This is a two day mountain bike route of
just over 43miles that starts from
Waterhead on the edge of Windemere.
The first day takes you from Ambleside
YHA to Patterdale YHA via High Street
and contains 25.3miles of riding and
5136ft climbing. It is a big day in the
mountains that ends with a technical trail
along the edge of Ullswater.
1. Leave the Ambleside YHA
(GR377031) and turn left on the A591.
At the junction with the traffic lights
follow the main road right and head
towards the centre of Ambleside. 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 a
steep lane signposted as a BW. Follow
the tarmac as it winds it’s way uphill, then
just over 43miles that starts from
Waterhead on the edge of Windemere.
The first day takes you from Ambleside
YHA to Patterdale YHA via High Street
and contains 25.3miles of riding and
5136ft climbing. It is a big day in the
mountains that ends with a technical trail
along the edge of Ullswater.
1. Leave the Ambleside YHA
(GR377031) and turn left on the A591.
At the junction with the traffic lights
follow the main road right and head
towards the centre of Ambleside. 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 a
steep lane signposted as a BW. Follow
the tarmac as it winds it’s way uphill, then
at the top of the road climb go straight on at the junctions with lanes on the left to follow the dirt track straight ahead,
signed as a BW. This trail continues along the flat for a while until it comes to a junction. Take the BW that climbs away
left to Jenkin Crag, the small BW sign is next to the big footpath sign. This leads to a very technical climb/push over
bedrock and roots. It’s not too long though. After the large rock section follow the track 90deg right, over a bridge, to
climb up the next, rideable, rock section. 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).
signed as a BW. This trail continues along the flat for a while until it comes to a junction. Take the BW that climbs away
left to Jenkin Crag, the small BW sign is next to the big footpath sign. This leads to a very technical climb/push over
bedrock and roots. It’s not too long though. After the large rock section follow the track 90deg right, over a bridge, to
climb up the next, rideable, rock section. 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 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
inside corner of the junction when coming from this direction. At the house at the back of
the car park take the thin rocky track on the left that leads, after crossing a stream half
way down, to a church at the bottom.
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
inside corner of the junction when coming from this direction. At the house at the back of
the car park take the thin rocky track on the left that leads, after crossing a stream half
way down, to a church at the bottom.
4. At the bottom of the BW turn left onto the road
(GR413028). A short distance later take the road on the
right leading into the Limefitt Park campsite. Follow the
road 90deg to the right, through the centre of the
campsite, to the buildings on the far side. Ride up to the
house and go up the right hand side of the steps then follow the BW signs left at the top.
Follow the rocky track through a gate and climb to the junction at the other end. Turn left
and follow the wide trail up the valley. Eventually drop left through Hagg Gill and climb to
a gate and a junction with a wide rocky track, below The Tongue (GR425064). Turn right
and follow the track up the left hand side of the valley. A steep grassy climb can soon be
seen at the head of the valley.
5. At the end of the rocky track bear right then left on the grass to start the steep climb.
Bear right and climb to a gate in a drystone wall just to the left of the stream. After the
Follow the rocky track through a gate and climb to the junction at the other end. Turn left
and follow the wide trail up the valley. Eventually drop left through Hagg Gill and climb to
a gate and a junction with a wide rocky track, below The Tongue (GR425064). Turn right
and follow the track up the left hand side of the valley. A steep grassy climb can soon be
seen at the head of the valley.
5. At the end of the rocky track bear right then left on the grass to start the steep climb.
Bear right and climb to a gate in a drystone wall just to the left of the stream. After the
gate continue straight up the steep
grassy climb. The trail soon bears left
across the face of the fell. Although a
lot less steep it is still a hard push and
carry. Near the top of the ridge the
trail comes to a junction with a vague
grassy trail ahead and left
(GR432093). Turn right here to follow
the more obvious trail to the ridge. At
the ridge bear left to a junction.
grassy climb. The trail soon bears left
across the face of the fell. Although a
lot less steep it is still a hard push and
carry. Near the top of the ridge the
trail comes to a junction with a vague
grassy trail ahead and left
(GR432093). Turn right here to follow
the more obvious trail to the ridge. At
the ridge bear left to a junction.
6. At the junction go right, past a trail on the left that heads to the top of Thornthwaite, for a section of rocky, exposed
singletrack above Kentmere Reservoir, below on the right. At the next junction go straight on and climb to a grassy
plateau. Follow the track as it bears right and climbs to a junction at the corner of a drystone wall on the left
(GR436102).
7. Turn left, keep the wall on the right, and ride a short way to a wide rocky track. Turn right and climb the wide track
over a crest, below the highest point of High Street on the right. Take in the stunning views of Hayeswater below on the
left before enjoying the rocky descent. Climb to the next junction (GR439123) then turn right towards Kidsty Pike and
continue climbing. At the rocky outcrop at the top, just before the main trail starts descending, turn left on the grassy
trail that heads towards a cairn on the ridge. Follow this trail straight on, down a grassy and stepped trail. Continue
straight ahead to climb over High Raise then descend to where a fence coming in from the left joins the start of a
drystone wall. Be careful of the big boggy drops just before this.
singletrack above Kentmere Reservoir, below on the right. At the next junction go straight on and climb to a grassy
plateau. Follow the track as it bears right and climbs to a junction at the corner of a drystone wall on the left
(GR436102).
7. Turn left, keep the wall on the right, and ride a short way to a wide rocky track. Turn right and climb the wide track
over a crest, below the highest point of High Street on the right. Take in the stunning views of Hayeswater below on the
left before enjoying the rocky descent. Climb to the next junction (GR439123) then turn right towards Kidsty Pike and
continue climbing. At the rocky outcrop at the top, just before the main trail starts descending, turn left on the grassy
trail that heads towards a cairn on the ridge. Follow this trail straight on, down a grassy and stepped trail. Continue
straight ahead to climb over High Raise then descend to where a fence coming in from the left joins the start of a
drystone wall. Be careful of the big boggy drops just before this.
8. Go over the style in the fence to follow a concessional track on the left hand
side of the wall. This grassy trail comes to a gate in a fence. Follow the trail in
the direction of the BW marker, straight on from the gate, not the track that
heads left along the fence line. Follow the obvious trail straight on over
Wether hill. After the descent off Wether Hill go past the vague grassy trail on
the right and straight up the trail to the trig point at the summit of Loadpot Hill
(GR457181). Although not the BW marked on the map this was the obvious
trail and I didn't see the BW.
9. At the trig point turn right to descend a fast grassy track to a junction
(GR456186). Turn right and follow the undulating track across the boggy hillside. I was
planning to descend the track down Brown Rigg but didn't see it and ended up on the
undesignated track that went past Arthur's Pike instead. After passing the to the right of
the cairn on the Pike, the track bears right then left for a blast down to a junction with a
planning to descend the track down Brown Rigg but didn't see it and ended up on the
undesignated track that went past Arthur's Pike instead. After passing the to the right of
the cairn on the Pike, the track bears right then left for a blast down to a junction with a
wide dirt track, by a drystone wall ahead and Aik
Beck on the right, with views across the eastern
end of Ullswater (GR472220). Turn left and
follow the wide dirt track for a great, rocky
descent, ignoring any tracks off to the right. The
trail becomes singletrack before coming to some
houses on the left, on the edge of Howtown.
10. Go through the gate on the left just after the
houses (GR445195) and follow the grassy trail a
short way to a stream crossing. Using the ford or
Beck on the right, with views across the eastern
end of Ullswater (GR472220). Turn left and
follow the wide dirt track for a great, rocky
descent, ignoring any tracks off to the right. The
trail becomes singletrack before coming to some
houses on the left, on the edge of Howtown.
10. Go through the gate on the left just after the
houses (GR445195) and follow the grassy trail a
short way to a stream crossing. Using the ford or
the bridge cross the stream. After the stream cross the track and climb the grassy trail
straight ahead that follows the line of the wall on the right. This steep climb soon flattens
becoming a wide hardpack trail. This section of the track ends with up a rocky climb to a
junction, with some grassy tracks climbing steeply away on the right, where the main trail
bears left and descends (GR437191). Of the tracks climbing away on the right take the
left hand one, to climb over the top of the hill before descending past the left hand side of
an old church.
11. At the road turn left and descend to the next junction (GR434191). Turn right,
following the sign to Sandwick. Go straight on over the bridge then follow the lane right.
straight ahead that follows the line of the wall on the right. This steep climb soon flattens
becoming a wide hardpack trail. This section of the track ends with up a rocky climb to a
junction, with some grassy tracks climbing steeply away on the right, where the main trail
bears left and descends (GR437191). Of the tracks climbing away on the right take the
left hand one, to climb over the top of the hill before descending past the left hand side of
an old church.
11. At the road turn left and descend to the next junction (GR434191). Turn right,
following the sign to Sandwick. Go straight on over the bridge then follow the lane right.
The lane then bears left round the hill and comes
to another junction (GR428188). Turn hard right
and ride along the left hand side of the stream.
Just before the road drops into Sandwick take
the grassy and rocky BW sign posted off to the
to another junction (GR428188). Turn hard right
and ride along the left hand side of the stream.
Just before the road drops into Sandwick take
the grassy and rocky BW sign posted off to the
left (GR423195). Almost immediately it comes to a rocky track climbing along
side a drystone wall.
12. Turn left and follow this rocky track for some technical riding along the
edge of Ullswater. It's hard work but great fun if you have the ability, if not it
could just be hard work (the climb out of Boredale may be preferable, see my
side a drystone wall.
12. Turn left and follow this rocky track for some technical riding along the
edge of Ullswater. It's hard work but great fun if you have the ability, if not it
could just be hard work (the climb out of Boredale may be preferable, see my
Ullswater loop). At the end of the technical part bear left on the trail as it follows the edge the lake south. The trail
eventually descends to a farm on the right (GR398162). Turn right through the yard of the farm, which contains a café,
then drop left and right for a wide track that ends at the A592 (GR394160). Turn left and follow the road through
Patterdale to the YHA just after, on the left (GR398156).
Click on Day 2 for the instructions of the return journey. Day 2 also contains the route map and downloadable route
text.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site:
The Garburn Pass
Ullswater Loop
eventually descends to a farm on the right (GR398162). Turn right through the yard of the farm, which contains a café,
then drop left and right for a wide track that ends at the A592 (GR394160). Turn left and follow the road through
Patterdale to the YHA just after, on the left (GR398156).
Click on Day 2 for the instructions of the return journey. Day 2 also contains the route map and downloadable route
text.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site:
The Garburn Pass
Ullswater Loop
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