Home Forums Bike Forum Wasdale to Ennerdale

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  • Wasdale to Ennerdale
  • fergal
    Free Member

    Just wondering if any one has done the BW north via Netherbeck to Ennerdale, from what i have gleaned the descent on the other side is a little vague, heather/bracken is it really that bad?

    fergal
    Free Member

    I will probably just have to suck it up and see, as i really want to do Black sail pass again and i’m heading out this week.

    thegeneralist
    Free Member

    I have a sneaky suspicion I posted this exact question earlier in summer, and got no replies…

    neilc
    Free Member

    I did it the other way once, at least 15 years ago. Was still in my teens or early 20s at the time.

    My memory of the Ennerdale side was bog and heather with no actual path on the ground.

    The drop down to nether beck was I think just steep grass with no path. The path along nether beck was for me at the time largely unrideable (on a 2004 Cannondale Jekyll, so reasonably capable bike, not sure about the rider).

    By the time I got down to wastwater I was defeated, too tired to ride and losing the daylight so I had to phone my mum and get her to come down from Whitehaven and pick me up. She was not impressed.

    Perhaps riding up nether beck on a better bike with better riding ability might be doable. I’ve never bothered trying that bridleway again in either direction.

    To get from wasdale to Ennerdale, what I have done before is follow the BW from near Windsor farm (just north of nether wasdale) through blengale forest, then scalderscew wood. Cross worm gill (sketchy stepping stones), up tongue how (muddy fields at first but gets better) out to the cold fell road. Head north then take the BW up Blakeley rise. Peel off left either by the transmitter (there’s a path marked on the map but I don’t recall it being much more than a vague sheep trod) or the later path heading more directly northwards to the top of crag fell. Take the path towards ben gill and follow till you get down to the valley, then take the BW following the western shore of Ennerdale and carry on till blacksail hut.

    It’s a hell of a long way but the vast majority is rideable.

    If you really want to do blacksail and you’re up to it, the 4 passes route is a lot better day out in my opinion, though involves some challenging riding.

    fergal
    Free Member

    thegeneralist do you fancy it, reckon it will be a fine adventure.

    2500ft of pushing / hike a bike followed by grass and heather, what’s not to like, still trying to convince myself, i’m due an epic suffer fest.

    thegeneralist
    Free Member

    I’m always up for an epic sufferfest, but this one is just a bit too far from home.

    ( how utterly weak and pathetic does that sound…🤨)

    Manc to Wasdale is too far for a day trip for me really. When I was considering this earlier in summer I had a 3 day camping trip in Wasdale on the horizon. I used up my alloted away days last weekend on Ullock Pike and Ullswater.

    If you can think of a nearer sufferfest then I’ll gladly take a day off next week 🙂

    Remind me, does this involve doing Black Sail pass back into Wasdale?

    That is a fine piece of singketrack and no mistake.

    / shuffles off to look at Google maps….

    After all, a good path these days is hard to find.

    (Soz)

    paul0
    Free Member

    ‘Back in the day’ I’m pretty sure we used to go round on the Cold fell road to Ennerdale bridge. Across the pass, juice and crips from the wasdale head inn, then road it back along wasdale. Must have been 45km on road or forest tracks for a few km off-road… and quite a bit of that was carrying!!

    martinhutch
    Full Member

    After all, a good path these days is hard to find.

    🙂

    fergal
    Free Member

    Thanks for the reply’s, My plan is to start in Ennerdale over Black sail back via Netherbeck, have done the four passes, Black sail is fantastic and all rideable and don’t really fancy the long road back via Cold fell, looks like up and over it is to earn that single descent, wish me luck, i may be gone some time.

    MadBillMcMad
    Full Member

    Looking on Strava, sorry.

    There is a segment but it only has 37 records!

    Not overly popular!

    posiwev
    Free Member

    Done it quite a few times last year’s ride / hike here between 2 to 5 mins.
    Good route, not always well defined though !

    fergal
    Free Member

    Haha saw that segment for the climb, that was very encouraging 37 lost souls!

    Thanks posiwev for that YES! a future classic i’m sure.

    Neb
    Full Member

    That netherbeck track is just awful, we did it last summer on one of the hottest days of the year. Proper grim.

    We were warned to be fair but thought it couldn’t be that bad… We were also warned about the bridleway descent being rubbish, so took an alternative line down from the top of Haycock. Heading west from Haycock then down to ennerdale from Caw fell. A bit tricky in places but very enjoyable.

    Route here if you’re interested

    fergal
    Free Member

    Neb very interested my saviour, that is just what i’m looking for.

    I was planning on leaving my bike at the col for the short climb up to Haycock if i was feeling good, so this route is even better thanks.

    fergal
    Free Member

    Just an update yes Netherbeck is a bit of a long haul, if it wasn’t character building it wouldn’t be fun right, it’s a beautiful wild valley, i didn’t see a soul and Wasdale was packed, for me it was worth the hike the descent off Haycock north via Caw fell was excellent as Neb implied, some great sections of gnadgery singletrack into Ennerdale a future classic for sure for those seeking adventure off the beaten path.

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