Lakes advice - summer holiday riding 🙂

Ooh, my second favourite subject.....

I'd be inclined to go a tadge north TBH. Either Duddon Valley, Coniston or Gridesale. I've done two rides around Haverthwaite/ Newby Bridge and they were a bit meh compared to five kilometres north..

Coniston has shit loads. Up Walna scar carpark, down to Torver, Torver Common, up Parkamoor, into Gridesale, BreadtyHaw etc

Or north past Hodge Close into Langdale, perhaps a Loughrigg Terrace.

Loads of awesome BWs in Gridesale.

Drop west into Stephenson Ground and other stuff in Duddon Valley

The stuff east of Haverthwaite was much more fields, mud, wide trails Cheshire style stuff. Nowhere near as good.

Ulverston.... No idea

As above Coniston and Grizedale are great options

I’d say staying in the Langdale valley is a good option. We’ve stayed in Elterwater lots which links to some of the stuff the generalist mentions like hodge close, Loughrigg Terrace and Iron Keld. There’s a traffic free track up most of the valley. The walking in the valley is top notch with lower peaks like Loughrigg and Lingmoore upto the Langdale Pikes etc. The bus service in the valley really helps linking walks.

I think Claiffe Heights is a great intro lakes riding. There is a good scenic easy bridleway down the side of Windermere that can form part of the route. It’s not hard to park or the riding can be accessed from Ambleside or Hawkshead. Hawkshead would also be good for Grizedale.

Ambleside would work as a base. I’d say as a teenager taken on these holidays and having taken mine it can be nice to have a town to wander round for a bit of autonomy

Accommodation is more expensive north of Kendall.

Feel free to ask more question. We’ve done a scary number of self catering weeks in the Lakes

Some one on here asked for a Langdale route so i put this together. It could easily be broken up into smaller sections. It gives an idea of the riding in the area

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rCKgBYRuxefuT_1mFCC1NHO2cIGgzvL8

Thanks both.  Some good ideas in there.

We've done that Ambleside / Elterwater area before including walking Loughrigg Fell.

I like Loughrigg Fell.  We've walked it twice.  Mrs g-d and I did a lovely loop there in baking hot weather on one of our first holidays together.

About 10 years later we did it with the boys.  The (questionable) forecast said light showers in the afternoon.  Lunchtime looked a bit grey and by early afternoon it was monsoon season with thick mist so even with the right kit we skipped the top and took the long low route back.

Another good base is Keswick if you fancy a change. Again ask if it want details

Yeah as others have said I wouldn't really consider Ulverston, which exists more for those people who want to live in the Lake District but can't afford to because of every sod with a second or third home that they rent out for holiday accomodation. I'd be going for more the West Lakes or North Lakes considering you've already done the Kendal area.

I’d be going for more the West Lakes

Can you clarify what you see as west lakes? I'm not convinced there is a huge amount there compared to the rest.

I'd include Was, Dunner and Esk dales in my definition of west.

Go further West. Whitehaven and surrounding areas.  Ennerdale is close by. The hills are mostly empty when walking and there are old railway lines to ride. Have lunch at Howling Wolf by Whitehaven harbour. Maryport and Workington also worth a look.

Kids will be 16 & 13 and can handle a rubbly Peak District climb/descent and 20+ miles without drama.

there are old railway lines to ride

Not convinced. Surely the OP is looking for awesumz....

Thanks all.  We've booked a bit closer to Hatherthwaite than suggested but it's a nice place with easy dog walks from the door and a bit cheaper.  We will probably end up driving a little way to ride starts but the benefit of some easier dog terrain on the door step is that Mrs g-d can come and go while we're riding and she wouldn't do anything big without us anyway.

I'll check out the posted routes although I can confirm disused railway is not the plan if for no better reason than they allow far too much fast pedalling opportunity for fit teenagers to embarrass dad on whereas scrabbly climbs and rocky descents benefit experience over power to weight/fitness 😀

I live in Bouth near Haverthwaite... There is plenty of riding from the door and certainly enough for a holiday. Ulverston is a great town - lots of bars/restaurants/ independent shops and v friendly too.   If you want a ride dm me nearer the time...

gkeefe - How is the White Hart these days? Also - is the ice cream farm going to be open this year? Can second what a good place Ulverston is.

OP - the Anglers in Haverthwaite is not a bad pub and the grub is better under new ownership. I bumped into Guy Martin there a couple of years ago. He'd been riding with some lads from Hope at Grizedale. I ride my gravel bike in that area sometimes. Hampsfell and Eggerslack might provide some riding for you.

You're only 15 minutes drive  from the southernmost tip of Grizedale (bike trail symbol next to Force Mills is a free car park), there are multiple excellent rocky options from there, including more than a few techy climbs where your dreams of getting one over on your kids can die. 🙂

White Hart is good. Good beer ok food. Better food at the Manor House in Oxen Park, nice beer too. Other good pubs for beer  include Red Lion in Lowick and the Britannia in penny Bridge.   Not a fan of the Anglers although I’ve not been in since it changed hands. Farmers Arms in Spark Bridge is excellent for food and beer, but being run by the unreliable Grizedale Arts it’s not always open.  Lots of good ones in Ulverston too. Particularly the Swan for beer.

Not been for years but I've stayed at Grizedale farm a couple of times and had some great days riding from the campsite. I think I'd read that Grizedale was affected by storm damage in more recent times?

a few techy climbs where your dreams of getting one over on your kids can die. ?

That made me chuckle, thanks.

 If you want a ride dm me nearer the time…

Thank you, most kind. It's the main summer holidays so a while away yet but got to have stuff to look forward to.