Lakeland Mountain Biking

Discover England's Lake District

The landscape of the English Lake District is so varied that each day has its own unique character. You will be riding on rough tracks, stony singletrack, rocky bridleways and a range of other trails that make for really enjoyable mountain biking. Our guides are local experts and know these routes inside out so they can not only give you tips on how to ride them, they can also suggest alternatives for tired riders or those wanting extra challenges.

Our Lakeland tour is a giant loop around The Lake District, riding point-to-point over five days. Each day we cross ridges, race through valleys and over high mountain passes as our bags get transferred from guesthouse to guesthouse for us.

ITINERARY:

(subject to change without prior notice)

Day 1: Arrival

The starting point of the tour is Penrith, in the north-eastern corner of The
Lake District. Penrith can easily be reached by road (M6 jn 40), rail (Virgin West Coast main line) and air (Manchester Airport, then a train direct from the airport). Arrive at any time of the day to get settled in to our lovely guesthouse, get your bike and gear sorted out, and maybe even make a warm-up tour through the Eden Valley. In the evening your guide will arrive to give you a briefing on the trip ahead, and to start his guiding duties by leading you to the best pub for dinner.

Day 2 - Penrith to Ambleside

Leaving our guesthouse, we take some little-known trails to get to Barton Fell, overlooking Ullswater, the second largest (and many say most beautiful) lake in the National Park. Your first great descent, a mix of rocks, grass, gravel and some skinny singletrack too, will give you an idea of the terrain and scenery that's in store for you. Our destination for today is Ambleside. The route can vary depending on the group and the weather but our goal is to include classics like High Street, Boredale and Jenkins Crag to make for a really exhilarating first day on the bikes. Tonight, we stay at our favourite Ambleside guesthouse. The owner is a keen biker and has a great workshop setup; his wife bakes a delicious cake, so we will have something tasty with our tea when we arrive. Then there is time for a shower before we walk into town to get some good, well earned pub food.

Day 3 - Ambleside to Seathwaite ( in the Duddon Valley )

Today will be quite a challenging day, with loads of singletrack and rocky doubletrack. Even though we don't go high, we find some classic Lakeland scenery - from the outstanding first climb above Grasmere to our last trail across the Dunnerdale Fells, with panoramic views of lakes, sea and mountains. The final descent is just as breathtaking, as we blast down into one of the most remote valleys in the south-western Lake District, the Duddon Valley. Overnight at a great guesthouse in Seathwaite that is, of course, next door to the pub.

Day 4 - Seathwaite to Ennerdale Bridge

The panorama you are going to enjoy, looking across at Illgill Head and up towards the mighty Sca Fell, will stay in your mind. Behind this point, encounters with other bikers or walkers become very rare. The riding today is mostly on wider tracks, with some steep singletrack, walking sections, quiet backroads and great valley trails to blast along too, including plenty of water crossings. Finish it all off at a great little country hotel which provides the touch of comfort that you deserve after a big day out.

Day 5 - Ennerdale Bridge to Borrowdale Valley

Today, we skirt northwards past Ennerdale Water to Crummock Water, Buttermere and finally Derwent Water. From lake to lake you will see a different landscape, from craggy peaks above sheer walls of rock, to severe scree slopes, rolling fells or the knotted landscape. The first pass we cross is another seldom used route, offering one of the best views down into the Buttermere Valley and across to the giant summits of Grasmoor, Wandope and Robinson beyond. The riding is all off-road. After a good lunch, we enjoy some great lakeside singletrack, then tackle the 2 mile road climb over Honister Pass. Finally, we will descend along and down a spectacular gravel and rocky trail into the heart of the Borrowdale Valley.

Day 6 - Borrowdale Valley to Penrith

This final leg of the ride takes us past the Derwent shoreline and then climbs between Skiddaw and Blencathra, the dominant peaks in the northern Lake District. The skyline is dominated by a row of peaks that leads up to Helvellyn. As we emerge from the mountains for the last time and blaze down into the little village of Mosedale, the end of five incredible biking days is almost in sight. Once we reach our  guesthouse in Penrith you will get a superb afternoon tea, time to relax, then a great meal out to celebrate the achievement.

Day 7 - Departure

After a comfy night in the guesthouse you are free to have a leisurely breakfast and enjoy your Saturday as you please. There are unguided ride options for the superkeen, a local spa for massages or you can just head home.