Summary
To BURNESIDE, MEALBANK, PATTON BRIDGE,
GRAYRIGG, DOCKER and OXENHOLME
18 miles (30 km) 1,400'
climb (426 m) Grade –
hard OS 97 Kendal and Morecambe
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=475436
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=475436
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 path to follow the river
through a larger park.
At the path end go straight on
the footpath (bit confusing here)to the nearby bridge, cross the road (zebra
crossing) and go left over the bridge (all NCN 6 signs). Turn immediately right
to use the shared path alongside the river again (shared path signs only), past
a school, over the road and alongside the river to join a road by the
Magistrates Court, going right (sign 6, maybe overgrown).
Continue to Burneside (shop/
pub), where turn right (sign Skelsmergh) to pass by the Spar shop and follow
the road and signs Skelsmergh/ A6 to the A6, avoiding all turnings off it.
There go right (Kendal) and in 200 yds/ m left towards
Mealbank. In ½ + mile (1 km) bear left (effectively straight on) by a bridge to
commence a long and quite hard climb before dropping quickly down to Patton
Bridge.
Carry on over the bridge
(Whinfell/ Grayrigg), then taking the middle road at a 3 way junction in 100
yds/ m. follow the signs and undulating road to Grayrigg.
There turn left (unsigned) on
the main road, and in 50 yds/ m first right back on yourself (obscure Lambrigg
sign).
Continue on until, just past
the railway, bear right at the scissor crossroads (Moorfold/ Thatchmoor Head
house sign only) then soon left at the unsigned T junction and immediately
right at Kiln Head (unsuitable for HGVs), where we join NCN route 70.
After a mile or so (2 km) the
road drops down and then climbs steeply, going straight on at a junction (70/
New Hutton) and right (70) in 400 yds/ m to carry on climbing past Cragg Farm.
From here it is all flat or downhill.
Follow the 70 signs, soon
right at Tollbar Cottage (white house on your left), past Fisher Tarn reservoir
then in a few minutes down a hill and left at a crossroads by some houses (70) and
in another mile (2 km) go straight over
the main road by a hairpin (70) and down to the Station Inn.
Here we leave NCN 70 and turn
right on NCN 6 (sign Kendal) for a quick descent past the station and straight
ahead through traffic lights back the Leisure Centre.