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Starting in Waterhead just outside Ambleside, on the shore
of lake Windermere this mountain bike route heads east to
Kentmere and back. It's not an easy ride with just over
4100ft of climbing in 22miles. There are plenty of steep
climbs, the biggest being the climb out of Kentmere to the
top of the Garburn Pass. The trails are predominantly
rocky but with sections of grassy moorland, so they should
be ridable in the wet, with only a few boggy sections.
1. Start at the car park near the Regent Hotel on the edge
of Windermere (GR376033). Go out to the main road and
turn left. At the junction with the A591 turn left following the
sign marked town center. Go past the entrance to the one
way lane on the left and take the next right climbing away
from the main road at about 45deg (GR377037). A short
distance up this lane turn right, up the steep lane
signposted as a BW. Follow the tarmac as it winds it’s way
uphill and at the junction where the lane turns tightly to the
left uphill follow the dirt track straight ahead, signed as a
BW. This trail continues along the flat for a while till it
comes to a junction. Take the BW that climbs away left to
Jenkin Crag, incorrectly signed as a footpath. This is a
very technical climb over bedrock and roots through the
trees. After turning left up a large slab section follow the
track 90deg right, over a bridge, and continue climbing up
more slabs. The track eventually emerges from the trees
and flattens off, with great views of Windermere to the
right. Follow the track to the gate at the farm (GR390029).
of lake Windermere this mountain bike route heads east to
Kentmere and back. It's not an easy ride with just over
4100ft of climbing in 22miles. There are plenty of steep
climbs, the biggest being the climb out of Kentmere to the
top of the Garburn Pass. The trails are predominantly
rocky but with sections of grassy moorland, so they should
be ridable in the wet, with only a few boggy sections.
1. Start at the car park near the Regent Hotel on the edge
of Windermere (GR376033). Go out to the main road and
turn left. At the junction with the A591 turn left following the
sign marked town center. Go past the entrance to the one
way lane on the left and take the next right climbing away
from the main road at about 45deg (GR377037). A short
distance up this lane turn right, up the steep lane
signposted as a BW. Follow the tarmac as it winds it’s way
uphill and at the junction where the lane turns tightly to the
left uphill follow the dirt track straight ahead, signed as a
BW. This trail continues along the flat for a while till it
comes to a junction. Take the BW that climbs away left to
Jenkin Crag, incorrectly signed as a footpath. This is a
very technical climb over bedrock and roots through the
trees. After turning left up a large slab section follow the
track 90deg right, over a bridge, and continue climbing up
more slabs. The track eventually emerges from the trees
and flattens off, with great views of Windermere to the
right. Follow the track to the gate at the farm (GR390029).
2. Go through the farm and follow the lane downhill to the gates just after a cattle grid.
Go through the gate on the left and climb the singletrack as it winds its way up past a
derelict building, through a stream crossing and onto a gate and the junction at the top.
After the gate follow the wide track to the right , staying on the main track for a quite
rocky but non technical descent that turns into tarmac just before entering Troutbeck.
3. At the junction at the end of the lane
(GR407026) turn left past the Post Office and
go straight on at the next junction, keeping on
the level, not descending to the right. After a
short distance take the right into a small car
park (courtyard) in front of a house set back
from the road (GR408027). It is signed as a BW
but the sign is hidden from view on the wall on
the right inside corner of the junction. At the house at the back of the car park
take the thin rocky track on the left that leads to a church at the bottom,
crossing a stream half way down.
take the thin rocky track on the left that leads to a church at the bottom,
crossing a stream half way down.
4. At the bottom of the BW turn left onto the road (GR413028). In a short
while take the road on the right leading into the Limefitt Park campsite. Follow
the road 90deg to the right and through the center of the campsite to the
buildings on the far side. Ride up to the house and follow the BW signs onto
the track leading left around the back of the other buildings. Follow the short
track to the next junction. Turn right and climb this trail to the next gate
(GR416027). After this gate turn left and climb on the steep, rocky, technical
climb between the drystone walls. Climb through the left hander, over the
slabs after which the trail becomes easier.
while take the road on the right leading into the Limefitt Park campsite. Follow
the road 90deg to the right and through the center of the campsite to the
buildings on the far side. Ride up to the house and follow the BW signs onto
the track leading left around the back of the other buildings. Follow the short
track to the next junction. Turn right and climb this trail to the next gate
(GR416027). After this gate turn left and climb on the steep, rocky, technical
climb between the drystone walls. Climb through the left hander, over the
slabs after which the trail becomes easier.
5. Before the next gate take the track off to the
right. This wide track starts to descend, over a
few rocky sections and through one gate and
past a small reservoir on the right. It evolves
into a wide dirt track with many large water filled
pot holes, eventually finishing on a junction with
a lane (GR423006). Turn left on the lane and
ride past three lanes on the right. Over a small
rise descend to a lane on the left marked as a
BW. Follow this lane uphill to High House. At
right. This wide track starts to descend, over a
few rocky sections and through one gate and
past a small reservoir on the right. It evolves
into a wide dirt track with many large water filled
pot holes, eventually finishing on a junction with
a lane (GR423006). Turn left on the lane and
ride past three lanes on the right. Over a small
rise descend to a lane on the left marked as a
BW. Follow this lane uphill to High House. At
7. Take the track off to the right, before the
gate, that runs down the left hand side of the
stream. Drop downhill on this initially grassy
trail, through a couple of gates, where it
becomes rockier, finally coming out on tarmac
by some buildings. Follow the tarmac to a left
turn over a bridge to a junction with another
lane (GR456011). Turn left and follow the
tarmac a short way to the marked BW on the
right through the gate climbing into the trees
(GR456015). After the next gate follow the main
rocky trail, steep and tricky but do-able, up through a couple of bends. Once
out of the trees the trail turns right, starts flattening out and becomes grassy.
Follow the track ahead and over the crest for a short descent to a left turn
bringing the track parallel to a drystone wall on the right.
8. Go straight over the crossroad in the trail (GR466016) and on to the next
gate. Through the gate turn left onto the wide track. After the next gate climb
away to the right on the singletrack signed as a BW. At the fork in the trail
continue on the rocky trail to the left. Climb over the crest, going through the
next gate and continue ahead on the track that becomes more grassy and a bit
out of the trees the trail turns right, starts flattening out and becomes grassy.
Follow the track ahead and over the crest for a short descent to a left turn
bringing the track parallel to a drystone wall on the right.
8. Go straight over the crossroad in the trail (GR466016) and on to the next
gate. Through the gate turn left onto the wide track. After the next gate climb
away to the right on the singletrack signed as a BW. At the fork in the trail
continue on the rocky trail to the left. Climb over the crest, going through the
next gate and continue ahead on the track that becomes more grassy and a bit
9. Turn right after the final gate onto a road
(GR460040). This road bears left then
descends to a junction. Turn left and descend
to the junction at the bottom. Turn right and ride
through Kentmere to the church. Ignore the BW
sign (straight on) and follow the lane to the right
around the far side of the church. The lane
then bears left and comes to a gate at a building
before which is a track off to the right signed to
the Garburn Pass (GR455044). Climb the trail
rocky and loose followed by a flatter, easier section. At the ‘S’ bend 2/3 of the way up the trail kicks up, again
becoming steep, rocky and loose. It then flattens out again just before the top. I stopped six times and walked once for
30m as it is a very hard climb but I had a bloke scream past me on a Santa Cruz Superlight who rode it all, only dabbing
once, so it’s doable.
becoming steep, rocky and loose. It then flattens out again just before the top. I stopped six times and walked once for
30m as it is a very hard climb but I had a bloke scream past me on a Santa Cruz Superlight who rode it all, only dabbing
once, so it’s doable.
10. At the top of the pass (GR436043) descend to a left hand bend then up a gentle
climb to a gate. After the gate follow the wide, fast, rocky trail through a few gates, far
enough apart and positioned well enough not to interrupt the flow of the descent. After
one of the gates lower down go right at the junction (GR420031) and descend the trail
previously climbed earlier in the route. At the next junction, on a left hand bend with the
gate on the right, continue around the bend to the left. At the following fork (GR416026)
take the track on the right and descend on the loose rocks, around a right hander, to a
gate at the road.
11. Turn right and ride a short way to the junction with a lane on the left (GR412027).
Take this left and climb to the junction at the top, in Troutbeck. Turn left, then climb up
the lane at the end of the buildings on the right to start retracing the outward leg of the
route back to Ambleside. Climb the tarmac that soon becomes a dirt track, to where it
flattens out and turns right and aims at the right hand side of the hill ahead (GR398023).
climb to a gate. After the gate follow the wide, fast, rocky trail through a few gates, far
enough apart and positioned well enough not to interrupt the flow of the descent. After
one of the gates lower down go right at the junction (GR420031) and descend the trail
previously climbed earlier in the route. At the next junction, on a left hand bend with the
gate on the right, continue around the bend to the left. At the following fork (GR416026)
take the track on the right and descend on the loose rocks, around a right hander, to a
gate at the road.
11. Turn right and ride a short way to the junction with a lane on the left (GR412027).
Take this left and climb to the junction at the top, in Troutbeck. Turn left, then climb up
the lane at the end of the buildings on the right to start retracing the outward leg of the
route back to Ambleside. Climb the tarmac that soon becomes a dirt track, to where it
flattens out and turns right and aims at the right hand side of the hill ahead (GR398023).
12. On this right hand bend take the signed BW through the gate on the left.
Follow the trail down past the derelict building to the two gates at the bottom
leading onto a lane. Turn right and climb the lane to the farm. On the far side
of the buildings go through the gate on the right, immediately turning left
through the next gate. Follow the trail into the trees and descend through a
number of bends and over the rock slabs previously climbed. At the junction
with a trail on the left, the one with the incorrect footpath sign, take the track off
to the right. At the next junction go straight on and descend on the tarmac,
being careful on the blind corners, to the junction at the bottom. Turn left to
the main road and turn left again. A short way along the main road turn right
down the one way street (GR377034), between the walls, and follow it to the
junction with the main road at the other end. Turn left then left again into the
car park and the end.
Most of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 90 but one small section,
below High House drops onto Landranger 97. The plan was to so this ride in
about 4hrs but the technical nature of the trails and the steepness of some of
the climbs saw us finish in 5hrs.
junction with the main road at the other end. Turn left then left again into the
car park and the end.
Most of this route can be plotted on OS Landranger 90 but one small section,
below High House drops onto Landranger 97. The plan was to so this ride in
about 4hrs but the technical nature of the trails and the steepness of some of
the climbs saw us finish in 5hrs.
the house go though the gate ahead and immediately turn right, picking up the thin
rocky track that leads off left from the left hand side of the main house (GR437005).
6. Climb a short way to the next gate then follow the track through the field along the
drystone wall on the right. After the next gate follow the trail to the right to another gate
and a three way BW junction. Turn left along the track with the drystone wall on the left.
This track winds its way along the flank of the hill gaining a small amount of height till it
fords a stream just before a gate (GR443027).
rocky track that leads off left from the left hand side of the main house (GR437005).
6. Climb a short way to the next gate then follow the track through the field along the
drystone wall on the right. After the next gate follow the trail to the right to another gate
and a three way BW junction. Turn left along the track with the drystone wall on the left.
This track winds its way along the flank of the hill gaining a small amount of height till it
fords a stream just before a gate (GR443027).
boggy in sections. Just after the derelict building on the left is a junction with another BW (GR473034). Take this track
off to the left and climb to the crest on the flank of Green Quarter Fell. Over the top continue straight on down to a
gate that the BW is marked as going through. After the gate descend on the trail that soon bears right and drops,
through a number of gates, towards Kentmere.
off to the left and climb to the crest on the flank of Green Quarter Fell. Over the top continue straight on down to a
gate that the BW is marked as going through. After the gate descend on the trail that soon bears right and drops,
through a number of gates, towards Kentmere.
on the right, over a steep rocky section that soon bears left and leads to some more
gates. Go through the gate on the right and ride between the drystone walls past Badger
Rock. Follow the main track up to the top of the Garburn Pass. The first section is steep,
gates. Go through the gate on the right and ride between the drystone walls past Badger
Rock. Follow the main track up to the top of the Garburn Pass. The first section is steep,
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Staveley and the Nan Bield Pass
High Street to Hell (day 1)
Staveley and the Nan Bield Pass
High Street to Hell (day 1)
