Sitting on the western edges of the United Kingdom,the magnificent high fells and valleys provide awesome trail riding opportunities in wild and rugged terrain.
With two great forest centres too, at Grizedale and Whinlatter, the Lake District should be on every mountain bikers list. The area is also filled with accommodation options and great places to eat, including the legendary Wilf’s Cafe at Staveley – so get along to the Lakes and ride in some of the most beautiful and technically testing areas of the UK.
AMBLESIDE EIGHT – MEDIUM 19 MILES
A superb double-loop around Ambeside’s environs. As every mathematician knows, the beauty of eight is that it can easily be halved so, if you’re short of time or breath, either of these loops would be a pleasant outing
ASKHAM & ULLSWATER – HARD 22.6 MILES
A demanding yet incredibly rewarding outing in the far Northeast of the district, taking in the dazzling descent from The Cockpit to Howtown, the surprisingly gnarly traverse of Silver Point and a beautiful drop down the side of Beda Fell into Martindale.
AYSIDE – EASY 8 MILES
This is an enjoyable easy excursion in the southern extremities of the Lakes. It would make a good family outing with a mixture of easy, traffic-free or very quiet lanes, forest tracks and farm tracks.
BACK OF SKIDDAW – HARD 30 MILES
A big, stirring tour of one of Lakeland’s quieter corners. There are sub-Scottish levels of loneliness to be had, in the upper Caldew valley especially.
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.
BREASTHIGH – MEDIUM 9 MILES
Don’t be lured into complacency – there is plenty of climbing and plenty of tricky terrain to negotiate.Though short, this is a testing route that can easily be extended.
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.
CONISTON WASDALE – HARD 36 MILES
An extremely demanding tour of the South Lakes, featuring four substantial climbs. Options for shortening are few. Put it this way – when “bailing out” means Hardknott followed by Wrynose, you know it’s a toughie, right?
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.
DUDDON VALLEY- MEDIUM 13 MILES
Short but stunningly sweet.
Three descents that all rank among the finest in the Lakes.
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.
FLOUTERN PASS – MEDIUM 21 MILES
A cracking ride in the western Lakes near ennerdale, taking in tough but rewarding trails.
GAMBLESMIRE – EASY 12 MILES
A sublime delight on a late summer’s night, the hedgerows dripping with brambles. A good proportion of the ride is in narrow, sunken drove roads, which would make good shelter in wild weather.
GARBURN PASS – MEDIUM 13.6 MILES
So classic, it’s the Baker Street of Lakeland passes. You could thread it into a longer ride by using it as a warm-up to the Eastern Passes but it’s a perfect pint-sized ride on its own.
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.
GRASMERE LOUGHRIGG – MEDIUM 20 MILES
This route rolls and climbs around the fells close to Grasmere and Ambleside, using the lanes to weave together a great route. There’s nothing too testing about the route in terms of technicality, which can easily be extended to Knipe Fold and Hawkshead.
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.
HAWKSHEAD HILLTOPS – HARD 23 MILES
We like hilly routes and this one is no exception. It starts off easily enough, before a steep climb on Claife Heights begins to work the muscles, but gives a superb descent to Hawkshead.
