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.

1. Start from the car park behind Wheelbase cycles in Staveley (GR471983). Exit the car park and go past the first lane on the right to the junction with the main road through the village. Turn right and follow the road to a short way to the next junction. Turn left and follow this road through the village, in the direction of Windermere, towards a junction with the A591. At the edge of the village, where the road turns left to meet the A591, go straight on up the dead end lane in the direction of the signs for Cycle Route No 6. When the lane ends follow the cycle track through the trees, and then along the right hand side of the main road. Go past a driveway on the right to a junction with lane on the right (GR451987).

2. Turn right and climb the steep lane between the drystone walls. Go straight on at the next junction and continue climbing to a farm. At the farm follow the tarmac 90deg left, then right. At the following junction turn right to the next farm. On reaching the farm turn left along the rocky double track that gently climbs between the drystone walls. Continue along this track, past a junction with a lane on the right, to where it finishes at a T-junction. Turn right and climb the rocky double track to a gated junction (GR440009). Go through the gate on the right and follow the track along the line of the wall on the left. This track bears left and climbs through a couple of gates before bearing right and coming to a gate, directly after a stream crossing (GR443027). Go straight on through the gate and up a short climb, then along the undulating track following the drystone wall on the right. The track eventually turns left for a fast, loose, rocky descent to Kentmere Hall at the bottom (GR451042).

3. At the bottom bear right to ride past the farm of Kentmere Hall and along the track that leads across the valley towards the church. Go up a short climb to the junction by the church then, at the top, go straight on and descend to a bridge over the stream at the bottom. At the junction just after the bridge turn left and climb a thin lane (GR458039). Climb steeply to a T-junction, then turn left and climb the lane past a track on the left. Go through the gate at the crest of the lane and descend to a Byway on the right signed to Sadgill, which is on a left hand bend, just after a private track on the right (GR465050).

5. Turn right and climb the loose, rocky track through a few gates, to a gate at the top in a saddle between the peaks. Go through the gate then bear slightly left for a descent that drops steeply over big, loose rocks and pointy bedrock. Just after a couple of loose switchbacks the track comes to a junction directly before a gate (GR481051). Go straight on through the gate and descend the loose, rocky track all the way down to the buildings of Sadgill at the bottom (GR482057).

5. After the buildings cross the bridge over the River Sprint, then turn left and climb the wide rocky track between the drystone walls, up the right hand side of the valley. The climb begins as a gradual incline but it kicks up towards the end as it claws its way out the head of the valley. As the incline increases the track becomes littered with loose rocks and gravel. Eventually the track comes to some steep bends, paved with uneven boulders. In the dry these give better traction but makes it feel like riding with square wheels, although it is still possible to ride all the way to the gate at the top. After the gate follow the track left along a little plateau, past a signed but vague bridleway on the right, to the gate at the bottom of a steep winding track (GR478084). The gate at the bottom of this track is locked and has details of a TRO that affects motor vehicles and horses. This does not affect bike access, so after negotiating the stile to the left of the gate follow the track to the top of Gatescarth Pass. This last part of the ascent is mainly a push.

6. At the junction at the top (GR474092), just after a gate, enjoy the fact that the track climbing steeply off to the left is a footpath, then go straight on for a very loose and rocky descent to Haweswater. The trail contains a couple of tight, steep and loose switchback sections connected by fast, rocky hardpack and gives a great workout to a number of riding skills, as well as your forearms. The descent ends at a junction a short distance before reaching the car aprk at the edge of Haweswater (GR468107).

7. At the junction turn hard left and start climbing towards the waterfall. Don’t descend the other track on the left that follows the line of trees to the opposite side of the valley. This is the start of the climb to the top of the Nan Bield Pass and the long hike-a-bike section of the ride. Although the trail starts out rideable the boulder sections just get bigger and steeper. Climb and push up the track along the left of the waterfall to Small Water, halfway up. At the lake follow the track right, over the stream, for a technical but rideable section anticlockwise along the edge of the water. This is a short respite from the hike-a-biking and all too soon it's time to shoulder the bike again for a scramble up a boulder strewn slope. Although it is a slog the top does get visibly closer every time you look up. Near the top, after negotiating a tricky slab, the trail heads off left for the final push to the top. A stone shelter soon comes into view on the ridge, in a saddle between the peaks, a good place to stop and regain some energy for the descent (GR452096).

8. Go straight over the footpath that traverses the ridge and descend the track that can be seen snaking off into the valley, a great sight after all that climbing. The descent starts with some steep and very loose switchbacks. This leads on to a great section of boulder covered singletrack that traverses the side of the fell above Kentmere reservoir. Eventually the trail kicks up and bears slightly left. After the crest descend on the fast grassy trail, which is a little vague in places but hard to lose as there is only one trail to follow. Take care as the grass gives rise to higher speeds but the trail still contains technical sections in the form of boulders and eroded earth. The grass ends at a gate that leads to a stream crossing. Cross the stream by the rocky ford or the stone bridge then follow the trail off to the right and descend the rocky double track. Go through a few gates and follow the trail in the direction of the bridleway markers, keeping high of the track that can eventually be seen lower down on the right. The trail becomes vague near the end as it passes through a couple of fields. Keep going straight on through the bottom of the fields until the trail comes out at a junction with a lane by Overend farm (GR464058).

9. Turn left then go straight on through the gate, marked as a brdileway, to the right of the lane that climbs off to the left. Follow the track into the trees and through a couple of gates to a junction with a rocky double track trail. Turn right at the junction then follow the main track as it bears left and carries straight on down the valley, along the line of the drystone wall on the right. Ignore anything off to the left and right and continue along this track until it finishes at a junction with a lane (GR461044).

10. Turn right on this previously ridden lane and descend to the next junction, on the edge of Kentmere. Go straight on and climb through a left then right hand bend then descend the lane to the next junction, at the bottom (GR458036). Turn left and follow the lane along the valley. Go past Millriggs farm on the left and then ride through the trees. Go past the first junction on the right, then past the bridleway on the left. At the next junction on the right (GR456012), marked as a bridleway, turn right and cross the bridge.

11. Directly after the bridge turn left and go through the gate to follow the rocky track along the right hand side of the river. The track eventually bears right to a house. Climb up past the right hand side of the house to a junction with a lane a short distance later (GR454007). Turn left and follow the lane, generally downhill, to a junction with a bridge on the left. Go straight on and follow the lane back into Staveley. Follow the lane straight on through the village then go right at the forked junction (GR470986). A short distance later, at the main junction in the village, go straight on. Turn left at the following junction to return to car park at Wheelbase cycles.

Not only is there a bike shop at the start of the ride, which has a hose you can use to clean your bike post ride, there is a café, Hawkshead Brewery and an ice cream shop. Not far away in the village is a Spar and a local shop, both good for buying trail food.