Happened upon this statement by sanny whilst searching for info on Greenup Edge. For some reason I've got fixated on it and thinking it might link up nicely with Red Screes on Friday ( assuming the temperature drops a tad)
Anyone been up there?
Is it good?
Etc.
PS, Alison, Joseph, you free Friday?
Yes, it’s true. It’s good. In fact, I don’t think there’s a bad descent off Fairfield. Not sure how you’d link it in to Red Screes though
Having walked up that numerous times, id have to point out the blooming obvious. Its very very steep.
Turning off right towards Alcock Tarn (not on OS Maps) and then down to Grasmere may offer more bang for your buck.
Ooooo you have the day off booked? I'm sorely tempted to chuck in an annual leave day and come seeing as Ash is home and planned to be looking after the pup all day anyway.
Turning off right towards Alcock Tarn (not on OS Maps) and then down to Grasmere may offer more bang for your buck.
Interesting, tell me more....
More steepness, more rideable terrain?
Or less uphill?
8 mins onward here. Depends how hard you like your tech, I guess.
@thegeneralist - Heron pike to nab scar is a classic lakes ridge line . Exposed rock sections, steps, some slow speed tech you might need several goes at. The Alcock Tarn descent is easier
Many thanks. Awesome info.
Ooooo you have the day off booked?
Yep. There's a bit if a risk of last minute cancellation, as its flexi working not AL. But 90% sure.
Are you bringing your golf cart? 😉
( very silly thing to be saying in this heat 🙂 )
Normally @contiunity would be along taking the piss out of me for asking for route info for the fifteenth time this year....
Typo *fiftieth* FTFY
Soz for the late post. Fancy some steep techie descents tomorrow?
11am Rydal
Typo *fiftieth* FTFY
Dude, gotta get exploring. I'll be dead in a few years.
PS, hope this is less shit than the last route I asked about....
@thegeneralist - what was the last route you asked about, and what's your planned route for tomorrow?
Langdale, Stake Pass, langstrath, greenup, Grasmere. Tbh it was a lovely day out, but objectively speaking the riding wasn't great.
Not sure about todays route. Weather looks shite.
Fairfield is the plan, then the ridge down to Nab whatever it's above Grasmere.
Starting either up great Tongue or possibly birkside ( yes I know)
Have pmed you my number. Welcome to join us if you fancy a soggy day out.
11am in ambleside
Starting either up great Tongue or possibly birkside ( yes I know)
As you slog up great tongue, you'll get a great view of this far more rideable (up to a point) path on the other side of the valley.
I would mate but work and I've a gig in Lancaster.
Gutted.
As you slog up great tongue, you’ll get a great view of this far more rideable (up to a point) path on the other side of the valley
Gotcha. Plan altered. 🙂
Bit of a stop n start day, with lots of effort, despite judicious use of cars....
We started with Red Screes which was OK, but not amazing. The problem was that it wasn't techie enough to be challenging, but was too cloudy and slippery grass to let rip.
https://flic.kr/p/2nzULdD
After the nice man in Bothy bikes converted GC's bike from single-speed back to 12 speed we wandered up the road to Grasmere and thence up the path recommended by Martin above. Some of the flat bits were rideable, but most wasn't after the first couple of km. Then more HaB.
https://flic.kr/p/2nzULLq
Lots more. I think I did about 600m of ascent with the bike on my shoulders, which seemed like a helluva lot.
Weather was a bit manky. Really humid, with patchy rain that constantly dribbled sweat into the eyes. Draining.
The first bit of the ridge was in cloud, so was slow, but then the cloud lifted a bit. The rest of the ridge was mega and the last bit where it kinks ESE was phenomenal.
https://flic.kr/p/2nzW8Qk
https://flic.kr/p/2nzXcqF
I even managed an endo turn, which I was dead excited about....
https://flic.kr/p/2nzXko9
To
https://flic.kr/p/2nzUU2V
Really really good, but had to be well careful as even the easier bits were quite tricky once the adrenaline wore off.
Took it in turns leading the way. Quite often shouting to the second " not this way" then shouting to the third " %##€& not this way either. Was great to split the leading as knowing each section was doable made it much less scary rolling in.
So, great descent, but the ascent was pretty grim. Anyone got any experience of the full Fairfield Horseshoe?
Many thanks again for all the beta
Did this route the other day. Rode from Rydal round the lakes, stocked up on ginger bread in grasmere then ascended up tongue gill to grisedale tarn then up onto Fairfield. Great rigg, heron pike, nab scar and down Alcock back to grasmere then coffin trail back to Rydal for a dip in buckstones!
Absolutely loved the Alcock descent, flat out fast before the tarn then some nice really tech to the bottom (steady rideable tech rather than scary mega death tech!) but can’t help thinking it might have been better to do the loop in reverse..??
can’t help thinking it might have been better to do the loop in reverse..??
Blimey , wot down that slatey zigzagging loose steep bit from Fairfield to Grisedale Hause?
Eek.
Yeah that bit is sketchy then down tongue gill would be mega?
We were discussing the tongue Gill descent on the way up. I thought it had too many unrideable stream crossings to be amazing, but wasn't really sure.
So is the little tongue Bridleway rubbish as a descent too?
This would have happened today but the wind and low cloud would have spoiled it so the Slate mines called instead .. Fairfield down to Alcock is brilliant
Looks like an excellent day out.
down the slatey zigzags is all doable and good fun. Then tongue gill is also good. More of the stream crossings are doable than you’d think - in fact, I think I got most of them last time down.
As for the full horseshoe, it’s great. I had a bloody brilliant day out last summer - grasmere - alcock tarn, fairfield summit, down the eastern ridge to refuel in Ambleside, then turn around and climb back up to fairfield and descend via alcock tarn again. Took us a while, but it was incredible. We were the last off the hill and did the last descent into a glorious sunset. Good times
Awesome descending but that HAB has well and truly confirmed that I HATE HAB!! At least today I can wear a jumper without being in pain from the bruising on my neck/shoulders. I doubt very much the compression fracture in my spine made it any more enjoyable but at least the consultant will have more to look at next week in my MRI scan!
then turn around and climb back up to fairfield and descend via alcock tarn again. Took us a while,
Jeepers. That must be 2000m of ascent ...no?
Just under (1949m). It was tough, but we were in no rush so just plodded away on the climb back up. Took our time and soaked in the view and atmosphere on the top before the final blast down the hill.
Sorry to spam, but could any9ne confirm which way is better descent from Alcock Tarn, northish or South ish?
A gpx I saw went northish, but someone recommended the drop to Dove Cottage ( ie southish)
Many thanks
Only done south but on a recommendation from someone who’d done both (prob Lowey). Mint.
Make sure you’re tuned into the turn off below Heron Pike. Easy to miss when you’re chasing your mates and you’re the navigator 🤪
Thanks scuttler, good to know.
I think we noted the turnoff last time around, it is indeed easy to miss.
Looks like South it is.
