[Closed] Inspiration required... 10 best "natural" decents in the Lakes & Scotland

ooooft, looking forward to getting me some inspiration here too!

For me Watendleth to Rosthwaite on the Borrowdale Bash is a brilliant descent, I imagine it would be cracking late on a summers evening or early morning when walkers would be limited.

A hard-slog but I loved riding the Hellvelyn Ridge from south to north - OK coming off the Dodds was awful and now I would come down sticks pass but it was a time when I didn't have the guts for that stuff but wanted an epic adventure along the ridge.

Scotland, well the Coire Laire to Achnashellach in Torridon is top notch, not very original but still amazing. My favourite time of year is Autumn as everything turns golden. Bliss.

Less epic but still stunning are some of the descents round Stirling, North Third and Dumyat. All have amazing views on good weather days and prime singletrack too. Good little stop over on your way to more northerly adventures!

swindon..

In no real order (and there's 11, but oh well)-

Nan Beild

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Grizedale Pike (this is flippin' amazing)

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Ben Lomond

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Ben Macdui to Glen Derry (also flippin' amazing)

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Pretty much anything around Torridon

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Jock's Road, Glen Clova

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Lochnagar via the waterfalls

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Skiddaw via Ullock Pike

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Lairig Ghru

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Ben Lawers (also flippin' amazing)

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Warnscale

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Note some of these are cheeky. All are excellent.

excellent photos and quite a range of surfaces - thsnks for posting

With that post, munrobiker wins the internet for me today! Great pics, I really want to get out on my bike now!

Done all those lakes ones and they are cracking for sure...they are quite cheeky as well

I suspect we all want to go out riding now

Oh my days amazing! Total inspiration for some Scottish adventures there!

great stuff....
can we go now?! 🙂

My favourite in the Lakes at the moment is Helvellyn-Sticks Pass-Glencoyne

Videos from last september with JonT

Skiddaw-Ullock Pike has got to be on the list.

And many, many more...

You've done Warnscale Junkyard? Were you ok afterwards? 😛

Great list munrobiker - done a few but need to do the rest, cheers!

I'm sure there's 12 in there Munrobiker - 'cos it looks like you've got both sides of Nan Bield 😉

To the list so far I'd also add:
Whiteless Pike (to Buttermere),
Scope End,
Grains Gill (to Stockley Bridge),
Rossett Gill

Whiteless Pike is also top, definitely.

[img] [/img]

I'd regard the northern descent of Nan Bield to be superior, it's really techy.

If we're doing videos most of my suggestions are here-

Not particularly high starting point but the Old Coach road from Rookin House/Matterdale End to St John's in the Vale is a great long stretch

Anyone got a link for the Ben Lomond route, going up to Fort William for the DH and would like to do a "natural" ride, any other suggestions for the Fort William area (not the Ben, I've walked it once, way too busy to be worth the push IMO)?

Blacksail pass too

bit short to be a true classic but as part of a bigger ride: mitredale forest

Ben Lomond you just go up the main walkers path then go back down again the same way. Either go late or early as it gets busy.

Anyone got a link for the Ben Lomond route, going up to Fort William for the DH and would like to do a "natural" ride, any other suggestions for the Fort William area (not the Ben, I've walked it once, way too busy to be worth the push IMO)?

Kinlochleven. Just down the road from Fort William. Lots of natural stuff

inigomontoya- The Ben Lomond route is pretty obvious, it's just the main tourist path up and down from Rowardennan. Go down the same way you go up from the south to the summit.

Other good routes on the way up would be the Devil's Staircase and Ciaran Path in Glencoe-

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

The Ben is pretty good craic, but you've got to be a bloody good rider!

[img] [/img]

There's also the Dudes of Hazzard Trails in Kinlochleven and the descent from Binnein Mor above Kinlochleven is also meant to be pretty amazing.

Not seen it mentioned here, but I'd put Beinn Fhada (Kintail) in my top 10 - and I've ridden many of the above...
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

Write-up here...
http://unduro.co.uk/riding/beinn-fhada-the-most-beautiful-ride-in-the-world/

Another of my faves which may not have been brought up is the descent from Grisedale Tarn off Helvellyn, and then you may as well do the tough-but-satisfying step-fest that is Dollywaggon Pike above it first.

Thank you Munrobiker,gav and grum, I love the rangers decent off Snowdon, if that's any measure of ability, the dudes trail has been mentioned by my traveling buddy so that might get done. Is laggan riding OK now, he was up last year and apparently lots of tree felling had been done and some of the trails changed? (Sorry for the post highjack Op)

Some great Ideas there

I only know the lakes...

Low
Parkamoor
The Fox
Breasty Haw
Seven Sisters (All in Grizedale)
Nan Bield either way!
Colthouse (Claife)
Watendlath
Anything round Ulpha

High
Ullock Pike
Walna Scar (either way)
Sticks pass
Stake pass Langstrath

Woah, stop, haud the bus! That last pic of Jock's Road posted by Munrobiker. Are they in the nuddy?

Lots of cheeky in this list.

Whiteless pike - link up with Grizedale pike for a very satisfying loop.

Ben Lawers.

Binnean Mor - yum. I can confirm that it is indeed brilliant. Really fun switchbacks to ride down.

Ullock Pike.

St Sunday Crag into Glenriddinfg. Rode it in Jamuary in the snow and got blown off our bikes at one point. Brilliant though!

Rossett Gill down into Seatoller. Just brilliant. A bit of everything really.

Fairfield down into Rydal.

Angle Tarn down into Glenridding.

Glas Alt descent off of Lochnagar. Yup, very much a descent to revisit.

Derry Cairngorm down into Glen Derry. At the summit, you will despair of the boulders but then it transforms into something magical.

MacDui down to Loch Etchacan then via the Hutcheson Hut into Glen Derry.

The Carn a Chlamain stalkers path into Glen Tilt.

Sgor Gaoith down into Glen Feshie via the weather station. Bloody brilliant with the perfect blend of technical trails, scenery and tree lined loveliness.

Munrobiker

When are you up so I can show you Binnean Mor?

Sanny

Hellvellyn via Dollywaggon
A couple of cheeky ones in Borrowdale
Ullswater Lake Shore
Halls Fell Ridge Blen Cathra
plenty of others 🙂

downshep - Member
Woah, stop, haud the bus! That last pic of Jock's Road posted by Munrobiker. Are they in the nuddy?

So what constitutes as a ‘cheeky’?

Cheeky = Not BW's so no right of use on bikes

Thanks for clarifying that.

As good as it is, I wouldn't class Ullswater bridleway as a descent Mike! 😆

It's pretty much all been said up there tbh.

A slightly left field suggestion, certainly not natural, but then neither are a lot of big mountain descents...

Fort William red dh. Yes, it's pretty much a trail centre, but it feels like a big mountain descent and as you can squeeze in 10 runs if you eat a packed lunch in the gondola and don't fanny about, that's about 5000m/2hrs of descending.

An annual trip is due soon.

Sanny - sorry, forgot to reply to your email! We never managed to get up there but I'm mulling over a solo trip sometime soon which I'd appreciate some company on. I'll let you know.

B.A.Nana - how dare you? 😡

(yes, there is a lack of clothing in that photo. Long story...)

What, no Capel Mounth yet? It's a beaut!

Note some of these are cheeky. All are excellent.

Which way off Grizedale Pike is this please (not fussed about cheeky)

Down to the east over Sleet How, not north down to Hobcarton. It's very steep and slidey at the top with loads of exposed bedrock then flowy rocky goodness. An amazing trail but not one for when it's been wet as you'd just slide down the face of it.

Are any of the Scottish ones up there loops? I'm hoping to do more natural stuff (ideally within a couple of hours drive of the central belt) this year but not really a big fan of the 2hr push up / 30mins ride back down routes

Cheers,
J

Glas Alt descent off of Lochnagar. Yup, very much a descent to revisit.

Really? For the amount of effort needed to get up there, it doesn't look all that great IMO.

Descent from Loch Dubh to Loch Muick is good, but an out and back.

Also from Loch Muick - Capel Mounth and it's return Corrie Chash.

Mount Keen while certainly not in the top 10, is still decent and worth putting on any list because you can do it as a loop either way.

Glas Alt is amazing. Well worth it.

mcj78 - of the ones I listed Lochnagar, Devil's Staircase/Ciaran Path, Ben Lawers, Ben Macdui,Jock's Road and the Torridon routes are all loops.

I'd regard the northern descent of Nan Bield to be superior, it's really techy.

I'd regard the northern descent as being mostly a walk 😆 I've come to the conclusion that steep, rocky, technical descents are not my forte nor my preference. It was bad enough going up, although in this pic the descent looks quite manageable. Many of the other sections I wouldn't even attempt to ride. I value my face and my bones too much 😉

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7689/26805090522_77fccd80bb.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7689/26805090522_77fccd80bb.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GQF6x9 ]Lakeland hike-a-bike May 2016[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stilltortoise/ ]stilltortoise[/url], on Flickr

Great ideas, thanks. I'll be up at Fort Bill too, so I'd love to tick off acouple of these.

I'd regard the northern descent of Nan Bield to be superior, it's really techy.

I'd agree. The only negative is that, once you've done it Northerly, the only option that makes any kind of sense as a route is to turn around and hike-a-bike back up everything you've just descended and then do the South side.

@still tortoise, being a distinctly average rider I'd have to agree, last we did it there was a couple going S-N the feminine half of which did not look amused!

Not tech in the slightest, but the bridleway off Great Sca Fell is brilliant fun. Longest (legal)downhill in the county... 😯
As part of an extreme edition of the Skiddaw figure of 8 ,its a brilliant day out. Best done in dry conditions as there is a bit of hike a bike/bog trot , I prefer to go up via the Lingy hut (mostly rideable to there), other routes available.
Gavgas or lowey off this parish had a brilliant blog about it some years back....

Cheers Munrobiker - the missus likes hillwalking but most of the stuff we've done are the kind of "hike up / ride back down" routes I mentioned so never really went back with the bike - I did the Cobbler/Ben Arthur a while back though, enjoyed that but much prefer a (mostly) rideable loop.
J

No problem, let me know if you want some route guides but most have fairly standard routes on strava.

Someone said Hall's fell off Blencathra? Bloody hell, that takes some skill/bottle! Great yeeha north off Blencathra over atkinson pike to Mungrisdale common then right at the col down the glenderamackin. Little push up then more hilarity down from Mousethwaite Combe to scales.

Also,
Rossett Gill doesn't lead to Seatoller

Was thinking the same about halls fell myself..good without the bike!I'd like to witness some of these descent's being claimed..dab central I reckon.

Not quite in the Lakes but little Dunfell (at the high point on the Pennines) to Blencarn is a 3 mile descent with no gates,and now is the time to do it before the bracken gets high and its pretty dry here too.

Theres a handy road onto Great Dunfell

TomB- Blencathra from the top, along the ridge to the east then down the zig zags that you can see on Google Earth to Scales Tarn and round to Mousethwaite Combe. That's a good 'un.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Dunno about Hall's Fell. May have to have a go at it to see.

Mole - not all of them are 100% rideable but certainly the ones mentioned on this thread that I know of are 95% rideable and the bits inbetween are so good they far outweigh the small amount of pushing.

Not seen it mentioned here, but I'd put Beinn Fhada (Kintail) in my top 10 - and I've ridden many of the above...

I think this is the longest (in terms of height loss) rideable singletrack descent in the UK. About 1015m of descent entirely on single track and I think 100% rideable although I didn't clean it all on the day.

edit - some maintain Ben Nevis is 100% rideable but I think that only applies to 0.01% of the biking population!

munrobiker - without sounding like a stalker, I don't suppose you're on Instagram? Your pictures are bloody ace!

Coire Leachavie, Gleann na Sguaib and the descent from the Bealach Duibh Leac are all good and a little off the beaten track. The descent from Coire Mhic Fhearchair to Glen Torridon is superb but pretty hard.

fathomer- I am but sadly I've not taken any mountain pics since I got it in November. You're better off waiting for my "Year in Mountains" threads-

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/2015-a-year-in-mountains

All the albums are on google photos and public.

little Dunfell (at the high point on the Pennines) to Blencarn

I assume you mean down Wildboar Scar? That is a blinder.

There's a cracking way down from the Silverband Mine that we used in the North Pennines MTB Marathon the other year, not on the bridleway. Follow the route of the aerial tramway pylons, then swing north to go through the bridleway gate. Once through follow the sheeptrack alongside the broken wall to join the track at the junction of Eller Gill and Crowdundle Beck. Misses out the boggy section on Red Carle. I have it on gpx if anyone wants it.

All these look great, but do any of them allow you to ride up them? I cannot abide hike-a-biking and find it completely ruins the experience no matter how good the descent is at the end of it. I don't mind a little walking/carrying but it should be a minority of the time.

munrobiker - Member
fathomer- I am but sadly I've not taken any mountain pics since I got it in November. You're better off waiting for my "Year in Mountains" threads-

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/2015-a-year-in-mountains

All the albums are on google photos and public.

Ah, fair enough. Seen all the threads, some of the best visually on here!

All these look great, but do any of them allow you to ride up them? I cannot abide hike-a-biking and find it completely ruins the experience no matter how good the descent is at the end of it. I don't mind a little walking/carrying but it should be a minority of the time.

Then my friend, you must reconcile yourself to never riding the best descents in Scotland. I can't really speak for the lakes.

Spin +1000000

The best descent in the UK require some testicular fortitude, carrying, and sometimes even a bit of scrambling.

I love being in the mountains, so it doesn't bother me whether I'm pedalling or carrying. To be honest, If I couldn't mountain bike, I'd spend my time in the hills on foot, not road biking.

you must reconcile yourself to never riding the best descents in Scotlan

Indeed, it's the main reason I hardly ever ride in the lakes despite them being on the doorstep. Never been able to get my head round going for a walk with my bike, especially if I have to carry the damn thing.

Lakes descents without hike a bike are tricky- Skiddaw is rideable to the summit if you're fit enough (I'm not!). You can ride to the top of Wharnscale descent via honister, and can use the whinlatter south climb to gain a lot of height on Grisedale Pike, so you only have to carry the top steep section.

Dazh you have my sympathy. I adore the Lakes and have had some fantastic days riding, climbing and walking there, but hike-a-bike is possibly my least favourite outdoor activity. I think I was having a bit of an off-day, but my recent hike up Nan BIeld was not rewarded with the top quality descent I hoped for.

I confess I've been lucky enough to do some awesome riding in Spain that may have made me a bit spoilt when it comes to quality descents without the hike-a-bike 😀

Dazh: the descents shown above are on tracks/trails that came in to being long before bikes were even invented. Even the bridleway designation appeared decades before the first mountain bike. So the fact that a modern MTB can negotiate most of them is a happy coincidence, for other, similar, tracks to be capable of being ridden uphill would be frankly amazing.

There is going to be some hard work in the mountains wherever you go. My worst HaB was on the Glen Golly loop out of the Scottish Wild Trails (vol 1) book - a couple of hours hiking, carrying, pushing over peat hags to get to a washed out descent that lasted about ten minutes (even for me mincing down).

All these look great, but do any of them allow you to ride up them?

The classic Torridon loop (as opposed to the lollipop) actually has a minimal amount of hike-a-bike and pushing up.

Erm, that's it from me though.

I cannot abide hike-a-biking and find it completely ruins the experience no matter how good the descent is at the end of it.

[img] [/img]

See that smile? I know what's coming 🙂

*like*

I cannot abide hike-a-biking and find it completely ruins the experience no matter how good the descent is at the end of it.

With that statement you have just excluded some of the finest riding in the UK. A ride without practising the Noble art of bike portage is not a proper day out.

I'll be doing shitloads of it tomorrow up a big lakes hill. Expect pictures of a happy smiling biker just like Bandito to follow.

Dazh

Have you considered taking up golf instead? 😀

I'm afraid if you don't like hike a bikes, you really are going to miss out on the best descents unfortunately.

Moving to somewhere with lifts may be the better option! Ha! Ha!

I find I really enjoy hike a bikes as they allow me to take in my surroundings more with the bonus of a fun descent or high level traverse to look forward to. It's definitely a mindset you either have or don't, I guess.

Cheers

Sanny

I know what's coming

I should add, in this case we turned around and the results are here:

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/inspiration-required-10-best-natural-decents-in-the-lakes-scotland#post-7695346

I'm afraid if you don't like hike a bikes, you really are going to miss out on the best descents unfortunately.

Yes, quite aware of that. One of the main attractions of mountain biking for me is being able to access remote areas and cover more ground than you couldn't do on foot. If all you're doing is taking your bike for a walk to access a descent then I'd rather go somewhere else where I can ride both up and down even if the descents aren't as good. I've done an awful lot of walking and climbing in the mountains and dragging a bike along spoils the experience somewhat.

It's definitely a mindset you either have or don't, I guess.

Yup, something I've never achieved despite many attempts 🙁

Anyone kind enough to offer route advice, what to expect, etc. in regards to riding Angle Tarn?

I thought I'd read you go up through Hartsop and climb/hike to The Knott, then traverse across to Angle Tarn then down to Glenridding keeping the higher track line?

Then round Ullswater and back up through Boredale before descending Boredale Hause again.

If we've got any legs left we're going up to Keppel Cove and down Sticks but rather than the Quarry is there another worthy option? I thought I'd read Glencoyne further up this thread.

I've ridden Ullswater and Sticks before but both the usual routes, down through the quarry for Sticks and Bedafell to Martindale for Ullswater respectively.

Not tech in the slightest, but the bridleway off Great Sca Fell is brilliant fun. Longest (legal)downhill in the county...
As part of an extreme edition of the Skiddaw figure of 8 ,its a brilliant day out. Best done in dry conditions as there is a bit of hike a bike/bog trot , I prefer to go up via the Lingy hut (mostly rideable to there), other routes available.
Gavgas or lowey off this parish had a brilliant blog about it some years back....

You;ve got a bloody good Memory Senior J. Was a cracking day.

[url= http://dairyofanineptmountainbiker.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/maybe-god-loves-me-after-all-skiddaw.html ]Skiddaw win![/url]

[quote=dazh ]If all you're doing is taking your bike for a walk to access a descent then I'd rather go somewhere else where I can ride both up and down even if the descents aren't as good. I've done an awful lot of walking and climbing in the mountains and dragging a bike along spoils the experience somewhat.
Have to say I pretty much agree with this. I will [i]very occasionally[/i] give in to try a specific descent but I'd rather be pedalling all day than pushing or carrying a bike. If I want a good walk/climb in the mountains then I tend to leave the bike behind.

Kingofbiscuits- that route you describe is a peach. Lovely singletrack along satura crag to angle tarn, and a cracking descent down from boredale hause as well. Good reward for a very small climb.

it really depends if the descent justifies the hike a bike IMHO

If we've got any legs left we're going up to Keppel Cove and down Sticks but rather than the Quarry is there another worthy option? I thought I'd read Glencoyne further up this thread.

you can break left at the quarry and descent seldom seen- FOOTPATH- - it was ok but cannot be brilliant as i cannot remember it in much detail

Not done the quarry though so I cannot compare

Re the hike-a-bike: The Southern 'Gorms (so the hills between Deeside and the Angus glens)are some of my favourites. There are several ridable climbs up onto the high plateau and some great descents (Kilbo obviously). I have been down the mentally steep stalkers path down the north face of Monega Hill (I have pics but am struggling to post pictures on here...have no problem on other forums!! I was on my bike most of the way down but "riding it all" would be stretching it a little!
An Socach (Glen Shee)is a partial push up then along the ridge to Sgor Mor and the steep singletrack descent to Baddoch on the A93.
Sgurr Ban in Fisherfield is amazing ridden as a loop from Loch Bhraoin to Loch Nid, push up the slabs to 800m, walk to the summit then ride the stunning mile of perfect bedrock back to the base (gets pretty tech lower down with one 6ft drop I didn't fancy); loop continues to the Sheneval landy track and Dundonnel. Road back to start.
IfI could post pics I would! 🙁

Seldom Seen was a great trail, still is, but I got a tad peed off riding it on monday as the top section has had rock bags dropped off all over it, looks like its going to become another ruined trail by the LDNP. I'd love to know why they insist on this, not like its a super busy path!
Some great photos and info in this thread though - think its time for a mission up Skiddaw and down Ullock tomorrow 😀

If all you're doing is taking your bike for a walk to access a descent then I'd rather go somewhere else where I can ride both up and down even if the descents aren't as good. I've done an awful lot of walking and climbing in the mountains and dragging a bike along spoils the experience somewhat.

Yep, I'm another with that opinion. Have done it a few times, more so when I was young and thought that mountain biking had to involve mountains, but have come to the conclusion that I prefer riding to pushing or carrying ! And there's always the fear that when you've done all that work, you'll find you can't do the descent (maybe that just me and my incompetence/fear). One hike that was worthwhile (and legal) was High Street - the descent (to the north) isn't that technical, but it is long and you get fantastic views along the ridge.

Rewinding back a couple of pages here - has anyone looked at Beinn Fhada, and actually ridden from the top i.e. on the faint footpath that comes across from Meall a Fhuarain Mhoir heading E towards Beinn Fhada, then heads down into Coire an Sgairne before joining up the track which is described nicely by Stace and Sanny (I think) earlier.

I only know the lakes...

Low
Parkamoor
The Fox
Breasty Haw
Seven Sisters (All in Grizedale)
Nan Bield either way!
Colthouse (Claife)

Can someone tell me which is Seven Sisters ?

And I don't think I've done all the BWs at Claife apart from Colthouse, so thanks for that tip !

Having been up nan bield this weekend I can't say I can see what the fuss is about.
Heading south to North if you've got the skills/guts good luck to you and enjoy it but dragging my self & bike up that I had no urge to play dodge the ramblers and ride down it and would expect more carry than ride to little water. Would have been rideable from there assuming you don't have a rear mech.

Heading north/south the descent (IMHO) was definitely not worth the hike/carry up. I was having a complete mince/mare of a day but even then it was a section of loose switchbacks which were a bit precarious on an xl 29er (I should point out loose rock of the poured-down-to-prevent-erosion-kind is about my least favourite riding) followed by a big long section of fairly dull "single" track with a single comedy drop off and a rock roll.

Helvellyn and down dollywaggon was a much better ride.

Of course YMMV.

Lochnagar summit is at least 95% rideable in dry conditions going up from Braemar, if you take the clockwise'@' approach-

Braemar, Invercauld, Balochbuie forest to Connachat cottage, bypass Gelder Shiel and climb to the pass at 700m. South to Glas Allt, then NW to summit. For me, the better descent of here is to go west across the White Mounth, skirt clockwise around Carn an t'Sagairt Mor then descend to Callater, which is an absolute peach of a trail with a great variety of features and challenges.
Mind though, it does have to be properly dry to be able to ride that southern section towards Glas Allt. Which it is at present... The climb that follows up the burnside is way more rideable than you might expect, with only short staircase sections disrupting progress.

Thanks for the other inspirations guys- I've not ridden in Kintail but will be there anyway later in the year, so may try to check out Fhada. Sgorr Gaoith is another personal favourite, especially the stalkers path on the W side where 830 vertical meters of singletrack are available straight off the summit.. just go south to the first bealach, then curve W, NW and follow your nose down the path on the ridge.