Mountain Bike routes
Until 2022 I have not logged my mountain biking routes here but will start to do so
02/09/2022: Askham Fell - Howtown - Pooley Bridge - Askham
Distance: 32km; Ascent: 300m; Time 3h An extension of the Askam Fell loop. The descent from Askham Fell to Howtown is great (and would be very difficult in the opposite direction). I have done this route once before - it is strenuous but fun and offers great views of Ullswater. A variation I hope to do one day is to catch the Ullswater steamer from Howtown to Glenridding and cycle the west side of Ullswater. |
March 2023: Lowther, Eamont Bridge, Great Strickland, Little Strickland, Oddendale, cross M6 and A6, then united utilities track back to Bampton Grange. Distance 45km, ~3hr
The road across Knipe Moor is very quiet with good views and visibility. The road on to Whale is via a gated section and is quiet and narrow (single track) with high vegetation on either side - so listen/watch out for oncoming vehicles. When you reach the R.Lowther, turn right onto a track (don't cross the river). Follow the track along the river. Join the road through the Lowther estate for a short distance and then follow the riverside track through the estate until the river crossing at the north end of the parkland. Cross the river to continue on a track through woodland, continue through the campsite, under the railway and the M6 to reach the A6 near Eamont Bridge. Turn right onto the A6. The whole route south from here to Oddendale is on minor roads with hardly any traffic - apart from the first section along the A6. I opted for a slightly longer route to limit distance on the A6 but the route can be shortened slightly by continuing on the A6 to Clifton. Once you are south of the Hardendale quarry, turn right onto a track towards the M6. This leads to the a motorway crossing between the quarry and the quarry works - you can cross the motorway here but you can go no further (I found this out during a torrential hail storm). Instead turn left onto a road beside the motorway and leading to Junction 39. (This road has a notice saying danger and no public access, but this is routinely ignored and was not a problem). Cross the motorway and continue on to the A6 south of Shap. Turn right. After about 200m turn left onto the Wet Sleddale road. When you reach the United Utilities track turn right onto it. Continue on the track as far as the Swindale road then turn right. This leads you onto the minor road between Rosgill and Bampton Grange for the final leg. |