Start Derby Arms, Witherslack OS 97 Kendal GR 441 830 Postcode LA11 6RH
Distance 21 miles (34 km) Climb 1330' (405 m)
Grade – generally easy, but halfway through there is one steady climb up to near Crook and soon after a sharp climb to Knipe Tarn.
There are pubs at the start/ finish, Gilpin Bridge, Underbarrow, Winster and Bowland Bridge. There is a community shop by the Derby Arms. At the time of writing the Bowland Bridge shop is shut. There are no public wc s on the route.
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=674029
Description
The ride starts at the Derby Arms, Witherslack. There is ample car parking on the old road beyond the pub. The only shop of the day is the roadside community shop behind the pub.Cross directly over from the pub onto the flat road opposite. This is on National Cycle Network 70/700, and these blue signs are followed for the first 3 miles (5 km).
The flat route goes over a crossroads and in another mile goes left onto a bridge and short shared path (70/ 700), just before the A590. Halfway along this shared path are 2 barriers, take care.
70/ 700 signs at the path end direct the route past the pub and in 100 yds/m left after the large car showroom, onto Lyth Valley. In approx 600 yds/m the route goes left at a large unsigned T (here losing 70/700 which goes straight ahead).
The flat valley road continues towards Brigsteer, where a short sharp ascent is immediately followed (left, at the scissor crossroads, unsigned) by an equally sharp descent.
Go straight on when joining the nearby bigger road (unsigned) and continue on to the T at Underbarrow. The route goes right (Kendal) and immediately left (Crook/church) opposite the pub.
The c 8 miles (12 km) to here have been almost all flat, but the route now starts to undulate and generally climb quite a lot.
By the Beckside Golf Course car park it bears left and up (effectively straight on, unsigned) for a ¾ mile (1+ km) steady but quite steep climb up to and going left at the main B5284 Kendal – Bowness road (Bowness/ Hawkshead sign).
The route flattens, then soon bears left off the main road (unsigned) at the nearby church and generally is flattish (one short sharp down/ up) for the next few minutes.
As the road starts to drop, the route goes right downhill at a Winster sign, and again downhill in 100 yds/m (same Winster sign).
The steep drop briefly continues, but is then followed by a longer sharp and testing ascent to a larger road - going left just before and on past Knipe Tarn on the left.
(Note: An alternative route to Knipe Tarn is to continue on the main B5284 past the church and gradually up, before dropping down and going left (unsigned) a mile (2- km) after the church, just before the Wild Boar Hotel. It then drops to Mitchelland before ascending to Knipe Tarn (joining the other route just before Knipe Tarn). The climbing is about the same, but is a bit less steep.)
At Knipe Tarn the climbing has mostly been done for the day. It is 12 miles (20 km) from the start.
The road drops, quickly goes sharp left at an unsigned Y and soon arrives at the Brown Horse, Winster.
The route goes over the crossroads (Bowland Bridge/ church) and gradually descends to the ford, where it carries straight on to a left and right dogleg (Bowland Bridge signs) and down to the main road, there going right (unsigned) to nearby Bowland Bridge.
There is a pub here, and a shop (which at the time of writing has recently closed).
The route goes left (Witherslack/ Grange) and continues on to the T just past Cowmire Hall farm. It goes right at the T (Witherslack), soon passes through a small settlement of centuries old houses, and a minute later bears right (unsigned) off the main road (which goes left into the wood).
(Note: simply staying on the main road takes you directly back to the start - through Witherslack Woods and past Witherslack Hall. It is a quicker alternative if needed.)
The route otherwise drops down, passes through 2 gates, a farm, past some houses and then bears left and up (effectively straight on, unsigned, just past entrance to Moss House Farm campsite) away from the main road.
The route then continues on and into Witherslack, where at the T it goes right (Kendal/ Grange) to soon arrive back at the Derby Arms.
