• DISTANCE: 19 miles
  • ASCENT: 2,733ft
  • GRADE: Difficult

Starting out from Keswick, this excellent mountain bike ride takes in some challenging terrain in a full loop around Skiddaw. If you’re feeling really fit you could also take a detour from the main loop to complete the full ascent and descent of Skiddaw too.

This is a tough ride for experienced mountain bikers. Make sure your bike is in full working order and you have all the food, water and equipment that you need to complete the route safely.

THE RIDE

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Starting from the centre of Keswick, head out of the village along Crosthwaite Road. Just before the petrol station, turn right into Brundholme Road and follow it for a short ditance until you see a clearly-signposted bridleway on the left.

The bridleway descends slightly before a slight incline leads you to a gate. You’re now at the foot of a lung-busting climb to Latrigg. The bottom part of the climb is the steepest, providing a challenge for many riders – especially in wet weather.

Follow the bridleway to the car park of the foot of Skiddaw.

After a short breather at the car park, pick up the well-defined bridleway that follows the line of a drystone wall towards the flank of Skiddaw.

At a gate the path splits – the left branch heads towards the popular walkers’ and MTBers’ route to the summit of Skiddaw, but our route takes the left branch.

Follow the trail as is descends to a ford crossing with a tricky exit onto a steep and rocky trail. 

This is the start of an enjoyable but technically-challenging trail that climbs to the isolated Skiddaw House – Britain’s highest youth hostel at 1,550ft.

Follow the clearly defined trail, which offers a few technical challenges - including a short but exhilarating rocky descent. Eventually the undulations end and a leg-sapping slog leads you to the hostel.

At Skiddaw House continue straight on, ignoring a track to the right that leads to moorland behind Blencathra.

Ford the stream (watch out for bog rocks in the stream bed) and then climb again on an easy trail.

The track begins to descend again, with the easy-graded surface changing to loose rock. Negotiate a pair of sharp switchbacks to arrive at a gate.

You’re now at the top of the Back o’Skiddaw descent. It’s loose and steep at the top, but becomes extremely fast and fun further down – but watch out for the raised stormdrains that periodically cross the trail.

Pass through a series of gates to meet tarmac again. Turn left, and follow the farm road to another gate and a country lane.

Turn left and follow the road to a T-junction with the A591, which runs along the eastern shore of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Turn left and follow the road for just short of three miles before turning off left towards the villages of Millbeck and Applethwaite. Pass through both villages before taking another left turn to climb back up to Latrigg car park.

Get ready for some severe punishment at gradients of up to 16% as you grind your way up this steep and potholed tarmac. But all the suffering will seem worthwhile when you get on the fantastic descent back to Keswick.

This is the trail that you climbed at the start and is an utter blast. Ride with caution though – the trail is popular with walkers and is often busy.

Reach the bottom of the track then retrace your steps to your start point in Keswick.