Road Riding in The Lake District

[Silver940]

Off to meet friends in the Lakes in a weeks time, planning to get a couple of road rides in. Staying near Coniston. Any suggestions of places to head for that could be done in about 3 hours or so. Were thinking of doing a loop through Hardknott and Wrynose Pass. Sounds like a good challenge but I'm wondering if there would be routes nearby that would make better use of the limited ride time ( We are there with family )

Just watched this video and yes a challenge but best use of limited saddle time, not so sure... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2izj1tcDI


Suggestions welcome

[anonymous-user]

Look for the Fred Whitton challenge route and adapt accordingly, it takes in most of the famous climbs and from the steeper direction of travel... just remember its going to be busy and bad drivers will be all over the road on Hardknott and Honister Pass so be careful!

In the past I have gone from Amblesdie, east up "The Struggle", then North towards Ullswater, west towards Keswick and back down to Ambleside via Grasmere which is a good loop,

[Vocal Minority]

If you are happy to do it in the other direction Wrynose and Hardknott would be fine, but once you get to Eskdale on the other side there is no real short loop back round avoiding the pass.

Not ideal as it invovles jumping in the car to Keswick - but Keswick to Buttermere via the Honister Pass and Boprrowdale, and back via Stair and Portinscale (for google maps ref) would be a attractive ride. 25 miles but lots of climbing and decending, as well as going alongside Derwent Water and Buttermere. May be a bit short, but if you deposit families in Keswick it could be a mornings entertainment prior to meeting for lunch.

[Thermonuclear]

Hardnott and Wrynose will sort you out there are no flat bits anywhere and after going over those two even a motorway bridge feels like an alpe. Good luck.

[rhinochopig]

The trihard website (half iron-man) has their cycle leg route on it, which takes in kirkstone and shap-fell. It's not the most picturesque of routes, but it certainly packs in the height with just shy of 4k ft of climbing over 62 miles.

[Silver940]

Cheers, think we'll give it a go, kirkstone another just in each from where we are staying, will check out the other routes.


suspect this will be costing us a shopping trip for the ladies to Keswick!

[y2blade]

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing some pics.


Enjoy