Around the Mountain - Biking Skiddaw Forest

The last few occasions I had ventured to Skiddaw Forest, notably to Great Calva and on the walk to Skiddaw from the North via Bakestall, I encountered mountain bikers riding the circuit of the mountain. I thought at the time that this seemed a particularly good idea and decided on doing the route myself though the vagaries of the Lakeland weather ensured that I waited some time before getting further than thinking about the route.

True - some of the people I saw were riding on ice covered paths or through driving rain and I'll go out on the fells in most weather but I'm fairly new to mountain biking and I guess I'm just not extreme enough for that. Anyway last weekend I finally did the route which was harder than expected but loads of fun. The weather was dry but the trail quite definitely was not.

The ride around Skiddaw is a mix of road, track and rough mountain paths lasting 14 miles for the circuit or about 17 if you park in Keswick as I did. The maximum altitude is 500m or just over 1600 feet.

I left the tourists in Keswick to explore the 50 odd outdoor shops the town is reputed to contain - I haven't counted them and don't intend to but I can well believe the statistic - and rode the short distance to the main roundabout on the A66. Thankfully we don't ride along here but it's straight over towards Bassenthwaite and first right up the lane towards Underscar, Skiddaw and Latrigg.

After the first of many hills the lane bore left by the sharp right up to the Latrigg and Skiddaw car park. If you started there then this is where you will join - probably at great speed as it's a steep hill down to here.Now followed a pleasant ride up and down along the quiet lane - I encountered only 1 car - through Millbeck village to rejoin the A59 at the wooded foot of Dodd. It was sobering to think that the high point of this ride was level with the top of that 1600 foot fell that rose ahead.

The main road - which is not as busy as the A66 - was followed for a little over 2km where I was able to join a forest path through the woods on the right. It leaves a small roadside car park a little way past the entrance to Dodd Wood and follows a pleasant meandering path through the woods to the side of the road. After just over a kilometre it forks - don't carry on up the hill but go left to another roadside parking near the Ravenstone Hotel and rejoin the road.

A case of what you prefer really - it's quicker on the road but on the forest path you will not be mowed down by tourists looking at the view or motorcyclists attempting the land speed record.

After another short stint on the A59 I took the lane on the right towards Orthwaite and Caldbeck. Here one is reminded that the route's high point of 500 metres must be reached at some stage - the lane climbs steeply but I didn't walk at all. At least there was no traffic on this lane as I climbed higher towards the big hills on the right which were topped by the snow edged bulk of Skiddaw. This would be hot work in summer but today the exercise only served to keep the chill out.



Presently the lane descended steeply then climbed again and I soon reached the turn off for Skiddaw House through a gate on the right where there were some wonderful views of Skiddaw across the intervening meadows.




The way at first lay along a paved road (traffic free) up a (fairly) gradual slope. The big hills though are now close and our route lies into the gap on the left of the picture.

Here we lose the tarmac and the unwitting cyclist is treated with this view of the track rising ahead at a gradient that must be about 25%. The view of Dash Falls - also known as Whitewater Dash - which is among the Lake District's most impressive waterfalls is some compensation for the hard work to come and is also a fine excuse to stop and rest a while!

Even my bike looked tired! This is the top of the steep climb but ahead the track continues to ascend though the wide hairpin bend just ahead is not as steep as it looks from below.



Soon I was on more level terrain riding towards Blencathra near the high point of the route at over 1600 feet. Skiddaw House is about 2km from here and slightly lower. Beyond Skiddaw House which is a Youth Hostel, the path becomes rough singletrack with some very rough sections after the gate. There was a short ascent that I didn't even attempt to ride owing to the size and number of rocks on the path along with the depth of water that lurked in places. If you're into those black graded trails you'll love it - but I walked.

The very rough area is short and the trail soon becomes pure joy to ride on. The picture shows the path along Glenderaterra 400 feet above the river. Distant views of Helvellyn can be seen ahead. Close to where the path is seen to turn the far corner ahead, there is another hard section - this time of exposed rock shelves and steps. It's very short and more experienced riders will cross it easily - the rest of us have no shame in walking.



After the short rocky section the route once again becomes - and stays - easy with a rapidly expanding panorama opening up to the south across the Lake District.


The sight of Derwentwater ahead means that we are back on the southern side of Skiddaw where we started. A quick and easy descent follows. The afternoon sun shone on Latrigg with the Central Lake District beyond. Take care to slow down at the bottom of the slope - there is a sharp left and a river crossing! Soon afterwards the Latrigg car park was reached after a short climb and I followed the road on down to take a left back to Keswick by the Underscar Hotel.

Pete Buckley Mar 2011

Essentials >>> How Far? 14miles/22.5km >>> What's it like? A mix of mainly quiet road, easy tracks and very rough tracks - very hilly >>> start and finish Keswick or Latrigg car park >>> Here's a new account of a walk up Skiddaw

Mountain Biking at Whinlatter - The Quercus Trail

The Quercus trail is a fairly new blue graded MTB route at the popular Whinlatter Forest mountain biking area a few miles west of Keswick in the northern Lake District. At 7.5km it is not a long route but does follow singletrack for most of its length and is fairly hilly throughout. The official blurb describes this as "a gem waiting to be discovered" and I would agree.

It was a cold breezy day with the thermometer standing at 2 degrees C at Whinlatter Pass and a blanket of new snow on the higher fells so I opted out of doing the longer red route called the Altura Trail, today deciding on the easier Quercus instead. At first it was a little confusing as to where it actually started - the Altura is clearly marked through a gateway into the forest just beyond the cafe and mountain bike hire centre - and it was only after following this for a short distance that the blue arrows sent me off down to the right.

This first section was a delight to ride - a single track trail twisted gently downhill through the trees and into a more open area with views of the surrounding fells. It was enjoyable and (almost) effortless and there were no difficulties other than optional jumps and rocks so you can just troll along here and enjoy the ride without having to concentrate on staying on the bike. There is a short section of forest road where the route follows the line of the C2C coast to coast route 71 and we carry straight on where this branches down to the left. The blue arrows are easy to follow and the only place I went wrong was at the road crossing. The arrow appears to point left down the road but it is in fact straight on up the path on the other side where the markers are picked up again.

There is always a price to pay for easy downhill riding - it is usually followed by less easy uphill riding and here a short dirt track section led to a singletrack path the climbed in switchbacks through the trees. The gradient was manageable though and I was soon up the steeper sections though I may not have been so fast on a warm day! Now I followed the arrows along an interesting section that in a way was even better than the first part of the route with smooth bumps and banked sections on the downhills. You pass a sign that gives the choice of heading home early - don't unless you are knackered - this next loop is brilliant fun!

The route then followed a downhill with banked turns where I was able to get up some speed and enjoy the descent safe in the knowledge that I wouldn't hit anything too difficult - that's one of the joys of the blue routes - the reds are exciting but I have come across obstacles I would not like to approach at speed! The trail ends along the same route as the red Altura though this section is an easy ride back to the car park.

My summary of the Quercus Trail is "short but sweet" and I felt like riding it again despite the cold weather. Next time I'll do the Altura which is a loop of 10km followed by one of 9km but I'll definitely do this one again. It is also suitable for older kids as long as they can ride up hills there being little difficulty or danger on the route.

A word on Whinlatter Visitor Centre; facilities excellent, cafe excellent (and not expensive), information on routes and the area excellent, car parking expensive - £3 for 2hrs £5 for up to 4 hours and more for all day. This is my only gripe about the place though there is limited space outside and I havn't checked the prices at the other car park - at Grizedale for instance some of the additional car parks are free.

Pete Buckley November 2010

How far is it? 7.5km/4.6 miles >>> What's it like? Blue grade MTB trail - mostly single track, fairly hilly but not technical >>> Planning a visit? Here's the trail guide on pdf - also available from the visitor centre.

Biking Grizedale Forest - the Hawkshead Moor Trail

Here was the first of the hills, the wide track leading steeply through a field on the far side of the gate. Beyond, the grassy slopes rose up to where they were overhung by the edge of the forest which itself cloaked steep hillsides which we would have to surmount at some point in the very near future.

From the Grizedale visitor centre we'd cycled a short distance following the green arrow markers for the bike trail known as the Hawkshead Moor Trail, a 10.5 mile (16.9km) loop through the western reaches of Grizedale Forest in the southern Lake District. The route is entirely off road mainly following gravel track or traffic free forest roads.

The first hill was short but steep and led us to a crossroads under the trees. Here you can join the loop in either direction but going left or clockwise seems the preferred way - the biggest hills are done early in the route this way. In addition the Hawkshead Moor Trail follows the same route as the North Face Trail - a red graded mountain bike path that leaves and rejoins the main path at intervals giving the option to do as much or as little as you want. This trail is one way being single track path and must be done in a clockwise direction.

After a short downhill here the climbing began in earnest with a very steep start that settled into a steady ascent into dense woodland as we left the valley behind. There were six of us doing the ride today; our friends Sam and Jamie who were camping with us, my wife Jacqui who didn't walk half as much as she'd expected to, my 12 year old son Josh who was up front doing a good impression of Alberto Contador and my 2 year old son Daniel who resided in great comfort in his seat on the back of my own bike.

Following a concerted effort we reached more open country with large clearings in the coniferous forest allowing distant views to open up. The gradients became gentler and finally began to undulate before we embarked on the first swift downhill allowing us to cool off after the earlier exertions. Soon we arrived at the first diversion for the North Face MTB trail which Sam and Jamie had opted to do. It is clearly signed with red markers both where it leaves and rejoins the main track and they left us with Josh who had also opted to give it a go. Owing to boardwalks, rocks and small drop offs I decided - with my young passenger - to stay with Jacqui on the easier path but I'll do it when I'm next at Grizedale with a bike to myself!

Our own route was thoroughly enjoyable though and even Jacqui who had not found the hills much fun describing them as "like the Alps... only worse" began to enjoy the ride as well. Long exhilarating descents and short climbs led us northwards with a spectacular panorama of the Coniston Fells on the left and Coniston Water far below that was gradually replaced with one of Langdale and then of Helvellyn and Fairfield as we neared the northern part of our loop. There were frequent pauses to wait for those on the slower but more technical North Face Trail giving us the chance to experience the forest's stillness and bird life. We were far from any road or traffic noise and there were few people about - another couple of family groups and 4 or 5 mountain bikers were all we saw even though the visitor centre was crowded. Oh and one chap heading the wrong way in search of Moor Top car park.

Just before Moor Top - after we had given the lone wanderer directions - our route branched off left and south to follow the green markers on the home stretch. Here a fast descent broken only by Daniel's triumphant announcement that he had got his arm out of his harness - brought us in very little time back to the crossroads near the start of the route. All that remained was to wait for the rest of our party and ride the couple of miles back to the campsite where we were based just south of Satterthwaite. We had ridden to the start instead of driving to the visitor centre to avoid paying for parking and unnecessarily using the car.

A total of 10.5 miles from the visitor centre or 14 miles riding from the Grizedale Campsite (recommended) the Hawkshead Moor Trail is a couple of hours very well spent. The route is suitable for families with the option for the adventurous to try the harder route though a certain amout of fitness is required for the hills early on the route. Unfit beer swilling pie eaters would perhaps struggle here but it's the best way to enjoy the unique views of this beautiful corner of the Lake District which improve the further you get from the motor roads.

Essentials >>> 10.5 miles circular route >>> traffic free forest roads >>> non technical with fair sized hills >>>

Pete Buckley May 2010