Lake District Mountain Bike Routes

BLACK COMBE – MEDIUM 8.6 MILES

You’ll need to pack your lungs – much of the climbing will have you simultaneously screaming for a lower gear and wrestling the front wheel back down. But the route is easy to follow and is all rideable apart from a section at 200m that would challenge the toughest climber.

CLAIFE HEIGHTS – MEDIUM 15 MILES

It’s uphill, so accept it and enjoy. This route typifies that, as you climb on tarmac towards the tracks that take you across Claife Heights, before sweeping descents on hard packed and well drained tracks lead you down again.

CRAKE VALLEY – EASY 9 MILES

An easy but enjoyable pootle around a network of byways. Even this far south, it still counts as The Lakes because there’s a glimpse of Allan Tarn (the Octopus Lagoon in Swallows and Amazons) at one stage.

EASTERN PASSES – HARD 11 MILES

A cracking ride into the hills around the south-eastern Lake District, with epic descents that are hard earned, but definitely worth the effort.

GATESGARTH & NAN BIELD – HARD 20 MILES

This route is not for the feint hearted. It includes two big ascents, one over Gatesgarth, on a track but very few have cleared it, for it is steep and relentless for 3.4 miles. The second is a hike a bike up Nan Bield pass.

GREEN QUARTER – EASY 8.5 MILES

The easiest of the Lakeland passes is followed by a steep haul on grass, a fine moorland cruise and a rattling good descent. This route would make a good, easy-going Sunday excursion after a quad-hardening Saturday.

HELVELLYN WEST – HARD 10 MILES

A brawl with gravity on the Western flank of rideable Lakeland’s biggest bruiser. One of the many great thing about Helvellyn is the number (nine) of legitimate routes to the summit from valley level.

HIGH STREET SOUTH – MEDIUM 12 MILES

Well worth doing as an out-and-back but can be made into a loop either by wandering far to the north or by making a brief sortie on foot to Nan Bield Pass (no bridleway for c.1 mile) and returning via Kentmere and Garburn Pass.

KENTMERE LOOP – EASY 12.4 MILES

A wild moornland crossing of Green Quarter, a stony hop over Stile End then a rutted swing over Whiteside End (more classically done as a coda to Garburn Pass)

LONSCALE FELL – MEDIUM 10 MILES

Prior to the floods of 2015 we would have taken you along the old railway cycle route to Threlkeld. Due to the bridge being taken in the floods we’ve re-assessed things and taken a steady road and track climb on the other side of the river.

LOWESWATER LOOP – EASY 5.3 MILES

Short, gentle, beautiful. There’s a tucked-away quality to Loweswater – you can afford a fleeting sense of smugness leaving the hordes in Borrowdale and Buttermere for the quiet delights of Loweswater and Lorton Vale.

RATHERHEATH – MEDIUM 22 MILES

There are many reasons why you should do this ride: if the higher hills are misted up, snowed up or rained off, if you only have time to venture a little way from the motorway or if you have someone in the party likely to be nervous on the harder trails.

SATTERTHWAITE SAUNTER – MEDIUM 23 MILES

This route is excellent at all times of the year. There is lots of climbing involved, but some fantastic descents too, all on good firm tracks.

SLEDDALE & SWINDALE – MEDIUM 11.3 MILES

A short but wild loop into the desolate stretch of land between Shap and the High Street fells. Expect Cairngorm-like desolation and solitude, even on a Bank Holiday weekend.

STAKE PASS & GREENUP – HARD 18 MILES

One for push ‘n’ carry nostalgic and masochists. Ignore the modest distance – there’s plenty of brutal terrain to snag your pedals on here. One adjective you would never deploy for this route is “flowing”.

TOUR OF SKIDDAW – HARD 19 MILES

Prior to the floods of 2015 we would have taken you along the old railway cycle route to Threlkeld. Due to the bridge being taken in the floods we’ve re-assessed things and taken a steady road and track climb on the other side of the river, dropping into Threlkeld.