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Ride Around the Lakes Detailed Route
Day 1 - London to Windermere
Travel to Windermere by train in late afternoon
Day 2 - Windermere – Elterwater (Approx 29 miles on road, 10 off road)
Crossing Lake Windermere by ferry we head to Graythwaite Hall. We cross the Furness Fells until we reach Ickenthwaite where we experience our first off-road cycle until we reach Coniston Water at High Nibthwaite. After Grizedale we continue to Esthwaite Water and the village of Sawry where we visit Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter. Cycling beside Esthwaite Water we reach Hawkshead then Tarn Howes, Little Langdale and Blea Tarn from which there are stunning views of the Langdale Pikes. Entering the Langdale valley right beneath the Pikes, we pass the Old Dungeon Gill Hotel where we will ride through the Great Langdale valley into Chapel Stile and Elterwater for our first night's stay.
Day 3 - Wrynose Pass - Rosthwaite (Approx 41 miles on road, 9 miles off road)
From Wrynose Pass, one of the highest road passes in the Lakes, we descend to the top end of Duddendale. After a second climb up Hardknott Pass, where you will see Roman Fort ruins and wonderful views into the Eskdale Valley, we reach Boot. We then take the narrow gauge steam railway from Dalegarth to Eskdale Green. From here we cycle towards Wastwater, one of the deepest and awe-inspiring lakes with views of Scafell, the highest Lakeland peak. Now commences the highest off-road ride across the Black Sail Pass with peaks up to 1900 feet and a decent into the Ennerdale Valley. A gently descending woodland ride brings us to Ennerdale Water after which we ride by three small lakes Loweswater, Crummock Water and Buttermere. Next we road climb up Honister Pass from where we cycle down to Rosthwaite where we stay for the night.
Day 4 - Rosthwaite – Glenridding (Approx 37 miles on-road/19 off-road)
After a steep climb to Watendlath we reach Ashness Bridge, one of the most celebrated Lakeland viewpoints. From Hawes End we leave the lake for Braithwaite, for the start of the steep road climb to the top of the Whinlatter Pass. We enter the Whinlatter Forest Park and ride through the forest to Thornthwaite where you can visit the Thornthwaite Galleries which exhibit a good range of Lakeland’s arts and crafts. Heading north alongside Bassenthwaite Lake we cycle through several small villages until we reach the village of Bassenthwaite. Two miles west is the start of the packhorse route, Back to Skiddaw, a six mile off-road route following the Cumbria Way. At Keswick we climb to the Castlerigg Stone Circle - 38 hunks of Borrowdale volcanic stone. After this we ride to Thirlmere, one of two of the Lakes providing fresh water to Manchester. Striking north again, we reach the start of another Old Coach Road across some wild but more moorland like terrain, part of the Cumbrian Cycle Way. After 5 miles we reach the village of Dockray where we can also divert by foot to Aira and High Force – two of the prettiest and most romantic of Lakeland's waterfalls. Next we reach the shores of Ullswater, the lake which inspired Wordsworth to write 'Daffodils' which we cycle along to get to our night&'s stop at Glenridding.
Day 5 - Glenridding - Windermere (Approx 34 miles on-road/13 miles off-road)
After a cruise along the length of Ullswater we cycle from Pooley Bridge to the Haweswater Reservoir. At the head of the reservoir we make a steep climb up the Gatesgarth Pass. Another off-road short climb and decent to Kentmere leads us to a final dramatic decent to Troutbeck with views of Windermere. After this we reach Jenkins Crag, a rocky outcrop high above Windermere. After cycling through Ambleside we reach Rydal Water and after passing through the village of same name, will have the opportunity to visit Wordsworth's home at Dove Cottage. We then circumnavigate Lake Grasmere, entering the village where after a road climb and a short detour off-road to Loughrigg Terrace we see some unparalleled views of Grasmere and the fells behind. Finally we descend to Loughrigg Tarn and eventually reach the main road which follows the banks of Windermere where lovely views of the Langdale Pikes will leave you with some vivid memories of the Ride.
Return to London by train from Windermere.
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