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My son is keen to cycle around the reservoir at Kielder
Is this possible just now with coved restrictions? If so where’s best place to park
Yes it's open, a friend did it yesterday. You can park at Tower Knowe, Leaplish or Kielder Castle. They are all on the route.
Done it a couple of times but it was a few years ago, the surface of the lakeside path/cycle way can be hard going when its wet so I'd avoid it after any heavy rain, sort of stuff where u just lose all momentum as soon as you stop pedalling, fine when its dry tho. Think I started at Tower Knowe last time I did it but any of the 3 spots already mentioned will be ok
If you haven’t done it before then be aware it’s very undulating. Not flat at all. A lot of the descents end on sharp corners so you often lose a lot of your energy just in braking.
Take more energy food and water than you think you need.
No idea on your sons fitness or cycling experience but I went round with a non cyclist once and it was character building for them from halfway round.
He has been doing 25 mile road rides with about 1800 ft of climbing but sounds like Kielder might be harder than we thought. See how the weather looks over the weekend before making the decision. Thanks for all your comments and advice
On the dirty reiver there are some hilarious tyre tracks leading off the path into the ditch.
It is surprisingly taxing but i guess thats the price for being a bit more interesting. Downside is that theres a big bit of water preventing a shortcut so you're either turning back or completing
Avoid weekends/BH time.
It tend to get pretty busy.
Done night ride around Kielder, was cracking. Even saw Moon-Rainbow 😀
Cheers!
I.
I'd recommend it. It is undulating, but we're not talking massive climbs, just the odd short, sharp effort. Most of it I would describe as 'rolling', it can be an enjoyable family ride with constant changes and sweeping corners. Long enough to be difficult for a newbie but fine for a regular cyclist. There's a nice remote feel around the back of the lake and some interesting art installations (Silvas Capitalis and the wave chamber are both worth a visit). Park either the bottom or the top depending on what direction you're travelling from. Cafe/pub/village/etc is at the top by the Castle but I've no idea what's open at the moment.
He has been doing 25 mile road rides with about 1800 ft of climbing
I reckon he'll be fine. I did it years ago and mapped it in Anquet Mapping which gave it 3500ft of ascent! I have my doubts, it certainly didn't feel like it. Cycle.Travel gives it 2000ft. Take it easy, take some sandwiches and enjoy the views and the art installations butcher mentions.
No way is it any more than 2,000ft. RideWithGps has it at 26 miles and around 1,500ft climbing, which I reckon isn't far off the mark. There is enough to make it a challenge for a novice rider but it's by no means a difficult route.
I'd park at the Dam end. It costs a fiver if I remember but all the car parks cost the same.
I'm not sure if the cafe at the castle will be open (or the pub) but there are shops in Kielder if you take a small diversion. This would make a nice rest stop.
I'd also ride it anti clockwise. The North side is pretty empty (and the better for it). Coming back down the south side you might find the visitors centre open. If it get's too much you can cut off Bull crag peninsula to make the ride shorter. If it goes really bad it's easier to effect a rescue from that side as the road is closer.
It's a nice ride. Not flat and slower than you would expect. Check the local forecast. Kielder is nearly always worse weather wise than Newcastle etc. It's a bit grim in the wet or if the ground is sodden as the path sucks your energy.
He's should manage easily from what he's riding already, just take your time. 2 mountain rescue callouts to the route other week within a few days - not sure how! As above some short sharp ups and downs with easy to overcook corners if not paying attention.
Is pleasant ride, hopefully the cafés open for stop on way round.
Take Smidge or equivalent. Lots of it.
Downside is that theres a big bit of water preventing a shortcut so you’re either turning back or completing
We fathomed that out after walking nearly half way round, in my defence I did have one of my dad's old maps that didn't actually have any lake on it 😬
Rode it last year on 1st April with my (then) 10yo on gravel bikes - started at Kielder Castle, rode the red Osprey Loop until it dropped back onto the East side of the reservoir, then continued clockwise round until we got back to Kielder Castle. 51km, 2,600ft climb, 3 hours round (but we weren't out to set records that day!)
Ground conditions were pretty good and it was dry, so we didn't get the heavy slop that I've had before on the lakeside route, which can be like riding in treacle. On a nice day, it's a nice, non-technical route and recommended (especially if you can do the Osprey first 🙂 ).
As others have said, it's hillier and harder than the distance and terrain would suggest, but taken steadily over a day with plenty of breaks and food (loads of cool stuff to investigate on the trail up the North side), I'm sure he'll be fine with it. Just be aware that there is no bail-out, so once you get half way round, the only way back to the car is to do the other half! Cafe at Tower Knowe was a nice place to stop if it's open.
Update
That’s Kielder Lakeside way done.
Up early and on the trail for 8 ish
Very quiet not many people about. We really enjoyed it and will do it again. I followed jonba,s recommendation and Parked at the dam then went North anti clockwise.
Nice to have it ticked off the list.