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I’m planning on a trip to the lakes on Monday and I was intending to do the Borrowdale Bash. I’ve seen a few YouTube vids and read a bit about it and it looks a good ride.
I’ve never ridden Whinlatter and that also looks good.
Has anyone ridden both and is it doable for a fairly fit and competent rider to do the Borrowdale Bash in the morning and Whinlatter in the afternoon? If it’s maybe a bit much ( 3hr drive to follow ) and you had to choose one which would you do ?
Any advice is appreciated
Thanks.
Soz, do both
Borrowdale isn't that demanding, it's mostly just a good steady ride enjoying some good Lakeland scenes. Not massively fast paced or technical if that's what you're looking for. No reason a fit rider can't do both.
Or if you want to do a swift ride with no map reading, then I suppose WL is good for that.
I'm so full of shit. I've attempted the bbbash three times and failed each one. And I've done WL dozens of times.
What a hypocrite.
BB with a start up past castlrigg campsite, along walla crag is a lovely way to see a braw part of the world.
Castle crag is shite.
I've never done whinlatter, sorry.
Canny wait to get back to the Lakes. 🙏🏻
One of my favourite rides of all is Borrowdale Bash with Back of Skiddaw - 47 miles, always well drained and a good mix of riding.
Not a fan of Whinlatter, and I generally quite like trail centres...
I haven't got kids, don't jump and love Whinlatter, so I know my place.
TBF to myself I'm normally on my own if I'm that far from home (natural routes generally beyond the Mrs) so I like a known quantity. But I wouldn't drive 3 hours to ride only a trail centre so I'd do the bash then refuel at Whinlatter and do North or South if energy levels permitted. Plenty of options to bail that way too.
I generally hate riding trail centres, but going from occasionally riding Innerleithen/Glentress official stuff Whinlatter is a revelation. Not difficult at all but great flow to both the red routes and they actually do maintenance! Nice change from getting battered about on sh*t flat knackered Spooky Woods etc.
Whinlatter - meh.
BB - as above Walla Crag takes out a lot of road and replaces it with some class riding with ace views - however it is a footpath, so usual rules apply...
The Bash isn't that long - if you want to extend it a bit, from Seatoller, you could either push up to Styhead and come straight back down again (lovely descent) or hike-a-bike up Grains Gill and do Esk Hause into Styhead. If you want a proper sized ride - then from Stonethwaite - Langstrath/Stake Pass/Rossett Gill/Esk Hause/Sty Head. This is a LOT of pushing and carrying though!
Or miss out rossett gill and cut across from stake pass to esk hause.
Last time I did the Bash, we took the Walla Crag extension and then I popped over to Whinlatter afterwards and did both sides - to get a bit more riding in and justify the longer-than-usual day trip journey time.
I have decent fitness and it was quite do-able, if a bit hard going toward the end.
Something like 1,500m total ascent, if that gives you an idea.
Castle Crag is awesome and Whinlatter is very good, for a trail centre. Especially the north side.
Thanks for the replies. Based on the responses I’m thinking Borrowdale Bash at moderate speed and see how I feel afterwards. I’m in no rush to get back so I will possibly refuel after and see if I’ve got the legs for Whinlatter as it’s do close to Keswick while I’m in the area.
Cheers
Just done the bash with my wife today, very steady pace lots of photos and it was 4 hours. She enjoyed it only one bit she did not ride on the descent down puddingstone.
Both good. Whinlatter is good for a trail centre of which I’m not really a fan. The bash is good all round
I've never ridden Whinlatter but did enjoy the BB when I rode it. Some lovely views (which is probably the main reason I ride mtbs to be honest)
I go from threkald and it's a good loop.
Bits of whinlatter are ok. How about whinlatter and up grizdale pike?