This has been a route I had been looking at doing for a while.
The time came when me and Paul had a weekday free and
the weather was going to be kind to us, so we packed the car
and set off for the Lakes to ride around Skiddaw followed by
the climb to the top. On arrival at Keswick we found a
reasonably priced long stay car park conveniently sited just
out the back of 'Keswick Mountain Bikes'.
1. Starting from the car park behind the bike shop
(GR267236) ride to the main road and turn right. Follow the
road left/right then go straight across the roundabout. Turn
right at the next junction signposted as '(A591)'. Follow the
road straight on at the next junction, past the garage on the
right, to the large roundabout. Go straight across, taking the
second exit onto the A591. Follow this road for roughly
4miles then, just after the woods on a left hand bend, take
the lane climbing away to the right, by some houses,
signposted 'Orthwaite 3' (GR234306).
2. Continue along this road for about 2miles, going straight
on at the junction in the dip. After a right hand bend followed
by a sharp left hander take the BW on the right, signposted
'to Skiddaw House and Whitewater Dash falls' (GR249323).
Once through the gate follow the tarmac to a junction with a
The time came when me and Paul had a weekday free and
the weather was going to be kind to us, so we packed the car
and set off for the Lakes to ride around Skiddaw followed by
the climb to the top. On arrival at Keswick we found a
reasonably priced long stay car park conveniently sited just
out the back of 'Keswick Mountain Bikes'.
1. Starting from the car park behind the bike shop
(GR267236) ride to the main road and turn right. Follow the
road left/right then go straight across the roundabout. Turn
right at the next junction signposted as '(A591)'. Follow the
road straight on at the next junction, past the garage on the
right, to the large roundabout. Go straight across, taking the
second exit onto the A591. Follow this road for roughly
4miles then, just after the woods on a left hand bend, take
the lane climbing away to the right, by some houses,
signposted 'Orthwaite 3' (GR234306).
2. Continue along this road for about 2miles, going straight
on at the junction in the dip. After a right hand bend followed
by a sharp left hander take the BW on the right, signposted
'to Skiddaw House and Whitewater Dash falls' (GR249323).
Once through the gate follow the tarmac to a junction with a
flattyres flat tyres mtb mountain bike
route routes lake district keswick skiddaw
route routes lake district keswick skiddaw
4. After the gate climb through the left/right hairpins and
up the final part of the climb. Continue along the double
track and descend to the water splash. Please remember
the wise man say "He who tries to ride deep water
crossing for first time, at speed, will fly over bars and get
very wet". Doh! Not being wise I'm just glad it was warm
and not raining, and just to rub it in, after picking myself
out of the steam soaked from head to foot, I did notice
there was a bridge to the left of the crossing. Climb on
the double track to Skiddaw House (GR287291).
5. Take the track round the front of the house, not off to
the left. Descend on a rocky track, over a bridge, to a
gate. After the gate follow the track off to the right and
slightly uphill, at this point it's a bit muddy in places. Very
soon the trail starts to descend on some sweet
singletrack. Straight ahead two trails can be
seen on either side of the valley, keep to the
one clinging to the right hand side so at the
junction go straight on.
6. The next section of track along Lonscale Fell
is fantastic with some great rock sections. I'm
not sure what the rocks would be like in the wet
but in the dry they didn't offer much grip due to
the polishing effect of many feet. Me and Paul
only came off once each but cleaned it at the
singletrack. Straight ahead two trails can be
seen on either side of the valley, keep to the
one clinging to the right hand side so at the
junction go straight on.
6. The next section of track along Lonscale Fell
is fantastic with some great rock sections. I'm
not sure what the rocks would be like in the wet
but in the dry they didn't offer much grip due to
the polishing effect of many feet. Me and Paul
only came off once each but cleaned it at the
second attempt. I did land just on the edge of the long
drop to the left though, so be careful as it's a long way
down. After the rocks follow the singletrack around
drop to the left though, so be careful as it's a long way
down. After the rocks follow the singletrack around
the hill to the right to a stream crossing, very
shallow this time, at a sharp left hander followed
by a short climb to a gate (GR283256).
7. Turn right before the gate and follow the
track that can be seen winding its way up the
flanks of Skiddaw. The start is very steep and
is a push for a while but this only lasts for about
as far as can initially be seen, it then flattens
out and becomes ridable. At roughly halfway
go straight on, where another track climbs
steeply away to the left, through the gate in the
shallow this time, at a sharp left hander followed
by a short climb to a gate (GR283256).
7. Turn right before the gate and follow the
track that can be seen winding its way up the
flanks of Skiddaw. The start is very steep and
is a push for a while but this only lasts for about
as far as can initially be seen, it then flattens
out and becomes ridable. At roughly halfway
go straight on, where another track climbs
steeply away to the left, through the gate in the
fence, signposted to the summit. Follow
this track to the top (GR260291). There
is another very steep section, with a
gate in the middle, but it is ridable as I
made it up - just - and my legs felt it for
a while after.
8. Once the usual summit photos have
been taken turn round and ride back
down the same way as coming up. At
the bottom turn right through the gate,
this track to the top (GR260291). There
is another very steep section, with a
gate in the middle, but it is ridable as I
made it up - just - and my legs felt it for
a while after.
8. Once the usual summit photos have
been taken turn round and ride back
down the same way as coming up. At
the bottom turn right through the gate,
then through a couple more, to turn right into a car park. At the far end of the car
park turn left through the BW signposted to Keswick (GR280254).
9. This descent twists its way down to a fork where either the left or right track can
park turn left through the BW signposted to Keswick (GR280254).
9. This descent twists its way down to a fork where either the left or right track can
be taken, the right hand one being the most direct. At the bottom go over the bridge then at the junction turn right
(GR268241). Ride to the end of this road and turn left then at the end of the next road turn left again. Ride back into
the centre of Keswick, going straight over the roundabout, and back to the car park.
Technically it is this ride is not too difficult a ride except for the rocks on Lonscale Fell, which would be a short push for
those not wishing too tackle it. This mountain bike route is definitely not for the faint hearted though as packed into
22miles is just over 4400ft of climbing. To help those sore muscles recover there are a number of pubs and cafes in
the area around the car park out the front of the bike shop. I visited the Lakeland Peddler and enjoyed a top quality
chili ciabatta and cappuchino, although I might try another establishment next time to satisfy my need to consume
something meaty as it is vegetarian only.
To find out what the mountain/weather looks like follow this link for the George Fisher Keswick webcam .
(GR268241). Ride to the end of this road and turn left then at the end of the next road turn left again. Ride back into
the centre of Keswick, going straight over the roundabout, and back to the car park.
Technically it is this ride is not too difficult a ride except for the rocks on Lonscale Fell, which would be a short push for
those not wishing too tackle it. This mountain bike route is definitely not for the faint hearted though as packed into
22miles is just over 4400ft of climbing. To help those sore muscles recover there are a number of pubs and cafes in
the area around the car park out the front of the bike shop. I visited the Lakeland Peddler and enjoyed a top quality
chili ciabatta and cappuchino, although I might try another establishment next time to satisfy my need to consume
something meaty as it is vegetarian only.
To find out what the mountain/weather looks like follow this link for the George Fisher Keswick webcam .
dirt track where the tarmac starts
crossing to the other side of the valley
(GR262320).
3. Take the dirt track off to the right,
which is again signposted as the BW to
Skiddaw House and Whitewater Dash
falls. Follow the track as it winds its way
up the right hand side of the valley,
getting progressively steeper towards
the gate near the top (GR272313).
crossing to the other side of the valley
(GR262320).
3. Take the dirt track off to the right,
which is again signposted as the BW to
Skiddaw House and Whitewater Dash
falls. Follow the track as it winds its way
up the right hand side of the valley,
getting progressively steeper towards
the gate near the top (GR272313).
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