Summary
LONGSLEDDALE via BURNESIDE, then to PATTON BRIDGE and MEALBANK
25 miles (40 km) 960'
climb (290m) Grade – easy
to moderate
A gentle family ride up the
valley, with undulations before and after. No refreshments are available. There
is a community w.c. half – way up Longsleddale.
OS 97 (Kendal) and 90
(Penrith, Keswick)
Start – Kendal Leisure Centre,
Burton Rd, Kendal LA97HX
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=472916
Description
From the back of Kendal
Leisure Centre go left on the shared pedestrian/ bike path (National Cycle
Network 6) for a mile (2- km), crossing
over a road half way along.
At the end follow the National
Cycle Network 6 signs to and through a small park diagonally on your left (take
care – pedestrians and blind bends), back on yourself for 50 yds/m on a public
road, then right and immediately right on a shared 150 yds/m path to follow the
river through a larger park.
Here leave NCN 6, turn onto
the Castle St public road, with the church on your right, and in 100 yds/m turn
left onto the one-way road just after the pub. At the junction in 100 yds/m
dismount and go along the pavement right, crossing the road via the nearby
pedestrian lights, then remounting and passing under the railway bridge.
In ¾ mile (1+ km) and after
passing a car showroom turn left into Gillthwaiterigg Lane (sign Road closed to
motor vehicles) and pass through the barriers, going straight over at the
nearby crossroads (same road closed signs). You soon re-join the public road,
going right, past a new warehouse.
In a few minutes arrives a T
with a bigger road – go left (unsigned) and in a mile (2- km) turn right onto a
small lane (sign Longsleddale), which undulates to its end in Garnett Bridge.
Turn left here and follow the
road up the beautiful valley to Sadgill at the road end (approximately 11 miles
from the start). There is a popular
off-road crossing to Kentmere from here, but we have to retrace our steps.
On the return continue
straight past the bridge you came in on and continue up the rise, turning left
(sign Penrith) onto the A6, and in ¼ mile (½ km) right off it (Patton Bridge
sign).
Follow the undulating road all
the way to Patton Bridge, and turn right, up the steep 14% gradient hill.
A long descent takes you down
past Mealbank, crossing the river bridge
(sign Kendal) to join the A684 by Spital Farm.
Going right here brings you
back into town, joining the A6 (Town Centre sign) and straight on at the nearby
roundabout (Town Centre sign).
The left turn in 100 yds/m
(sign Sedbergh) brings you back into Castle Street and the riverside park you
came out on. From here simply retrace your steps - following the NCN 6 signs through the park,
left at the road and almost immediately right through a small park (danger –
blind bends) and onto the shared path back to the Leisure Centre.
