Discover why the Lake District is one of the UK's finest mountain biking destinations, where dramatic fell passes, technical singletrack, and stunning lakeside trails offer outstanding riding for every level of ability. From short loops around Loughrigg Fell and the Langdales to full-day epics over the Garburn Pass and a complete circumnavigation of Windermere, the Lake District delivers spectacular scenery and memorable riding in equal measure.

Suitable for novice and expert riders alike, this comprehensive Cicerone guide describes 24 graded circular mountain bike routes across the Lake District, from Kendal in the south to Cleator Moor in the northwest and Keswick to Winster in the Lyth Valley. Routes are arranged by difficulty and length, from short loops of a few hours to full-day challenges, with 1:50,000 OS map extracts and elevation profiles included for every ride.

• Choose from 24 graded circular MTB routes across the Lake District, with 7 short loops, 6 medium loops, 4 long loops, and 4 full-day rides, taking in trails from Borrowdale and Hawkshead to Kentmere, Grizedale, Haweswater, and Dunnerdale.
• Select routes by grade, percentage off-road, length, or time using a clear at-a-glance summary table, with routes graded blue (medium), red (hard), and black (very hard) to suit novice riders through to expert MTBers looking for a serious challenge.
• Discover the highlights of Lake District MTB, including the dramatic Garburn and Gatesgarth passes, the Tour de Windermere circumnavigation, the Grizedale Grunt, the Blencathra and Old Coach Road circuit, and views across Coniston Water, Ullswater, Derwent Water, and Haweswater.
• Navigate every route with confidence using OS 1:50,000 map extracts and elevation profiles, with numbered references linking the route text, map, and profile together to help you stay on track at every junction.
• Plan your rides with practical information on getting to the Lake District, accommodation, equipment, bike checks, food, rights of way, and a full appendix of bike shops in the region.
• Ride year-round, with most routes suitable in all seasons and clear guidance on which routes are best reserved for periods of good weather and drier trail conditions.

Take on the trails, passes, and fells of the Lake District with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guide. Whether you're after a short blue-graded loop or a full-day black-graded epic, this is the essential companion for mountain biking in one of England's finest off-road riding destinations.

Mountain Biking in the Lake District – Quick Facts

Location: England – Lake District National Park, Cumbria
Routes covered: 24 graded circular MTB routes, split into short, medium, long, and full-day loops
Difficulty: Graded blue (medium), red (hard), and black (very hard); novice riders with reasonable bike-handling skills can complete blue routes; red and black routes will challenge experienced riders
Terrain: Fell passes, singletrack, forest trails, bridleways, and lakeside paths throughout the Lake District
Navigation/mapping: OS 1:50,000 map extracts and elevation profiles included for every route; OS Explorer 1:25,000 sheets OL4, OL5, OL6, and OL7 recommended for on-the-ground navigation
Key centres: Threlkeld, Pooley Bridge, Cleator Moor, Muncaster, Torver, Grizedale, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Elterwater, Kendal, Staveley, High Newton, Spark Bridge, Winster
Highlights: Garburn Pass, Gatesgarth Pass, Tour de Windermere, Grizedale Grunt, Blencathra and Old Coach Road, Claife Heights, Kentmere Special, views of Coniston Water, Ullswater, Derwent Water, and Haweswater
Accommodation & logistics: Practical information on getting to the Lake District, accommodation, and a full bike shop appendix
Best time to go: Most routes rideable year-round; some routes best avoided in very wet conditions

Author Highlight

“The Lake District is England’s only truly mountainous region and arguably its most beautiful. It is also consistently considered the top destination for mountain biking in the country. There are numerous reasons why. The sublime landscape provides the perfect backdrop to every riding experience; then there are the trails themselves. Although not purpose-built with mountain bikers in mind, the Lakes’ vast network of bridleways and byways can be legally plundered by those seeking riding nirvana.”

- Ian Boydon, author of Mountain Biking in the Lake District

Introduction   

Getting to the Lake District   

Accommodation    

Equipment   

Food   

Bike checks   

When to ride   

Rest and recovery   

Routes   

Maps   

Timings   

Rights of way   

Trail centres   

The dirty dozen   

Pre-ride checklist   

Short Loops

Route 1    Tour of Loughrigg Fell   

Route 2    Spark Bridge   

Route 3    Borrowdale and Whinfell   

Route 4    Kendal and Brigsteer   

Route 5    Hawkshead and Hodge Close   

Route 6    Howtown and Askham   

Route 7    Elterwater and the Langdales   

Medium Loops   

Route 8    Muncaster   

Route 9    Winster   

Route 10     High Newton and Cartmel   

Route 11     Tour of Claife Heights and High Wray   

Route 12     Kentmere Special   

Route 13     Cleator Moor   

Long Loops   

Route 14    Torver and Kirkby Moor   

Route 15     Grizedale Grunt   

Route 16     Loadpot Hill   

Route 17     Blencathra and the Old Coach Road   

Route 18     Garburn and Longsleddale   

Route 19     Haweswater and Gatesgarth   

Route 20     Dunnerdale Enduro   

Full Day Loops   

Route 21     Parkamoor, Satterthwaite and Hawkshead Monster   

Route 22     Tour de Windermere   

Route 23     Mealbank, Borrowdalen and the Breasthigh Road   

Route 24     Longsleddale, Kentmere and Troutbeck   

Appendix

Appendix    Bike shops in the region

Seasons

Although it is recommended that a few of the routes should only be done during periods of good weather, most can be ridden all year round.

Centres

Threlkeld, Pooley Bridge, Cleator Moor, Muncaster, Torver, Grizedale, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Elterwater, Kendal, Staveley, High Newton, Spark Bridge, Winster

Difficulty

Routes are graded blue (medium), red (hard) and black (very hard). Novice MTBers with reasonable bike-handling skills should be able to complete the blue routes, while experts should be challenged by the red and, more so, the black routes.

Must See

The dramatic Garburn and Gatesgarth passes; views of Coniston Water, Esthwaite Water, Grasmere, Rydal Water, Elterwater, Ulswater, Derwent Water and Haweswater; circuit of Windermere

This book includes extracts from 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps to help ease your navigation of the routes. The descriptions have sufficient detail to be used alone but the maps are to be used in conjunction with them to help you to stay on the right track. The following Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer maps are recommended for the routes in this guide:

OL4 The English Lakes North-Western area

OL5 The English Lakes North-Eastern area

OL6 The English Lakes South-Western area

OL7 The English Lakes South-Eastern area

October 2018

Update

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