Lake District Mountain Biking

Lake District Mountain Biking

The Lake District is one of England's most celebrated wild riding destinations. The national park sits across Cumbria and offers hundreds of kilometres of bridleways, rocky fells, and natural singletrack across three distinct areas: the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Lakes. The two main trail centres are Grizedale in the south and Whinlatter in the north, but the real draw is the open fell riding beyond them.

Overview

• Rocky, rooty, natural singletrack across the fells and valley tracks.
• A large network of public bridleways covering hundreds of kilometres.
• Expect technical terrain, exposure, and significant elevation on most routes.
• The Southern Lakes offers lower fells and access to Grizedale trails, a good entry point.
• The Eastern Lakes is big riding country: classics like Helvellyn, Garburn Pass, High Street, and the Nan Bield Pass, with some hike-a-bike required.
• The Northern Lakes includes routes around Skiddaw and the Borrowdale valley.

Resources and Route Guides

• LakesMTB, the specialist community resource for Lake District MTB, produced by local riders. Routes include Borrowdale Bash, Sticks Pass, Walna Scar, Loughrigg Fell, Parkamoor, several Staveley loops, each with distance, elevation, GPX download. Guiding/coaching also available.
• Pedal North, route guides covering all areas of the Lakes, graded, with OS maps, turn-by-turn directions, GPX downloads.

Clubs and Groups

• The Tribe MBC, North West-based club, ~40-50 members, rides across Lancashire, the Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire, and North Wales, with Sunday rides organised throughout the year.

Gravel Riding

• The Lakes' bridleway network also suits gravel bikes. Pedal North's Gravel Bike Coast to Coast, Lakes Section crosses the national park via Walna Scar Road and Grizedale Forest tracks between Ravenglass and Hawkshead.

Getting Here

• M6 junction 36 for southern/eastern Lakes, junction 40 for northern Lakes.
• Staveley: popular base for Eastern Lakes classics, off A591 between Kendal and Windermere.
• Keswick: main hub for Northern Lakes, easy access to Skiddaw and Borrowdale.
• Ambleside and Coniston: good bases for Southern Lakes riding, including Grizedale and Walna Scar.
• Trains to Windermere from Oxenholme (West Coast Main Line), onward bus/taxi to Staveley/Ambleside.

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