This mountain bike route contains 21.5miles of riding half of
which is over some very severe terrain. The section from
Kentmere to Haweswater and back contains lots of technical
riding on loose boulders and bedrock. There are a couple of
very steep climbs and from Haweswater to the top of the Nan
Bield Pass it involves a difficult hike-a-bike. If that is your
kind of thing read on.
1. From the centre of Staveley (GR470984), the home of
Wheelbase, head west towards the A591 in the direction of
Windemere. At the junction with the main road turn right and
follow the cycle track on the right hand side of the road. Go
past a driveway on the right to a junction with lane
(GR451987). Turn right and climb the steep lane between
the drystone walls. Go straight on at the next junction and
continue climbing to a farm. At the farm follow the tarmac
90deg left, then right. At the following junction turn right to
the next farm.
2. On reaching the farm turn left along the rocky double
track that gently climbs between the drystone walls. Continue
along this track, past the junction with a lane on the right, to
where it finishes at a T-junction. Turn right and climb the
rocky double track to the gated junction (GR440009). Go
through the gate on the right and follow the track along the
line of the wall on the left. This track bears left and climbs
through a couple of gates then bears right and comes to a
gate directly after a stream crossing (GR443027). Go
straight on through the gate and up a short climb, then along
which is over some very severe terrain. The section from
Kentmere to Haweswater and back contains lots of technical
riding on loose boulders and bedrock. There are a couple of
very steep climbs and from Haweswater to the top of the Nan
Bield Pass it involves a difficult hike-a-bike. If that is your
kind of thing read on.
1. From the centre of Staveley (GR470984), the home of
Wheelbase, head west towards the A591 in the direction of
Windemere. At the junction with the main road turn right and
follow the cycle track on the right hand side of the road. Go
past a driveway on the right to a junction with lane
(GR451987). Turn right and climb the steep lane between
the drystone walls. Go straight on at the next junction and
continue climbing to a farm. At the farm follow the tarmac
90deg left, then right. At the following junction turn right to
the next farm.
2. On reaching the farm turn left along the rocky double
track that gently climbs between the drystone walls. Continue
along this track, past the junction with a lane on the right, to
where it finishes at a T-junction. Turn right and climb the
rocky double track to the gated junction (GR440009). Go
through the gate on the right and follow the track along the
line of the wall on the left. This track bears left and climbs
through a couple of gates then bears right and comes to a
gate directly after a stream crossing (GR443027). Go
straight on through the gate and up a short climb, then along
the undulating track following the drystone wall on the right. The track eventually turns left for a fast, loose, rocky
descent to Kentmere.
descent to Kentmere.
3. At the bottom turn right to ride past
Kentmere Hall (GR451042) and along
the track that leads across the valley
towards the church. Go up a short
climb to the junction by the church
then go straight on and descend on
the lane. Over the bridge turn left at
the next junction and climb the thin
lane. Turn left at the junction at the
top of the lane (GR461042). Climb
the lane, past the track on the track on
Kentmere Hall (GR451042) and along
the track that leads across the valley
towards the church. Go up a short
climb to the junction by the church
then go straight on and descend on
the lane. Over the bridge turn left at
the next junction and climb the thin
lane. Turn left at the junction at the
top of the lane (GR461042). Climb
the lane, past the track on the track on
the left, until it comes to a gate at the crest. Through the gate descend to a Byway signed to Sadgill off to the right, on
a left hand bend just after a private track on the right (GR465050).
a left hand bend just after a private track on the right (GR465050).
4. Turn right and climb the loose, rocky track
through a few gates and past a farm, to a gate
at the top in the saddle between the peaks.
After the gate the trail bears slightly left and
descends steeply over big, loose rocks and
pointy bedrock. Following a couple of loose
switchbacks go straight on through the gate at
the junction to continue down the Byway. The
track stays loose and rocky all the way the
buildings in Sadgill at the bottom (GR482057).
5. After the buildings go over the bridge then turn left and climb the wide rocky track
between the drystone walls up the right hand side of the valley. The climb begins as a
gradual incline but kicks up at the end as it claws its way out of the head of the valley.
As the incline increases the track becomes littered with loose rocks and gravel.
Eventually the track comes to some steep bends, paved with uneven boulders.
These give a lot better traction but makes it feel like riding with square wheels,
it is still possible to ride all the way to the gate at the top though. After the gate
follow the track left along the little plateau, past a signed and vague BW on the
right, to the gate at the bottom of a steep winding track (GR478084). The gate
at the bottom of this track is locked and has details of a TRO on it that affects
motor vehicles and horses. This does not affect bike access so after
negotiating the style on the left of the gate follow the track to the top of
Gatescarth Pass. This last part of the ascent is mainly a push.
Eventually the track comes to some steep bends, paved with uneven boulders.
These give a lot better traction but makes it feel like riding with square wheels,
it is still possible to ride all the way to the gate at the top though. After the gate
follow the track left along the little plateau, past a signed and vague BW on the
right, to the gate at the bottom of a steep winding track (GR478084). The gate
at the bottom of this track is locked and has details of a TRO on it that affects
motor vehicles and horses. This does not affect bike access so after
negotiating the style on the left of the gate follow the track to the top of
Gatescarth Pass. This last part of the ascent is mainly a push.
6. At the junction at the top (GR474092), after a
gate, enjoy the fact that the steep track off to the
left is a footpath then go straight on for a very
rocky and loose descent to Haweswater. This
trail contains a couple of tight, steep and loose
switchback sections connected by fast, rocky
hardpack and gives a great workout to a number
of riding skills, as well as your forearms.
7. At the junction in the trail, just before reaching
the car park on the edge of Haweswater,
gate, enjoy the fact that the steep track off to the
left is a footpath then go straight on for a very
rocky and loose descent to Haweswater. This
trail contains a couple of tight, steep and loose
switchback sections connected by fast, rocky
hardpack and gives a great workout to a number
of riding skills, as well as your forearms.
7. At the junction in the trail, just before reaching
the car park on the edge of Haweswater,
the long hike-a-bike section of the ride. Although the trail starts out rideable the boulder
sections just get bigger and steeper. Climb and push up the track to the left of the
waterfall to Small Water halfway up. On the edge of the lake follow the trail right, over the
stream, for a technical but rideable section anticlockwise along the edge of the water.
This is a short respite from the hike-a-bike and all too soon it is time to shoulder the bike
for a scramble up the boulder strewn slope. Although it is a slog the top does get visibly
closer every time you look up. Near the top, after negotiating a tricky slab, the trail heads
off left for a final push to the top. A stone shelter soon comes into view on the ridge, in a
saddle between the peaks, a good place to stop and regain some energy for the descent
(GR452096).
sections just get bigger and steeper. Climb and push up the track to the left of the
waterfall to Small Water halfway up. On the edge of the lake follow the trail right, over the
stream, for a technical but rideable section anticlockwise along the edge of the water.
This is a short respite from the hike-a-bike and all too soon it is time to shoulder the bike
for a scramble up the boulder strewn slope. Although it is a slog the top does get visibly
closer every time you look up. Near the top, after negotiating a tricky slab, the trail heads
off left for a final push to the top. A stone shelter soon comes into view on the ridge, in a
saddle between the peaks, a good place to stop and regain some energy for the descent
(GR452096).
8. Go straight over the footpath that traverses the ridge
and descend the track that can be seen snaking off into
the valley, a great sight after all that climbing. The
descent starts with some steep and very loose
switchbacks. This leads on to a great section of boulder
covered singletrack that traverses the side of the fell
above Kentmere reservoir. Eventually the trail kicks up
and bears slightly left to a change in terrain as it starts
descending again on a fast grassy trail. This is a little
vague in places but there is only one trail to follow and I
never lost sight of it once. Care has to be taken though
as the grass gives rise to higher speeds but the trail still
contains technical sections in the form of boulders and
eroded earth. This can lead to some interesting entry
speeds to these sections. All this fun finally ends at a
gate that leads on to a stream crossing, either by a rocky ford or a stone
bridge. Once over the stream follow the trail off to the right and descend on
rocky double track. Go through a few gates and follow the trail in the direction
of the BW markers, keeping high of the track that can eventually be seen lower
down on the right. The trail becomes vague near the end as it passes through
a couple of fields. Keep going straight on through the bottom of the fields till
the trail comes out at a junction with a lane by Overend farm (GR464058).
9. Turn left then go straight on through the gate, marked as a BW, to the right
of the lane that climbs off to the left. Follow the track into the trees and
through a couple of gates to a junction with a rocky double track trail. Turn
bridge. Once over the stream follow the trail off to the right and descend on
rocky double track. Go through a few gates and follow the trail in the direction
of the BW markers, keeping high of the track that can eventually be seen lower
down on the right. The trail becomes vague near the end as it passes through
a couple of fields. Keep going straight on through the bottom of the fields till
the trail comes out at a junction with a lane by Overend farm (GR464058).
9. Turn left then go straight on through the gate, marked as a BW, to the right
of the lane that climbs off to the left. Follow the track into the trees and
through a couple of gates to a junction with a rocky double track trail. Turn
right at the junction then follow the main trail as it bears left and carries straight
on down the valley along the line of the drystone wall on the right. Ignore
anything off to the left and right and continue along this track until it comes to
an end at a junction with a lane (GR461044). Turn right on this previously
ridden lane and descend to the next junction, on the edge of Kentmere.
on down the valley along the line of the drystone wall on the right. Ignore
anything off to the left and right and continue along this track until it comes to
an end at a junction with a lane (GR461044). Turn right on this previously
ridden lane and descend to the next junction, on the edge of Kentmere.
10. Go straight on at the junction and through a left /
right bend to descend to the next junction (GR458036).
Turn left and follow the lane along the bottom of the
valley. Pass Millriggs farm on the left and then ride
through the trees. Go past the first junction on the right,
right bend to descend to the next junction (GR458036).
Turn left and follow the lane along the bottom of the
valley. Pass Millriggs farm on the left and then ride
through the trees. Go past the first junction on the right,
(GR468107) turn hard left and start climbing towards the
waterfall. Don’t descend the other track on the left that
follows the line of trees to the other side of the valley. This
is the start of the climb to the top of the Nan Bield Pass and
waterfall. Don’t descend the other track on the left that
follows the line of trees to the other side of the valley. This
is the start of the climb to the top of the Nan Bield Pass and
with the buildings in view at the end, then past the BW marker post on
the left. At the next junction on the right (GR456012), marked as a BW,
turn right and cross the bridge. Directly after the bridge turn left on the
wide rocky trail through a gate. The trail bears right and goes through a
farm for a final, short, rocky climb to a lane (GR454007). Turn left on the
lane and ride to the next junction. Go straight on past the bridge and
continue along the lane, keeping the stream on the left, back to Staveley.
the left. At the next junction on the right (GR456012), marked as a BW,
turn right and cross the bridge. Directly after the bridge turn left on the
wide rocky trail through a gate. The trail bears right and goes through a
farm for a final, short, rocky climb to a lane (GR454007). Turn left on the
lane and ride to the next junction. Go straight on past the bridge and
continue along the lane, keeping the stream on the left, back to Staveley.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Garburn Pass
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
