KDCS route 13 - A loop west of Kendal

Summary

From KENDAL to STAVELEY, WINSTER and BRIGSTEER

27 miles (44 km) 1,690 ' climb (515 m) Grade – moderate overall OS Landranger 97 (Kendal)

A ride to popular Staveley, followed by a hilly section on quiet lanes, and then sweeping down the eastern side of the Lyth valley before a gentle return home.

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=475873

Description

Pick up the cycleway/ footpath at the back of Kendal Leisure Centre, going left (this is National Cycle Network 6, and you follow these 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 (take care – blind bends and pedestrians), at the end of which follow the signs back on a short bit of road, then right into another park, following the river, all NCN 6 signed.

The next part is slightly confusing. At the park end in 200 yds/m push your bike along the footpath past the food kiosk for 30 yds/m to cross the road, using the zebra. Go left over the bridge, then immediately take 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 nearby Bowston. 150 yds/m after the Bowston village sign bear sharp right, unsigned (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). There go left after crossing the bridge by the weir (unsigned) and then turn right at the nearby crossroads (wc here) towards Windermere. You have now rejoined NCN 6. (Turning left at the crossroads brings you quickly to Mill Yard with its bike shop and cafes).

At Staveley town end the NCN 6 signs lead to a cyclepath alongside the A591, then in nearby Ings you cross the dual carriageway by the central reservation (6 sign) and go right to a path crossroads in 50 yds/m.

Here take the left (cycle sign Windermere via Borwick Fold) onto a rising gated lane, becoming quite steep, then turn right at the T junction (bike sign).

Continue on this gated road, soon taking the unsigned left fork,  past a farm and dropping down to join the B5284 Kendal – Bowness road. Turn right here – bike sign for Windermere.

Carry on past the golf club and quickly descend for ½ mile (1 km). Take the 1^st left into Lindeth Lane at a crossroads (sign single track road, width restriction) and follow this small lane down to the A5074 Bowness – Gilpin Bridge road, here going left.

Pass through Winster, and ½ mile (1 km) after the Brown Horse pub take the unsigned next left, through a small wood, then follow the Crosthwaite signs dropping you down into the village.

Here go left (Underbarrow sign) and as you enter Underbarrow in a couple of undulating miles (3 km) bear right off the main road, signed Levens/ Milnthorpe. A small up and a down leads to a T junction, where go right (Brigsteer/Levens).

As you enter Brigsteer in a mile (2 km) bear right at the bottom of the hill onto a narrow unsigned lane (width restriction sign, and opposite village name sign) immediately after passing a lane to Lyth.

Continue straight ahead after a short sharp rise to quickly join, going right, a larger road. For the next couple of miles this climbs gradually through a wood and then flattens. At the scissor crossroads turn left onto Sizergh Fell Road (Sizergh/ Kendal).At the nearby top, go left. This is now NCN 70, and again follow these signs for now.

In ½ + mile (1 km) NCN 70 goes left halfway down a steep 14% descent, soon coming out onto a wide road by the entrance to the National Trust Sizergh Castle. In addition to the castle cafe there is also a pub and another cafe nearby.

From here again follow the 70 signs to pass under the road overhead, right at the T down by the river and left at the main road to cross the river and soon into Sedgwick. Here you go straight on (Kendal sign), where 70 goes right.

In nearby Natland NCN 6 has now joined, and a mile further on (2 km) at the start of Kendal (Clarks warehouse on left) take the 6 signs onto the cycleway, which passes through a wood, and then soon up and over the busy A65 (pedestrian refuge), dropping down and in 200 yds/m arriving back at the Leisure Centre. If wet simply stay on the road and take the 3^rd right (Rinkfield) back to the Leisure Centre.