Kendal Leisure Centre – Natland – The Helm above Oxenholme – Paddy Lane - Mealbank – Skelsmergh – Burneside - Kendal
13 miles (21 km) 780' climb (240m)
Map
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Description
From Kendal Leisure Centre go left on the shared pathway for 100 yds, and there join the cycleway ( National Cycle Network 6), which crosses the road (right) from the left footpath via the central reservation. Take the steep drop and bike through the woods on the old canal bed to the road by Clarks Distribution Centre warehouse. If wet the path could be muddy, in which case from the Leisure Centre go left and immediately right onto Rinkfield, turning left at the end and soon meeting the canal path exit by Clarks.
Proceed to nearby Natland, where turn left by the shop (Oxenholme/ Railway sign), right at the green and left at the church. You have now joined NCN 70, whose signs you follow for 2 + miles. A short steep climb takes you to the A65, which you cross (70) for a gradual climb past The Helm to the Station Inn, again going straight over (70).
The gradual climb continues for a mile, and at the main road hairpin go right and immediately left (70) onto Paddy Lane, biking for a further mile on to a crossroads, where go straight on (sign Grayrigg/ Tebay, 70 leaves to the right), soon coming to a long descent.
Quickly after a bridge over the railway line the main A685 road is reached. Here go right (unsigned), taking great care as visibility is limited in both directions.
Immediately drop down left (sign Mealbank), down the narrow lane through the wood, to a river bridge. Cross the bridge and then immediately go left (both unsigned)
Just after a short climb the main A6 is reached, and here go right on to the A6, and left at the nearby road, followed all the way to Burneside.
The Jolly Anglers pub is just after the right turn of the T (sign Bowston) by the Spar shop.
The road back to Kendal is NCN 6, and these signs can be followed back to the Leisure Centre.
After a short hill on the edge of Kendal, NCN 6 soon goes left into Dockwray Hall road (250 yds past the railway bridge) and becomes a cycleway alongside the river.
Cross a busy road (traffic lights), past a school, again by the river and go left over the nearby bridge on the shared path and then cross the road at the zebra crossing, and push to the nearby food kiosk. A sign says “This way to 6”, but it may be confusing.
Now follow the NCN 6 signs through the riverside park, left at the end for a short bit of public road and right again through a small park (taking care, poor visibility of pedestrians and oncoming bikes) and onto the cycleway by the tip to arrive back in one mile at the start.
