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VG's Borrowdale bash looks a bit tarmaccy, so we're thinking skiddaw loop unless there's better to be had. Staying in Rosthwaite
Up from rosthwaite over honister mines, descend to wharnscale bottom - cracking big rockfest. Then from Buttermere head up Rigg beck for some lovely singletrack back and back to Keswick for cake. Then up past castlerigg campsite and along walla/falcon crag down to ashness bridge, then the sublime descent from watendlath top down to the start.
Lovely.
Or if you don't mind a hike a bike, head up the Lang strath and up toward Rossett ghyll, but don't descend, instead cut across the vague path to angle tarn. Another wee hike a bike up to sprinkling tarn.....
Then by God the best descent in the whole of the district down to stockley bridge. By **** it's worth the hoof up.
Perfectly placed for the tour of Gable, four passes route, a really good day out.
That's because it's not the proper borrowdale bash route. Somewhere there is a thread putting together a 90% off road version.
What nobeer said, those are great options.
Alternatively you can curtail he first option by taking the classic bash northbound route: climbing up honister half way, back down castle crag and along the bridleway under cat bells. Shorter /easier but not as good IMO
I don't suppose you have gpxs for these do you?
Bump
As above, four passes or variant thereof
What kind of duration / severeness are you looking for ? Ie all day in the hills hike a bike or something a little less committing ?
20-25 miles, three big climbs should be do-able
You're welcome 🙂
[url= http://www.pinkbike.com/u/jimijazz/blog/a-lakeland-epic.html ]Langstrath - Stake pass - Esk Hause - Stockley Bridge[/url]
Best route that isn't cycle path/ blencathra/yha and saves some energy for a late push up skiddaw to do Ullock? Did Dodd wood and whitewater dash clockwise, scenic but bit too easy going.
the pics on that link Justin look awesome.
The author has linked in his strava record of the route in the comments.
Best bit of the Lakes, you're spoilt for choice.
All the above are good suggestions.
The descent from Sprinkling Tarn that nobeer' suggests is Grains Gill, and yes it is that good.
Also consider Bash extension by hike-a-bike up from Honister to Dale Head and descending off Hindscarth ridge and Scope End (another nice tech fest) then from Littletown back over between Catbells and Maiden Moor.
also, Whiteless Pike from Braithwaite, down to Buttermere (back along Rigg Beck as mentioned earlier)
or
Blencathra Centre; Blencathra; Scales Tarn descent; Scales; Blencathra Centre; Lonscale Fell; Skiddaw; Ullock Pike (big day out, about 6000' of ascent)
The descent from Sprinkling Tarn that nobeer' suggests is Grains Gill, and yes it is that good.
Is it not Styhead Gill Ecky lad?
Sorry, I'd assumed you meant this one (which is bloody brilliant, some very challenging tech in places): [url= http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=323120&Y=509040&A=Y&Z=120 ]http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=323120&Y=509040&A=Y&Z=120[/url]
Ah, need to try that...
Looks superb, doing Borrowdale Bash in September for the first time, can't wait.
Thanks Jekkyl!
There are two descents from Esk Hause - Footpath down Grains Gill, or Bridleway past Styhead Tarn and down Styhead Gill. I prefer Styhead, but others I ride with prefer Grains. Best thing is to do both 😀
Grains/Styhead might be our day two. Cheers all!
I can send you a GPX of the Honister/wharnscale/rigg beck/walla (Big bash basically!) If you want? Email in profile.
If you wanted to make it a wee bit longer, I can highly recommend going a wee bit past Buttermere and up Gasgale Gill and along the ridge to Grisedale Pike, spits you out at Braithwaite, it's a belter of a descent.
[img][url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8852/28303324801_0b20cc164e_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8852/28303324801_0b20cc164e_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/K84WoD ]NW Lakes[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nobeerinthefridge/ ]nobeerinthefridge[/url], on Flickr[/img]
All the above are great borrowdale options. Another nice place to get to is Dale head tarn from Honister pass, then up on to High spy, maiden moor, drop down to manesty down the BW then follow the river FP from grange back to Rosthwaite. Could be incorporated into some of the options given above.