Would recommend getting a bit nearer the big hills but there is plenty of riding round backbarrow – not the big mountain stuff though, fairly low key but that might suit a quick spin out a bit more.
On the doorstep:
Simpson Ground – (woods above fell foot and south of Gummers How)(climb up the fireroad from chapel house plantation and have a half hour seeking out the BW and bits of cheeky then either descend down the front BW or for aq longer ride head out NE to Sow How. Pop in the Masons for a pint – continue
Bishops allotment – Bridleway above back barrow – useful as a way of getting from back barrow to the above, avoiding the main road
Gentler riding around Cartmel – kind of stuff you can take a child seat on if that’s useful to you
Within 1/2 hour pedalling on the lanes:
Grizedale 1/2 hour on the bike – Pint in the Eagle – continue
Oxen fell – look for Oxen Park/High Ickenthwaite you’ll find a road called bletherbarrow lane that’s quite good fun ridden from West to East and Bessy bank/Park Wood on the map there’s a few bits in there. Don’t head from bessy bank toward spark bridge on the BW’s cos they’re cross field bore fests. At ickenthwaite end turn immediate left through another gate follow that until you meet a stream, turn left down there – Pint in the Manor at Oxen Park – continue
Look for blawith/water yeat on the o/s map and West of there there’s plenty of BW’s on Blawith Common with some good descents Particulalry going from E-W over woodland fell, climb back up the road to the south of blawith knot, just before the top turn R on to BW at the bottom of that turn left up a short steep climb head to Birck Bank and Tottlebank. Where the track turns to tarmac there’s a footpath back over to woodland fell that some have said might be quite good for mountain biking – if it was a BW – but it isnt. ahem. Pint in the Red Lion, Lowick – continue
