 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Last year we did the 4 passes and we've done most obvious variations of the Borrowdale Bash inc Warnscale. We are heading up there next week and I was planning on starting from Stonethwaite and heading up Stonethwaite Fell past Angle Tarn, Sprinkling Tarn, Styehead Tarn then back to the start.
I've just realised that that means finishing with the same descent as last time. Anybody have any better ideas?
Campsite isn't booked so nothing is is cast in stone as far as a starting point but I do quite like this part of the world.
Whats the route back over from Wasdale to Ennerdale like?
It's not quite the same Descent, it's betterer as the descent starts a fair bit higher at esk hause than the descent on 4 passes.
And it's quite possibly the best descent in the Lakes....
Best way to get to it is up langstrath then cut across the footpath at the top to angle tarn.
Another good day is start in keswick or braithwaite, up coledale and descend whiteless pike, and round the back of rannerdale (stunning singletrack) then into buttermere for ice cream, before heading up gasgale gill and along ridge to grisedale pike, another corking descent.
it truly is a great descent
Best way to get there is definitely a helicopter though 😉
Aah, cheers NoBeer, we'll roll with it then. We did your other route last time, Gasgale nearly broke us 😉
Any other suggestions folks?
. We did your other route last time, Gasgale nearly broke us
Yes, I wasn't prepared for the length of that hike up from Crummock Water! Great ride though 😀
Yeah, gasgale goes on a bit, need to earn your downs though.... 😈
And is Rosset Gill best avoided?
You could go up Langstrath and over Stake Pass into Langdale, then back up Rossett Gill.
Rossett is a brutal hike-a-bike up but a very efficient way to gain height fast. Rossett as a descent is brutal too, but in a good way 😈
If you want to try an alternative descent to Stockley Bridge, I'd suggest Grains Gill. It starts from near Angle Tarn. Bit more technical in places than Styhead Gill.
Rosset Gill, Warnscale technical or way harder?
Rossett is much harder than Wharnscale, its a fast way up thoughts nobeerinthefridge says Langstrath (right of river) up Stakes pass turning right at the summit and then the footpath to Angle tarn is a good route, or you could do the Stakes pass descent into the Rossett valley, up Rossett Gill onto Esk Cause.
Thanks Gavgas, Warnscale is at my limit so I'll avoid, ta
thats some ride bloodsm
Wow, just checked that out, lunacy, and fast lunacy at that! That's twice as far as I intend to ride
thats some ride bloodsm
Haha, well you would know as I got the idea from one of yours on here!
Just reread this, is the Stakes Pass descent good? Worth the climb back out?
If wharnscale is towards your limit, your route choice would be good, it's a great ride. Grains gill alternative may be too tech to enjoy and means you miss the flying descent from Esk hause to styhead, which is great. Here are some pics of your route, from a fine January day out with the dog:
Looking back down Langstrath:
[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/33075282960_ea9743e1f7.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3861/33075282960_ea9743e1f7.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SoKtij ]IMG_0959[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/141154940@N03/ ]Tom Blakely[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Easy height gain up Stake Pass (hairpins too tight to ride round though):
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/671/33418047306_2b1125312a.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/671/33418047306_2b1125312a.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SV3ecq ]IMG_0957[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/141154940@N03/ ]Tom Blakely[/url], on Flickr
Looking towards Great End for Esk Hause:
[img][url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2842/33075285120_2fffd701b5.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2842/33075285120_2fffd701b5.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SoKtWy ]IMG_0951[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/141154940@N03/ ]Tom Blakely[/url], on Flickr[/img]
The great yee ha descent to Styhead, Great Gable beyond:
[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/33418050956_043e9e8fba.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/33418050956_043e9e8fba.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SV3fhm ]IMG_0948[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/141154940@N03/ ]Tom Blakely[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Looking back from Styhead:
[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3822/32615336994_f6df5e8943.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3822/32615336994_f6df5e8943.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RG78os ]IMG_0947[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/141154940@N03/ ]Tom Blakely[/url], on Flickr[/img]
keep a note of the location of that MRT stretcher box 😉
I would say yes, but I've never done the right-turn alternative along the tops to Angle Tarn, so can't compare the two. Stake Pass down to Langdale is rocky, steppy, water-bar & switchback-y fun. Not technically difficult but challenging to ride as fast as you dare 😀Just reread this, is the Stakes Pass descent good? Worth the climb back out?
Rossett Gill climb is the price you pay to "earn your turns".
Suggest you decide at the top of Stake Pass, based on prevailing conditions and progress made.
as would Rossett Gill as a descent. They're both significantly tougher descents.If wharnscale is towards your limit, ... Grains gill alternative may be too tech to enjoy
Thanks chaps, let's see what the day brings, those photos have wetted my appetite nicely.
As for Warnscale, I am ok at the bed rock bits higher up, I struggle more with the tighter looser stuff lower down. I need to forget I have rear mech!
Thanks folks, great weekend and good weather too.
Did the ride including the drop down then back up Rosset Gill. Struggled with the water bars on the corners but enjoyed it.
The push up Rosset Gill was as brutal as described and I would like to know what percentage of it folks ride as a descent?
The drop back down from Esk Hause was superb.
We then camped overnight in our vans near Cow Bridge, Brothers Water and rode again on Monday.
Up to Haweswater, past Angle Tarn then down Boredale? towards Patterdale. Then up Keppel Cove, Sticks and Seldom Seen.
So altogether a cracking weekends riding. I think I prefer the less built feel of day two's descents but overall I'm happy either way, it's all good 🙂
past Angle Tarn then down Boredale
Another wee cracker, that one. 😉
I'm not really a fan of Seldom seen (I'll get flamed for that!) it was decent, but not really very Lakes like, more something I'd ride up here. But tbh, it beats losing so much height on the road from the yh down if you continue on Sticks...
Mugboo
Was it by any chance you and your mate that we bumped into near Sprinkling Tarn? (The three in our group were heading for Grains Gill because of the fell race which was going down Styhead)
Rossett Gill as a descent... about 90% rideable. It's a couple of years since I did it last but seem to remember a couple of rock steps/squeezes that we'd ended up pushing/scrambling down. Not that much that was impassable though, vast majority fine to roll. Very much "built" though as you say, so more of a technical set-piece challenge rather than a fast blast like Boredale or Seldom Seen.
Found it, here you go, Rossett as a descent: [url= https://www.strava.com/activities/142290111/ ]https://www.strava.com/activities/142290111/[/url]
Yeah, think it was me and Mugboo you chatted to, I was badly hungover and not riding at my best! Still a great day out though.
Yeah, think it was me and Mugboo you chatted to, I was badly hungover and not riding at my best! Still a great day out though. The runners didn't really get in the way too much 🙂
Aye Ecky Thump, that was us, which bike were you riding? Thanks for the offer, I knew it would be somebody off here
And impressive stuff down Rosset Gill!
I was on the raw Liteville 301 Mugboo.
The thought struck me just after we'd left you, that you might have been the guy on STW asking about Stake/Rossett route.
Glad you enjoyed it and had just about perfect weather for it too. You can't have a proper day in t'Lakes without some hike-a-bike 😉
Too right Ecky Thump, although I have noticed that we've gone from lots of riders to just a few. It seems that not everyone gets the hikeabike thing..
On another note, I've just had a look at our day two route and it seems that we took the FP descent off Boredale, is this what everybody does? I have pushed up the BW in the past but I can't remember if that is similar?
Are these the two you're on about?:
[url= http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=340468&Y=515910&A=Y&Z=120 ]Boredale descents map[/url]
Didn't realise one was a bridleway and the other a path. We usually ride both in same ride. Both are good.
Good way to get both in is this route:
[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/272442663#6381762766 ]Hartsop, Boredale & Lakeside[/url]
It seems that not everyone gets the hikeabike thing..
A ride in the lakes without practicing the noble art of bike portage, is what blow up dolls are to sex.
A sad parody of the real thing.
Agreed Lowey.
And yep, Ecky them's the ones.