With The Lake District and The Yorkshire Dales on our doorstep - KDCS offers an exciting selection of cycle rides throughout the local area and beyond. There are social gatherings including slide shows, talks and supper evenings and members are kept up to date with cycling news and issues through this web site, emails and our Facebook pages. KDCS are an affiliated group of Cycling UK.

KDCS route 16 - An Oval loop West of Kendal

Summary

From KENDAL to STAVELEY, CROOK, BRIGSTEER, near LEVENS, NATLAND and back, (with an optional extension from NATLAND up THE HELM and along PADDY LANE to MEALBANK and back).

21 miles (33 km) 1,160 ' climb (354 m) Grade – moderate OS 97 (Kendal)

A straightforward and uncomplicated ride – undulations but no big hills. 2 good stopping places.

An extension east of Kendal along Paddy Lane to near Mealbank and the Leisure Centre adds 8 miles (13km) and 600' (183 m) of climb.

Start - Kendal Leisure Centre, Burton Rd, Kendal, LA9 7HX

Map

To view elevation details please use this link and select "Elevation Graph" from the top left hand side corner of the map.
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=475893

Description

Pick up the cycleway/ footpath at the back of the Leisure Centre, going left (this is National Cycle Network 6, and you follow the signs for the next few miles).

Continue across a road, and at the cycleway end a mile from the Leisure Centre go diagonally across to a small park and shared path (take care – pedestrians and blind bends), at the end of which follow the signs (6) back on 50 yds/m of road, then right into a larger park and right again to following the river, all NCN 6 signed.

At the park end in 200 yds/m push your bike along the footpath past the food kiosk (slightly confusing) for 30 yds/m to cross the road, using the zebra. Go left over the bridge, then immediately taking the path alongside the river to the right, passing a school, over the nearby road and on beside the river to join, going right, the road by the Magistrate's Court.

Continue through Burneside to Bowston. 150 yds/m after the Bowston village sign bear sharp right (here leaving NCN 6, which goes straight ahead) and pass over the river. Follow this minor road to Staveley  2 ½ miles on (4 km). Staveley has all the facilities (including a bike shop), and is a popular destination.

Reaching Staveley, go left after crossing the bridge by the weir (unsigned) and then straight over at the nearby crossroads (Crook) (wc here), to arrive at Crook T junction in 2 miles (3 km).

Turn right (Bowness) and bear left in 250 yds/m (Underbarrow/golf course) for the undulating and dropping road to Underbarrow. Turn right by the Punchbowl T and immediately left for Brigsteer, reached in 1 ½ miles (2+ km) of easy cycling.

There, at the bottom of the hill, bear right at the village name sign onto a narrow lane (unsuitable for HGVs sign) (don't take the Lyth lane immediately before) and after a short steep ramp go ahead (not taking the descent to the right) to quickly join a wider road climbing gently away from Brigsteer. The route climbs gradually through a wood then flattens to the scissor crossroads in 2 miles (3 km).

Go left (Sizergh Fell Road) and after a gentle rise left again at the top, where NCN route 70 and its useful signs is joined. Follow the 70, going left halfway down a steep hill in ½ + mile (1 km).

Continue across the nearby scissor junction by the Stricklandgate pub (W2W 70) under the dual carriageway (NT Sizergh castle and cafe nearby, Sizergh Barn cafe also nearby), right at the bottom by the river and soon left to follow the road over the river through Sedgwick and Natland to the edge of Kendal, by Clark's large warehouse on the left.

Here either bear right along the old canal path (6 sign) to go up and over the main road to quickly reach the back of the Leisure Centre (the start point) or continue on the road and take the 3rd right (Rinkfield) to the front of the Leisure Centre.
  
Extension

For the extra miles –  follow the route as described above, then when reaching Natland (c 1 ½ miles / 2+km from the Leisure Centre finish) take the second  right (70 and 6, playground) and quickly bear right (70) by the church to pass under the railway and climb the short steep hill to the A65 main road.

Pass straight over (70), the lane climbing The Helm, the hill on your right. Cross over at the Station Inn (70/ Sedbergh) and in a few minutes go right at a main road hairpin (70) and immediately  left (70, hard to see).

Follow the road, initially climbing before levelling off, for a mile (1+ km) to a small crossroads, where we go straight over (Grayrigg/ Tebay), here leaving 70 which goes right.

The route drops quite steeply down, and after crossing over the railway joins and goes right (unsigned) at a main road (visibility from the right is poor, with fast traffic, so take care) and immediately left (Unsuitable for HGVs/ Mealbank), dropping down steeply to a bridge and straight on to the main road  - turn right (Kendal sign).

Go left when after a few minutes this road  joins the A6 and go straight ahead at the nearby roundabout (Town Centre sign), then in 100 yds/m turn left into Castle St (Sedbergh sign).

Immediately bear right  by the food kiosk to rejoin the route you came out on by the riverside park. Retrace your steps you came out on, through the riverside park, left up to the road and left along it for 50 yds/m, then right to and through a small park to join the cycleway/footpath home.

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