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I'm looking for an alternative way up and down from helvelyn and noticed there is a bridleway up from Thirlmere. Has anyone rode this in both directions as an out and back how does it compare to going up keppel cove and going down sticks pass (My usual route up and down)
Tried it once years ago, turned back. It's a walking route. Far too steep and rock-stepped for riding although you might get some way down it from the summit. I've only ever seen the bottom part of it.
The best way of doing Helvellyn is up Kepple Cove and down Dollywagon Pike...If Dollywagon's too much, the next section down to the climbers hut more than makes up for it.
Yeah, 95% hike a bike up a footpath. Top bit's alright but it's very steep for the most part
Do you mean the trail that heads down from the summit of Helvelyn slightly to the right of the top section of Dollywagon, then veers more to the right, drops steeply and finishes through some woods, ending in a car park on the shore of Thirlmere - think it's called Wythbrun or something? If so, it's a cracking descent - fast, and steep in places. You'd need to push some of it coming up though.
I carried up the Stannah Gill path at Easter, on my way to Sticks Pass. I was impressed by the tyre tracks coming down, its very steep!
I've also carried up from Thirlspot, once over Brown Crag its sort of rideable, going up.
I usually go up Wythburn, you can't ride much of it, but it's the fastest way up to the summit because it's steep. Then follow the ridge and descend Sticks Pass. Awesome!
paulrockliffe, how do you complete the loop?
Do you mean the trail that heads down from the summit of Helvelyn slightly to the right of the top section of Dollywagon, then veers more to the right, drops steeply and finishes through some woods, ending in a car park on the shore of Thirlmere - think it's called Wythbrun or something?
Head towards Nethermost and take the right turn down Birkside (zig-zag man made stuff), then into some tricky fix-the-fells steps through Comb Crag. Eventually drops you on the A591 by Wythburn church.
There are also a couple of bridleways that descend down the side of White Side - they're a bit vague on the ground...fast grassy descents with a steep drop down to the King's Arms. Finally, there's the Thirlmere side of Sticks Pass - I'm not a big fan of that as a descent but lots of locals like it.
Edit: see Paul likes it ! I prefer his route in reverse 🙂 Although, I would dispute that as the fastest ascent Paul - straight up from Swirls is quicker 😉
I think it must be the wythbrun bridlepath im thinking of. Tried Dollywagon and didnt enjoy in the slightest
I presume we#re all talking about the same track - from the OP's description, I've got it as [url= http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=333060&y=513680&z=120&sv=333060,513680&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=703&ax=333060&ay=513680&lm=0 ]this one[/url]
Think that's it. Halfway down is a short but steep section, with added drainage channels to endo on if your arse isn't on or near the back wheel, closely followed by a nice (optional) chute to cut off a left-hander, then it evens out into narrow rocky singletrack before passing through a gate and into the woods for a last straight rocky blast to car park. Cracking descent, more natural and enjoyable than Dollywagon staircase, though not to everyone's tastes. We call it 'somersault'.
scanning through Geograph, I can see the appeal:
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Added to the list of "trails to ride"
I did it several December's ago with the then mechanic at Biketreks. We went up from the Ullswater side having ridden up the Struggle then taken the cheeky path down Kirkstone.
It was a bit of a cold and icy day so we had to walk down some of the slippy stone pitching but I really enjoyed it as a day out and would do it again on a quiet day.
Cheers
Sanny
That sorts my descent out so is it easier to go up from thirlspot or up wythbrun
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Best way is down 😀
5spot I take it thats the wythbrun descent. Looks pretty good which way did you go up
We did that a couple of weekends ago. Started in Grasmere and rode over Dunmail Raise. Headed over Sticks Pass down to the YHA then carried up and over Swirral (!) and Helvelyn to the Comb Crags descent. Interestingly I though the path to Red Tarn was a bridleway on our map but it isn't showing it as on on streetmap. Should really have gone up Keppel Cove. Comb crags was a good descent. Steep and rocky but all armoured so once you get used to the steepness isn't too bad.
Cabbage,it is, we came up from Glenriddig down to the A591 over dunmail raise @ up little tongue past grisedale tarn & down grisedale beck.Great day out 😆