4 days in the Lake District.

The loop Street Pigeon did is half a day max, which might be good for tired legs, many on here will tell you extended routes of the back / over the top of GDP.

Ullock Pike is always worth a go, especially if you haven't done it.

Grisedale Pike

Well, that answers the first and third questions I normally ask on these threads.

Hike a bike is fine

And they answers the second.

Ullock Pike  ( combine with Blencathra if you are fit) Do Doddic j if you are shit hot)

4 passes

B'bash with extensions if you are fit for 4 big days)

Helvelyn double descending Seldom Seen and Birkside

Fairfield horseshoe if its dry and quiet

Nan Bield via Yoke and Ill Bell

Cockpit to Howtown, Coledale Hause, Ullswater Bridleway for an easier day. 😉

I am always impressed when people on here talk of riding Ullock Pike (and Nan Bield as well for that matter).  I'm no beginner, but they are both fearsome, particularly Ullock Pike.  I walked down it last week, thinking "I would die if I tried to ride this".  Granted, there are some easier bits, but .....

Ambleside day 1  around Elterwater and Timberthwaite finishing around Loughrigg   Nice starter

Tover Stephenson ground  and Walna Scar day 2   ie: Tour Du coniston

Fairfield is ok for day 3 but I would head to Keswick for the Bash and Walla crag  . Finish at the George for 1/2 a cow pie and some liquid suppliments

Day 4 either Ullock Pike or do the loop of Whinlatter and up Grisedale and over causey and sail and drop Rigg beck   or Whiteless pike and Rigg beck  if you are feeling up for a final day epic .

As I was writing the above Ive started to question why im driving the 8 hours to Torridon for 4 days when the above is 75 minutes from my door .....

Not sure how well you know the area Phil, but happy to send you some van stopover recommendations if you're unfamiliar with the area. Can't help with ride suggestions sorry.

All of the above recommendations are great.

I’m no beginner, but they are both fearsome, particularly Ullock Pike.

Yes I've walked over that and fail to see how anyone can contemplate it on a bike. Mind you I'm a wimp compared to a mate who once did the Snowdon horseshoe with a CX bike. He didn't ride it though, just put it over his shoulder.

As I was writing the above Ive started to question why im driving the 8 hours to Torridon for 4 days when the above is 75 minutes from my door …..

Two questions:

1) 75 minutes south or north?

2) can I come? ( To torridon)

😉

Edit to say I just done the maths, and you must be south of the lakes for both those to be true ...

thegeneralist list is what I'd be recommending. Definitely do Helvellyn, even if you don't do a double!

@thegeneralist what's the best way to combine Ullock with Blencathra without a massive road section in-between? And how full on is Doddrick, the contour lines are certainly tightly packed!

Sorry for the hijack.

what’s the best way to combine Ullock with Blencathra without a massive road section in-between? And how full on is Doddrick, the contour lines are certainly tightly packed!

The Cycle path between Keswick Swimming pool and Threlkeld is your answer. That or along Lonscale crag and down Glenderaterra.

Doddick is about as full on as you can get in the lakes. MR have taken off a couple of MTB'er from that decent in the last couple of years.

@thegeneralist     Im just off the m60 so up the Lakes on a 6am dart can have me in Keswick (A66 speed van not included )in  1h40   Staveley  1h dead so. up upwards   .   Torridon was done of googlemaps  told me 7h 45m . That side even riding to work this morning this thread was in my head and the whole should I just do a lakes weekender instead .

Helvellyn up kepple and back via Seldom  ..quick road blast and up from Hartsop then Angle tarn and Boredale house ? I think Trail finder did this not long again.

what’s the best way to combine Ullock with Blencathra without a massive road section in-between? And how full on is Doddrick, the contour lines are certainly tightly packed!

The Cycle path between Keswick Swimming pool and Threlkeld is your answer. That or along Lonscale crag and down Glenderaterra

Agreed on both.  Just realised that I didn't do Skiddaw and Blencathra on the same day. I went round Skiddaw and Blencathra then up Skiddaw one day. Then at another point did a double up Blencathra. ( First descent to the north was a bit meh,) I have to admit that doing them both on the same day would be way beyond me these days.

Basically you'd need to do a figure of eight as the Skiddaw route is anti clockwise and the Blencathra route is clockwise but Skiddaw is to the west.

Doddick is well hard. A different level to Ullock IMHO. I should have used bold in my comment:

Do Doddic j if you are shit hot

https://flic.kr/p/2nZigTz

Helvellyn up kepple and back via Seldom ..quick road blast and up from Hartsop then Angle tarn and Boredale house ? I think Trail finder did this not long again.

Interesting option. Never been to that Angle Tarn.  The reason I mentioned Boredale from the north is that the route up Boredale itself is almost all rideable, and the Ullswater BW is amazing if you like slow gnadgery tech so it makes a good loop.

If you need a shorter SS route then going up Sticks East to the mine plateau is reasonably rideable ( but of course doesn't get you anywhere near the ridge, let alone the summit)

SS is good, but it's worth saying that it is nowhere near as techie as Birkside or Dolly waggon. Much more flow though. ...

I am always impressed when people on here talk of riding Ullock Pike (and Nan Bield as well for that matter).

Nan Bield is not too techy, I can clean it and I'm no riding god. Ullock has much tougher sections.

thegeneralist list is what I’d be recommending.

Not sure he read the stipulation about max ride length though.

A few ideas:

- Helvellyn, probably from Glenridding - up Keppel Cove and down Dollywaggon & Grisedale Tarn descent.

- Borrowdale Bash including Walla Crag.

- Warnscale Bottom loop (up through Honister mine works) from Buttermere.

- Skiddaw & Ullock PIke.

- Blencathra, to Scales Tarn, then Lonscale Fell loop.

All mid-sized rides if you're in reasonable shape.

Not sure he read the stipulation about max ride length though.

Good point, mea culpa.

I'd agree with Borrowdale Bash including Walla Crag, also High street/Nan Bield is great for big views and descents.

bookmarking for future reference

Coming to the Lakes at any time of year (evidence- weather right now) can involve very wet and very windy weather. For these circumstances it's worth having some low and mid level routes in mind:

In my bit of North Lakes:

Borrowdale bash will go in any weather

Back of skiddaw/lonscale bw route

Loweswater shore and corpse road under burnbank fell, then back of melbreak and down to crummock/buttermere

Dale head tarn - high spy-maiden moor

Whinlatter

Higher routes I like:

Blencathra traverse west to east

Skiddaw/ullock pike as mentioned

Up Grisedale Pike from whinlatter south and across to Hopegill Head, then Whiteless Pike and Rannerdale descent to Crummock

Lots of Hellvelyn combinations- a great place to be on a nice day

Langstrath (west of river) to Stake pass, angle tarn, esk hause then either sty head or grains gill down to seatoller

Reading with interest for ideas but may as well chuck in an oar...

Maybe for a more XC type round the Walna Scar descent to Coniston, up via Stephenson Ground and shoulder of White Pike?

On a few of those mentioned:

Helvelyn and Seldom Seen - absolutely

Grizedale Pike plus as many of the NW fells as you can fit into a ride. Winlatter on the way down.

I like the Kentmere Horseshoe, up via Dubbs Res, dowm via HP Plantation after wander towards Longsleddale.

Skidaw round - up via the BW. Ullock pike is okay for a shite rider, I can confirm, as long as you're happy walking the odd bit. Then big country round the back via Skidaw House and Lonscale Fell.

All five hours ish I think, I'll leave it there...

Wow thanks, great info. Will go through it all when I get a chance.

And yes some low level ideas also welcome.

We might actually only get 2 days riding in this trip but definitely won't be the only time we visit, so lots of options very welcome!

Cockpit to Howtown, Coledale Hause, Ullswater Bridleway for an easier day. 😉

Easier day?? - you must mean Boredale Hause........

So…

We made it here, only have 2 days and the weather isn’t looking great for anything too high so We’re going to do The Borrowdale Bash 🙂

Can I check if this is the route to follow? And it looks like it includes the Walla Crag section that I’ve seen mentioned and it goes up the BW instead of Honister.

Can we ride this bit above the road at the Cat Bells section? Where I’ve marked with the green lines.

Cheers

Trailforks route link

Borrowdale, consider yourself bashed Route
https://www.trailforks.com/goto/ro/25638/

Yep that bit all on the bridleway above the road is fine. Decent climb from Manesty (see if you can clean it - tough) but then becomes nice and flowing - blue really.

We took the road instead of your green line when we visited in August. It was heaving with people. I found the Walla Crag a bit disappointing because it was so very rocky it was difficult for me to get much flow going, even down to Ashness Bridge. We followed what seemed to be the main route but actually ended up on the path (not shown at 1:50000) to Brown Knotts rather than the RoW approx. 100m to the west that perhaps we should have been on.

I found much of the route too blocky/ rocky for my liking. I was on and off the bike so much to get past so many of the steps/ rocks/ boulders etc in many places, notably the Scaleclose Gill to Lavery Gill section and above Walla Crag. TBH, I'd not ride it again it was just too discontinuous for me.

Never been a fan of the Borrowdale bash for some reason.  But there is plenty more to go at if you get yourself a guidebook from Vertibrate.  My particular favourite is the route round Loughrigg Terrace, Iron Keld, Tilberthwaite and Little Langdale.  Still a good day out despite the trail works.

I find it fascinating how different people have such different opinions of the trails. For me, Walla Crag is the bit that makes the basic Bash into a worthwhile loop - other wise its just too much road. I don't recall it being overly rocky, but then my local riding is Peaks, so rocky is normal. Same with the comment further up about Ullock. There's maybe 10m of it thats properly hairy (and I've always been solo when I've ridden it, so not given that a proper go), the rest is beautiful techniflow riding (the locals do the whole thing at night!). Likewise the chunky bit on the 'Bash down to Rosthwaite (Birkett's Leap?) - that's exactly what I come to the Lakes for!

I quite like the 'Bash as a "starter for 10" loop, then add bits on as you feel. Its always worth getting up to Styhead, one way or another, for the descent back down - even if you just push straight up it. The last time I rode it, I carried up Tongue Gill, then did High Spy, Maiden Moor and down Hause Gate, which was ace (although early June, not autumn!) - I find the Castle Crag descent just an exercise in pinch flat avoidance. It's not challenging, just rocky, so you try and carry speed. Psssht... 🙁  If you're feeling particularly masochistic, you could carry on to the top of Honister, through the Fleetwith quarries and down Wharnscale Bottom to Gatesgarth then back up the other side of Honister back on to the normal 'Bash route. Its an ace descent but a hideous pair of climbs.

Decent climb from Manesty (see if you can clean it – tough

Oh hell yes. There's three brilliant climbs in the Bash, though I've only managed two of them, and even then not in one go..

Tend to agree with most of what JohnR writes above. Except the bit comparing rocky Peak tech to Lakes rocky!  Sacrilege!

Lakes riding is awesome precisely because it isn't much like the dross you get in the Peak

Ambrose, sounds like you would be better on Loughrigg etc, or Cockpit to Howtown

Also worth noting that the Bash is getting easier as the ebike lines get used more and more.  I guess this is also the case with Unlock, but I'm not sure. It is Defo true of the Bash ( though I'm sure someone will be along in a mo to tell me I'm wrong)

@thegeneralist

Ullock has gotten worse and not better in no small part thanks to e bikes.

There is a really big deep rut part way down what used to be a delicate and tricky slow speed section. It was like a massive wheel swallowing gouge when I tried to ride down it last time. I first rode it in the noughties and the deterioration is somewhat stark. Locked brakes combined with the effects of water run off have radically changed it at certain points.

Cheers

Sanny

No e-bikes here today 🙂

Just thought I should get that out the way!

Great day out cheers, just the kind of thing we were after. Descents were great and the climbs tough but (mostly!) achievable. A good little adventure.

Didn’t quite clean the Manesty climb, maybe I could blame the hikers for not getting out the way in time 😉

I didn't say Bash had got better Sanny 😉

I said it had got easier.

WRT Ullock, I sit corrected. I do recall you posting that it had changed hugely, but mistakenly recalled you saying there were loads of new chicken lines being made.

It's a pain in the arse TBH. The first climb on the Bash used to be a steep bit to the gate, slightly tech followed by a boggy haul up to a lovely gnadgery, rocky finale to the summit. But some cretins have just ploughed a new trail through the heather to the left as they don't have the skill to ride the rocks, and CBA to carry the rocks.

I thought there was still a tiny bit of the Manesty climb that wasn't BW? Has that been sorted out now? Not that I ever took any notice.

Going to do the Back Of Skiddaw Trailforks route tomorrow I think, any others I’ve found go around the West of Skiddaw along the road and don’t fancy that.

Then a quick loop of Lonscale Fell Thursday morning before we leave.

And do some more planning for next time we come down.

Back of skiddaw is total meh, IMO. It's a big old xc loop and doesn't really have too much stuff of technical interest that the north lakes is superb for.

If you want a much much better alternative then DM me. It'll be cheeky and there will be walking involved...but it'll be way worth it

Agree with bouf. We had a god day out on back of Skiddaw, but only because we finished down Ullock pike.

@el_boufador I don’t seem to be able to send a PM but yes please.

Here’s a temporary email address if you don’t mind? quad-signet0y@icloud.com

Cheers 🙂

only because we finished down Ullock pike.

Cloud is looking too low unfortunately and we’d rather do it in decent weather another time, so low level it is.

Just dropped a mail with a couple of excellent options for you

so low level it is.

Pooley bridge, Cockpit, Howtown, Boredale Hause, Pattterdale, Ullswater Bridleway

Something like this? https://explore.osmaps.com/route/23928654/pooley-bridge-cockpit-howtown-circular?lat=54.558139&lon=-2.904093&zoom=12.5093&style=Leisure&type=2d

Something like this

Almost.  I usually take the Bridleway to the west of Silver Crag along Ullswater rather than the one marked on your map. Having said which, I've only done the eastern one north to south, which was a carry to start with. Going south to north may be good if the final descent to Silver Bay is rideable.

Caveat Volvor: I really like the ride, but it is very unbalanced.  The northern section is amazing mellow easy  downhill. The southern section is much harder: the climb up Coledale is a lung buster, the descent to Patterdale is quite technical and Ullswater Bridleway is on/ off technical gnadgery. ( Ambrose would utterly hate it)

Against our better judgement we went out today because the sun came out around lunchtime, we started far too late and got back to the van just as the light had gone (it gets dark early now doesn’t it?! :-o)

We weren’t going to ride today as we were both pretty knackered. We both found it a tough day and the added time pressure didn’t help, but still a great adventure with the bikes & some lovely descent. One I’d like to repeat with fresher legs and in better weather, the sun gave way to wind and we were in the clouds for the final part of the climb and a lot of the descent.

Thanks to el_boufador for the route 🙂 Although I think he glossed over how much pushing / carrying there would be!

from Oct 31, 2024
https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/view/80016138/

Lovely stuff. That's a proper lakes ride (trying for cheesy grin emoji....) ?

.

Bollocks

That looks great TBH.

If you didn’t rate the bash I’m not sure you’d find this better tbh, there was a lot more time not on the bike and a fair bit of carrying. And then across the top was stop start and I ended up in a bog up to my knees. Then there was a section that was just a boulder field…

I’d recommend it though 😀 but don’t expect an easy ride.

The last descent down to Stockley Bridge is a work of art isn't it.  Demonstrates how amazing paths can be if they make them windey rather than just add bigger steps when the ground gets steeper.

Although I do think someone's GPS is broken. There's no way that is 1135m height gain !

The good bits of that are bloody brilliant. The not so good bits are quite rubbish. Specifically the top of Stake Pass to Angle Tarn which just seemed to be a pathless tramp across boggy tussocky grass when I tried it. I think next time I'd almost rather drop down Stake Pass into Langdale (fun thrutchy bike eating tech) and then do the hideous hike a bike up Rossett Gill, just so I got the descent in. Langstrath is also a bit of a bugger. Much easier to take the footpath than the (basically unrideable) bridleway, but then you're the wrong side of the river. Once you're up at Angle Tarn though, its marvellous. Esk Hause down to Seatoller (bar the Styhead boulder field) is just lovely techniflow riding. I just wish there was more of the big slabs down by Stockley Bridge

Although I do think someone’s GPS is broken. There’s no way that is 1135m height gain !

Ha you’re right, Trailforks is quite flattering with its elevation! Strava / Garmin says 766m.

I don’t usually look at the stats on Trailforks, I only posted it there because my Strava is private.