Summary
A south to north circuit on the east side of Coniston Water, from near Haverthwaite to along Coniston Water edge, up and over to Hawkshead and then return via Dale Park and Rusland.
Distance 25 miles (40 km) Climb 2,000' (610 m) Grade – moderate overall, 2 big climbs.
OS – Landranger 96 (Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakeland).
The circuit is either mostly generally flat or gently undulating, but with climbs towards and out of Spark Bridge, a sharp climb from north of Brantwood up to High Cross and another sharp climb from south of Hawkshead over to High Dale Park.
(Note – a small detour can be made to Coniston if required, and there is an alternative climb from Hawkshead to Grizedale Visitor Centre rather than Dale Park.)
Map
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=830881
Description
There is ample parking on the former A590 at Lane Ends, Haverthwaite, now a dead end – GR SD3429 8436. This is reached by turning off the A590 (Grizedale/ Rusland/ Bouth sign) and immediately right onto an unsigned lane and on to the road end.
From here head back and take the immediate right turn past the farm (unsigned), quickly joining and again going right (unsigned) onto a larger road, to soon arrive at a large T at Causeway End.
The ride goes left to Bouth. This is now on the Lakes & Dales Loop, signed only by a bike inside an oval loop, no “L & D” wording or anything.
Continue on through Bouth (sign Greenodd/ Ulverston) to the next junction, where go right, uphill, on the Spark Bridge/ Lowick/ Coniston road. This climbs to a crossroads, where go straight over (same signs).
Spark Bridge is quickly gained on the downhill road, but immediately before the village centre bear right on the National Cycle Network # 37 sign - Coniston 10. The road sign to Nibthwaite/ east of lake is in the centre. Spark Bridge is only 3 ½ miles from the start (5+ km), and navigating now becomes more straightforward.
This road climbs steadily for almost a mile (2- km) before dropping to Lowick Bridge, where immediately before the bridge our NCN 37 goes right (Nibthwaite/ east of lake).
Soon the road run alongside Coniston Water for a few miles, then climbs before and after Brantwood bring the ride to a Y junction. The ride here leaves NCN 37, and goes right (Hawkshead sign).
(Note - here if required a detour to Coniston can simply be made, dropping down left on NCN 37 and soon on the main road into Coniston, returning the same way. This adds 3 miles (5 km) total, and is flat, apart from the little pull back up to the Y.)
The climb up from the Y is the hardest of the day, being almost a mile (2- km) of sometimes challenging climbing. Once the main road is reached (going right) the final climb up to High Cross is slightly easier.
The road now drops through Hawkshead Hill and steeply down to arrive at the main Ambleside – Hawkshead B5285 road, the ride here going right.
The village is ahead where the main road swings left and then right to bypass it, past the car park entrance road, to a big T just beyond. This is 14 miles or so (22 km) from the start.
The ride here goes right (Grizedale/ Newby Bridge) and quickly arrives at the village end where the larger road (this ride) goes straight ahead, but a lesser right turn road is signed to Grizedale and Satterthwaite – see below.
(Note - this is an alternative route south, rejoining the ride near Force Mills. It is a steep start, before easing into a steady climb up to Moor Top before descending to Grizedale Visitor Centre with all its facilities, bike trails etc. Leaving the Visitor Centre the road is flat down to Satterthwaite and a mile (2-km) after this alternative turns left off the main road at Force Mills (sign Dale Park/ Hawkshead) and in a few minutes joins the main ride route at a small Y junction. This optional Visitor Centre route is 1 + mile further (2 km) and adds 225' (70m) of extra climb.)
Otherwise this main ride continues south from Hawkshead but in a mile + (2 km) heads right, straight up the steep hill (Ulverston/ Dale Park) away from the main road. Steep at first it soon slackens before the summit and the then long drop down to Dale Park and the valley road.
In a few minutes the ride bears left to Haverthwaite/ Newby Bridge (and 100 yds/ m further on the alternative Grizedale Visitor Centre route joins from the right).
This road and the Haverthwaite signs are now simply followed for the remaining 5 miles (8 km) back to the start – down to Rusland, past the Rusland beeches and to Causeway End, where turn left to retrace the half mile (1- km) back to the start.
