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Going to Keswick next week for a few days with the girlfriend, I'll be riding 1/2 mornings and we'll be walking the other days. Will probably either ride Skiddaw and walk Helvellyn or vice versa with 1 other ride. What would people recommend? I'm leaning towards riding Skiddaw as I'll be on my own and it looks a bit less techy than Helvellyn.
For the other ride I've done Borrowdale bash before so would prefer not to do it again - might ride Helvellyn if it looks fun after walking it, but suspect it might be asking too much of my legs to do it after ride and walk on consecutive days! Anything else I should consider? Would prefer something in the Vertebrate guide or that I can print off directions for as I've no GPS thingy.
What didn't you like about the Bash? Was it all the road or the techy bits?
Skiddaw is fine if you really want a summit, but chances are you'll be slowing down for a lot of walkers on the way down.
Blencathra is as good as any walk in that area or grisedale pike ain't bad.
What didn't you like about the Bash?
Loved the techy bits, just felt there was a bit too much road. Will possibly just do it again, but don't get up there much so fancied doing something different.
The first, long road section up to Watendlath can be significantly reduced and improved albeit with some cheek. I'm sure someone on here can give you a gpx. It's still not my favourite ride in the Lakes though.
Helvellyn can be done in a less techy, arguably better way which misses out the Dollywaggon descent.
I'd walk Blencathra or either the Newlands or Coledale rounds and ride Helvellyn.
Thanks, that's really helpful - hadn't thought of Blencathra, but looks like a good walk! Will have a proper read of the VB guide tonight, pretty sure it gives 3 different options for Helvellyn.
If you want to avoid crowds, head to the NW fells - Grisedale pike etc, A fair bit quieter than the honeypot hills.
Helvellyn is more than half a days riding unless you're a riding God or start at 6am. Skiddaw would probably suit but go off the back not down the front to avoid walkers.
Is the route off the back easy to find? The VB guide just has you go up and then back down the same way, which I'd assume would be the front.
If you like the techy bits, do Skiddaw down the scree slope to Ullock Pike and then ride the Ullock ridge. Very cheeky, so time it accordingly if it's a busy day.
yup as ecky says, go to the summit then retrace your steps and take a right and go along the ullock ridge, maybe best to plot it out using your fave gpx plotter. Then depending on time you could either go straight back to keswick on the road or a play through dodd wood fireroads or time is good go round the back of skiddaw, up past whitewater dash waterfall, past the YHA and down to finish with the excellent lonscale fell and shit yourself looking at the drop off to the left. To save even more time drive up and park at the bottom of skiddaw but if you do that you'll miss out on the excellent drop past latrigg, which will be full of walkers anyway if it's the weekend.
Enjoy! and report back with pics please 😀
Sounds like a good plan! Will probably be Tuesday or Wednesday I'm riding, so hoping it won't be too rammed with walkers but not getting my hopes up. Also fully expecting it to piss down given that the weather has been cracking recently while I've been at work...
If you don't want it too techy but still fun I'd say go to Helvellyn summit via Keppel Cove then back down to Sticks Pass and possibly Seldom Seen if you're feeling cheeky.
Nice half day ride.
Having just been in Keswick for a week I can say that it is a top location for big mountain, super tech riding (if you like that sort of thing).
If you do I would suggest the loop that is Whiteless Pike and Grizedale Pike (via Sleet How) and also Skiddaw (via Ullock Pike). Some of the best UK riding I have done.
Get up super early, preferably on a week day and you will not clash with Hikers...and be prepared to push/carry most of the climbing.
Love this place
Blencathra (via sharp edge) is a great walk
Wont try it on the bike again - didn't find a satisfying way down
Riding Blencathra- up Blease fell route, least bad option, push rather than carry. Descent off the back over Atkinson pike down to the col and then down the east side of the glenderamackin river, cross river and push up to the top of Mousethwaite Combe and descend to scales. Brilliant half day out (cheeky) with nothing scary for the solo rider.
Another option: riding to the top of whinlatter south, then up from there to Grisedale pike summit and return over Hobcarton end. Or, south from littletown along easy track to valley, stiff hike a bike to Dale head tarn and up on to high spy, lovely ride back over maiden moor towards cat bells then back down towards littletown from the col.
Walks- the suggestions of coledale horseshoe or Newlands horseshoe above are ideal, for the latter, boat to hawse end then catbells, maiden moor, high spy, dale head, hindscarth and descend to littletown for ice cream/beer before traversing round the bottom of catbells back to the boat is a nice car free day out. Buttermere round also lovely.
Just to note I think the old railway bridge over the Greta is still down following the floods so needs to be factored in if you're riding to/from Keswick towards Threkeld.
Has anyone ridden anything over the back of Blencathra in the direction of Bannerdale Crags and Bowscale Tarn? Trying to come up with a more interesting variation on the Back o'Skiddaw route.
Just to note I think the old railway bridge over the Greta is still down following the floods
I can confirm this is the case - I ended up wading through the river rather than go back but was a pain
Shortish walk Cat Bells then ferry back.
Longish Wainright walk Scafell Pike from Seathwaite via Styhead Tarn and Corridor route back via Great End, SprinklingTarn, Grains Gill
There was a Helvelyn thread, its easy from Thurlow (boring) and not straighforward from Glenriding.
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/striding-edge-with-9-11-year-olds-walking ]STW thread[/url]