June to be fair.

Sweet. So decent options then. I guess if it looks busy I can hit the road.

You’ll be fine mate. Its a lovely bit of trail through Rannerdale.

Ooh that looks glorious.

I’m getting quite excited now, not been riding much recently because new baby and not been to the Lakes in aaaaages.

Photos will hopefully follow at the end of June.

Add me to the list of people wot fine that route and loved it.

Just don’t **** yourself on the wee steps at the end like I did.

Has anyone ridden them successfully?