Route Ref:  NYM01

Back to North Yorkshire Moors Routes

Don't be put off by the amount of tarmac riding on this route. If you pick the right day for good visibility then you will be more than rewarded by the views and various mountain panorarma. I did this ride with my wife and two friends on a hot September day 1999. The visibility was exceptional, hence the number of photographs I ended up with. The deep blue sky and powder puff clouds provided a perfect backdrop to the mountains. I could'nt ride without constantly stopping for perfect picture opportunities.

Start the ride in Ambleside and find your way to the A593 bridge on the west side of the town. Take the first right immediately after the bridge into a pleasant lane which leads north to Rydal. You might have problems avoiding the numerous pedestrians that walk this lane. Just before the lane reaches the A591 near Rydal take a left turn onto a bridleway. This bridleway skirts the edge of Rydal Water and contours round the side of the hill bringing you out above Grasmere. You might have problems with a few muttering walkers. Give them right of way and avoid getting into any arguments. This track makes a short climb up to a minor road. Turn left at the road and right at the next fork passing High Close youth hostel before a fast descent into Elterwater. Navigate your way through Elterwater, pass the youth hostel and then turn right into a lane which takes you into Little langdale. Again there are great views here towards Wetherlam and Swirl How as you make the descent into the valley.

Turn right when you reach the valley road and follow the lane past the tarn and as far as Fell Foot Bridge. Here turn right crossing the bridge and the valley bottom. After crossing a second bridge, Bridge End, the lane becomes a stony track turning south east. Don't miss the right hand fork above the tarn. There are some nice flat rocks suitable for lying out in th esun if your're lucky enough. After the rocks, the track starts a difficult stoney climb over to High Tilberthwaite. At the farm turn left and follow the track through the forest for almost 1k then take a right turn on the track up to Hodge Close.

If you have time and can secure your bikes, it is worth a walk down to the quarry lake. You find the path into the quarry from the trees behind Hodge Close. Take care on the walk down and don't do anything stupid when you get there. The quarry is used by Lane Head Outdoor Center. You might see a few people abseiling or whizzing across the quarry on the overhead zip lines.

When your finished in the quarry and if you have not lost your bike, continue the ride along the track to High and Low Oxen Fell farms and join the A593. Take the track off the main road opposite Oxen Fell High Cross and climb up to the Iron Keld Plantations. A track turns off left through the forest. After the forest the views to towards Helvellyn and Fairfield open up. I had difficulty keeping a watch on the rocks and boulders and needed a few timely reminders to keep an eye on the track. This is a wonderful strectch of the ride. Great views and a meandering down hill, rocky track, bring you back The main road and a steady tarmac ride back to Ambleside.

Start Ambleside rothay Bridge GR 372038 - Rydal Water 358060 - Track/Road 340056 - Elterwater 327047 Road Jnc 327044 - Jnc Little Langdale 313034 - Road/Track 300031 - High Tilberthwaite Farm 308013 - Hodge close 317018 - Track/Road A593 329021 - Road/Track 328017 - Track Jnc 336005 - Forest Edge 336010 - Track/Road 335029 - Skelwith Bridge 344033 - Ambleside 372038

13.2 Miles, 21.24 Kms, 1864 Feet, 612 Metres, N/A Gates, 49% Off Road