This is a very technical 12.5 mile route over the summit of Helvellyn, in the Lake District, that climbs Sticks Pass and descends Dolywagon Pike and Grisedale. On a good day it will be a very big test of your stamina and riding skills, in bad weather you might want to give it a miss.
This mountain bike route of 21.5 miles, in the Eastern Lake District, contains some very hard riding. The section from Kentmere to Haweswater and back includes a lot of technical riding on loose boulders and bedrock. There are a couple of very steep climbs and the one from Haweswater to the top of the Nan Bield Pass involves a difficult hike-a-bike. If that is your kind of thing read on.
This route is 16.7 miles of great rocky riding starting from the Grizedale Vistors Centre. It begins on the man made mountain bike trails of The North Face Trail, before heading along the fells above Coniston Water for the fantastic Parkamoor descent into High Nibthwaite. Although this descent is the highlight the ones that follow don't disappoint and there's a real rock fest to finish.
This is a two day mountain bike route of just over 43 miles that starts from Waterhead in the Lake District. The first day takes you from Ambleside YHA to Patterdale YHA via High Street and contains 25.3 miles of riding and 5136ft climbing. It is a big day in the mountains that ends with a technical trail along the edge of Ullswater.
This mountain bike route of 20 miles starts from Waterhead, just south of Ambleside, in the Lake District. It circles Loughrigg Fell and also takes in Black Fell and Little Langdale. The riding is rocky, so the route is pretty weather proof. The climbing is a lot less arduous than most of the Lake District routes as the height of the Fells in this area is not too great. That doesn't mean the descents aren't any good, there are some great ones.
With just over 4400ft of climbing in 22 miles this mountain bike route is a real leg burner. It starts from Keswick and circles Skiddaw using the Skiddaw House trail, before a steep ascent of the mountain. With a fantastic descent from Skiddaw House to Keswick it's worth doing even if you don't make the summit.
This mountain bike route of 19.3 miles is a great ride for those who like technical Lake District riding. It climbs the Garburn Pass from the Troutbeck side, which is mainly rideable but with a few difficult sections that only the best will clean. Descending the Garburn Pass into Kentmere is for those who like steep, loose, boulder strewn, technical descents. Although the Garburn Pass is the first and best descent the rest will not disappoint with a good mixture of pick your way down boulders and fast blasts.
This fun mountain bike route starts at Patterdale YHA. It's about 9 miles long and circles Birk, Sleet and Place Fells along the edge of Ullswater and back through Boredale. The trail by Ullswater undulates along the side of the lake with quite a few technical sections and a little bit of carrying in places. There is one significant climb out of Boredale but even this is rideable until the last short section and the carry to the top.
Starting in Waterhead just outside Ambleside, on the shore of lake Windermere this mountain bike route heads east to Kentmere and back. It's not an easy ride with just over 4100ft of climbing in 22 miles. There are plenty of steep climbs, the biggest being the climb out of Kentmere to the top of the Garburn Pass. This is definitely a climbers route, but one with plenty of great descents.
North West of Bolton is Rivington Country Park. This mountain bike route of 17.5 miles takes in many of the Parks attractions, including Rivington Pike, as well as venturing outside to visit each of the reservoirs in the valley. The terrain is not too difficult but there are a few technical sections that make this route well worth riding.
This mountain bike route of 22.3 miles starts from the village of Torver, just south of Coniston in the Lake District. The ride gets harder as it progresses with the fun singletrack across Torver Low Common leading on to higher and higher fells and bigger and bigger rocks. This concludes with the final challenge of Walna Scar. Walna Scar is a beast of a climb but the descent on the other side is more than worth it. Big rocks and lots of fun!
This mountain bike route of 11.6 miles starts from Glenridding in the Lake District. It climbs to the summit of Helvellyn via Glenridding Common before finishing with a descent of Sticks Pass. It’s a fantastic ‘proper’ mountain bike ride with lots of very technical descending, which is ample compensation for the sections of hike-a-biking.
This mountain bike route of 25 miles is a beast of a Lake District ride starting in Staveley. It crosses three classic passes, which results in lots of technical, rocky riding. The climbs are big and brutal with lots of hike-a-biking but this pays back with seemingly endless technical descending. If you like big, hard rides this has got to be on your 'to do' list.
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