flattyres flat tyres mtb mountain bike
routes route the lake district national
park loughrigg fell
routes route the lake district national
park loughrigg fell
This mountain bike route of 20miles starts from
Waterhead, just south of Ambleside. It circles
Loughrigg Fell and also takes in Black Fell and
Little Langdale. The riding is rocky so the route
is pretty weather proof. The climbing is a lot less
arduous than most of the Lakes routes as the
height of the Fells in this area is not too great.
That doesn't mean the descents aren't any
good, there are some real rocky classics on this
route.
1. Start from the Waterhead car park by the
Regent Hotel (GR367033). Turn right out of the
car park and head towards Ambleside. Follow
the main road through a long right hand bend
then turn left at the junction signed for Coniston
and the A593 (GR373038). After bearing right
turn left at the next junction, again signed to
Coniston. Cross the stone bridge then turn
immediately right down a small lane at the
following junction. Follow the lane beside the
stream. Just after passing a stone bridge on the
right go around the left hand bend ahead and
over a cattle grid to a junction with the next lane
on the left (GR370045).
2. Turn left at the junction and cross another
cattle grid to climb a steep thin lane. Follow the
lane through a tight left then right hand bend at
Waterhead, just south of Ambleside. It circles
Loughrigg Fell and also takes in Black Fell and
Little Langdale. The riding is rocky so the route
is pretty weather proof. The climbing is a lot less
arduous than most of the Lakes routes as the
height of the Fells in this area is not too great.
That doesn't mean the descents aren't any
good, there are some real rocky classics on this
route.
1. Start from the Waterhead car park by the
Regent Hotel (GR367033). Turn right out of the
car park and head towards Ambleside. Follow
the main road through a long right hand bend
then turn left at the junction signed for Coniston
and the A593 (GR373038). After bearing right
turn left at the next junction, again signed to
Coniston. Cross the stone bridge then turn
immediately right down a small lane at the
following junction. Follow the lane beside the
stream. Just after passing a stone bridge on the
right go around the left hand bend ahead and
over a cattle grid to a junction with the next lane
on the left (GR370045).
2. Turn left at the junction and cross another
cattle grid to climb a steep thin lane. Follow the
lane through a tight left then right hand bend at
the Brow Head Farm. Continue climbing on the now broken trail. The trail becomes rockier the higher it climbs. Stay
on the wide rocky trail and climb through a few gates to the top. Continue straight on over the plateau heading towards
the left hand edge of Loughrigg Fell, it can be slightly muddy here. The trail becomes rocky again and descends
through a couple of bends to a stream crossing (GR356043). At the junction after the stream take the track off to the
on the wide rocky trail and climb through a few gates to the top. Continue straight on over the plateau heading towards
the left hand edge of Loughrigg Fell, it can be slightly muddy here. The trail becomes rocky again and descends
through a couple of bends to a stream crossing (GR356043). At the junction after the stream take the track off to the
left. Once up the short climb continue down the
rutted trail towards the flank of Loughrigg Fell.
After a sharp left hander, cross a water bar then
descend on the rocky track. It soon follows the
line of a drystone wall on the left. Follow the line
of the wall to bear right around the Fell. At the
fork on this bend take the left hand track,
keeping the wall on the left. Go through the
gate at the trees for the final steep section of the
trail and a junction at the bottom (GR347041).
rutted trail towards the flank of Loughrigg Fell.
After a sharp left hander, cross a water bar then
descend on the rocky track. It soon follows the
line of a drystone wall on the left. Follow the line
of the wall to bear right around the Fell. At the
fork on this bend take the left hand track,
keeping the wall on the left. Go through the
gate at the trees for the final steep section of the
trail and a junction at the bottom (GR347041).
3. At the junction go straight on and along the lane and
bear right around the cottages on the right. After the
cottages the turn left and descend to a triangular junction.
Turn right and ride a short way to the next junction. Turn
bear right around the cottages on the right. After the
cottages the turn left and descend to a triangular junction.
Turn right and ride a short way to the next junction. Turn
left and descend the steep lane down to the junction with the main road at Skelwith
Bridge (GR344035). Go across the bridge on the main road. At the junction after the
bridge, where the main road turns right, go straight on up the lane. Follow the lane
through a left hand bend and climb to a junction (GR345031). Take the left signed to
Skelwith Fold and climb to the village. At the junction at the top of the climb turn right.
Stay on this lane and follow it to a crossroad junction at the Drunken Duck (GR351012).
Bridge (GR344035). Go across the bridge on the main road. At the junction after the
bridge, where the main road turns right, go straight on up the lane. Follow the lane
through a left hand bend and climb to a junction (GR345031). Take the left signed to
Skelwith Fold and climb to the village. At the junction at the top of the climb turn right.
Stay on this lane and follow it to a crossroad junction at the Drunken Duck (GR351012).
Turn right and follow the lane to Knipe
Fold. At the village stay high of the first
houses and go past the two junctions on
the left. At the four-way junction just at
the far side of the houses (GR342995)
turn hard right to climb the byway.
Fold. At the village stay high of the first
houses and go past the two junctions on
the left. At the four-way junction just at
the far side of the houses (GR342995)
turn hard right to climb the byway.
4. As the track leaves the houses it becomes broken then turns into hardpack. On the plateau take the second gated
junction on the right, sign posted to Black Crag and Arnside (GR336005). Climb the rocky track up the left flank of Iron
Keld. After a left hand bend go straight on through the gate at the top for a great descent of about 1.5miles. Follow
the trail as it flows down the fell and over some nice rock sections. About halfway down, by a house on the left, the trail
goes through a gap in the drystone wall and comes to a junction. Take the middle trail straight on for a short climb then
continue down the rest of the descent. Keep to the obvious trail that eventually finishes at a gate at the A593
(GR335029).
junction on the right, sign posted to Black Crag and Arnside (GR336005). Climb the rocky track up the left flank of Iron
Keld. After a left hand bend go straight on through the gate at the top for a great descent of about 1.5miles. Follow
the trail as it flows down the fell and over some nice rock sections. About halfway down, by a house on the left, the trail
goes through a gap in the drystone wall and comes to a junction. Take the middle trail straight on for a short climb then
continue down the rest of the descent. Keep to the obvious trail that eventually finishes at a gate at the A593
(GR335029).
5. Turn left and climb the road. Go past the junction on
the right leading to Colwith and stay on the main road to
continue the climb with the woods now on the right. At the
top of the woods, where the road flattens off just after a
blind left hand bend, there is a wide junction with a lane on
the right (GR329022). Turn right onto this lane then,
almost immediately, go straight on at the four-way junction.
Climb this steep lane to the next junction (GR326019).
Turn right and follow the lane through a couple of bends
and past a stone barn on the right. At the end of the lane
go between the farm buildings and through a gate to leave
the tarmac behind. Climb the wide hardpack trail through
a number of bends and over some interesting rock
features. After the climb drop down the loose rocky
descent to a gate at the old quarry. Go straight on down
the right leading to Colwith and stay on the main road to
continue the climb with the woods now on the right. At the
top of the woods, where the road flattens off just after a
blind left hand bend, there is a wide junction with a lane on
the right (GR329022). Turn right onto this lane then,
almost immediately, go straight on at the four-way junction.
Climb this steep lane to the next junction (GR326019).
Turn right and follow the lane through a couple of bends
and past a stone barn on the right. At the end of the lane
go between the farm buildings and through a gate to leave
the tarmac behind. Climb the wide hardpack trail through
a number of bends and over some interesting rock
features. After the climb drop down the loose rocky
descent to a gate at the old quarry. Go straight on down
loose rocks to a junction with a lane at the
houses (GR317019).
6. Turn left then bear right between the houses.
On the following left hand bend drop down the
gravely track to a gate on the right. After the
gate descend the wide rocky track through a
couple of bends to a three-way junction
(GR315018). Take the middle, rock strewn track
descending into a deep gully. The rocks soon
give way to some nice hardpack before climbing
houses (GR317019).
6. Turn left then bear right between the houses.
On the following left hand bend drop down the
gravely track to a gate on the right. After the
gate descend the wide rocky track through a
couple of bends to a three-way junction
(GR315018). Take the middle, rock strewn track
descending into a deep gully. The rocks soon
give way to some nice hardpack before climbing
to a junction (GR313020). Turn left and climb on the right hand side of Pierce How
Beck. Keep going straight on up the climb to the crest then drop right to a gate at a farm
(GR308014).
Beck. Keep going straight on up the climb to the crest then drop right to a gate at a farm
(GR308014).
right on the limits of what I can climb, I
didn’t clean them but I believe they
are doable. Even if you have to push
they don’t make up much of the
overall climb. After the second big
rock section the trail comes to the top
of the climb. Descend the wide loose,
rocky trail. Follow the trail left as it
drops over a large section of bedrock
then comes to a gate. After the gate
and continue the loose descent to
didn’t clean them but I believe they
are doable. Even if you have to push
they don’t make up much of the
overall climb. After the second big
rock section the trail comes to the top
of the climb. Descend the wide loose,
rocky trail. Follow the trail left as it
drops over a large section of bedrock
then comes to a gate. After the gate
and continue the loose descent to
come out at a junction (GR307027). Turn left, then a little later, take the right hand trail at the next junction to continue
descening. At the bottom of the descent follow the trail right around the white house then over two small bridges to a
junction with a lane (GR300032).
8. Turn right and follow the lane along the left hand side of the valley. At the end of Little Langdale Tarn, on the right,
the lane kicks up and climbs through a number of bends. At the junction on the crest of the climb turn left (GR314034).
Follow the lane up past a farm and on to a gate. Go through the gate and keep to the hardpack trail. The trail
eventually comes to a gate just after the start of a descent. After the gate go straight on, past the track on the left,
down the loose rocks. At the end of the rocks follow the tarmac straight on to the junction at the bottom (GR327045).
Turn left and ride past the YHA then go over the river to the junction in the centre of Elterwater. Where the lane turns
descening. At the bottom of the descent follow the trail right around the white house then over two small bridges to a
junction with a lane (GR300032).
8. Turn right and follow the lane along the left hand side of the valley. At the end of Little Langdale Tarn, on the right,
the lane kicks up and climbs through a number of bends. At the junction on the crest of the climb turn left (GR314034).
Follow the lane up past a farm and on to a gate. Go through the gate and keep to the hardpack trail. The trail
eventually comes to a gate just after the start of a descent. After the gate go straight on, past the track on the left,
down the loose rocks. At the end of the rocks follow the tarmac straight on to the junction at the bottom (GR327045).
Turn left and ride past the YHA then go over the river to the junction in the centre of Elterwater. Where the lane turns
off to the right ride straight on between the pub and the shop to the junction at the other
end (GR329050).
9. Go straight across the main road and follow the lane through a left then right hand
bend. After climbing the steep lane to the next junction turn right and continue climbing
the tarmac. For a little bit more off-road there is a short but increasingly difficult track
that cuts the corner of a long right hand bend near the top. At the top ride past the High
Close YHA then descend to a junction with a lane and footpath (GR340054). Turn left
end (GR329050).
9. Go straight across the main road and follow the lane through a left then right hand
bend. After climbing the steep lane to the next junction turn right and continue climbing
the tarmac. For a little bit more off-road there is a short but increasingly difficult track
that cuts the corner of a long right hand bend near the top. At the top ride past the High
Close YHA then descend to a junction with a lane and footpath (GR340054). Turn left
and descend the lane for a short distance. On
the following left hand bend take the thin, steep
and rocky track off to the right, just before the
fence.
10. Drop down this track then bear right to a
gate. After the gate ride over the rocks and turn
the following left hand bend take the thin, steep
and rocky track off to the right, just before the
fence.
10. Drop down this track then bear right to a
gate. After the gate ride over the rocks and turn
left over the little bridge. Taking care of the many walkers enjoy the fast blast
down the side of Loughrigg Fell. At the next junction (GR348060) turn right
and follow the track downthrough a couple of tight rocky turns. The trail then
flattens off and runs along the edge of Rydal Water. The trail eventually comes
to a boulder, right on the waters edge. It is possible to ride onto the rock but
the far side requires a short scramble. Once off the rock continue along the
trail to a junction (GR359060). Take the right hand track and climb straight up
over the exposed rock, bearing right to a gate.
11. Go straight on through the gate and descend past the car park to a
junction at the end of the lane (GR366059). Turn right and follow the lane for
around two miles to the previously visited junction with the A593 on the edge of
Ambleside (GR371039). Go straight on, over the stone bridge, then follow the
one-way system to the left. Follow the right hand lane to turn right at the next
junction. After turning right follow the main road all the way back to the
Waterhead car park.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
The Garburn Pass
down the side of Loughrigg Fell. At the next junction (GR348060) turn right
and follow the track downthrough a couple of tight rocky turns. The trail then
flattens off and runs along the edge of Rydal Water. The trail eventually comes
to a boulder, right on the waters edge. It is possible to ride onto the rock but
the far side requires a short scramble. Once off the rock continue along the
trail to a junction (GR359060). Take the right hand track and climb straight up
over the exposed rock, bearing right to a gate.
11. Go straight on through the gate and descend past the car park to a
junction at the end of the lane (GR366059). Turn right and follow the lane for
around two miles to the previously visited junction with the A593 on the edge of
Ambleside (GR371039). Go straight on, over the stone bridge, then follow the
one-way system to the left. Follow the right hand lane to turn right at the next
junction. After turning right follow the main road all the way back to the
Waterhead car park.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
The Garburn Pass
7. On entering the farmyard immediately turn hard right to go through a gate leading to a steep climb up a short rock
section. The climb flattens of a bit and is generally rideable but there are a couple of very difficult sections. They are
section. The climb flattens of a bit and is generally rideable but there are a couple of very difficult sections. They are
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