35 miles (57 km) - can be shortened to 23 m (37 k) 2,375' climb ( 720 m) grade - strenuous
OS Landranger 97 Kendal Start - Kendal Leisure Centre, Burton Rd, Kendal, LA9 7HX
There are 2 possible coffee stops. The route affords lots of open scenic views. Amended FEB 2020.
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=716375
Description
From the Kendal Leisure Centre go left on the shared path alongside the main road for 100 yards/m, 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 into the woods and bike through 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 (straight on) to nearby Natland, where turn left by the shop (Oxenholme/ Railway sign), in 50 yds/m right at the green and left at the church. You have now joined NCN 70, whose signs you follow for 8 miles (13 km).
A short steep climb after the railway bridge takes you to the A65, which you cross (70) for a gradual climb up the front of The Helm to the Station Inn, again going straight over (70).
The gradual climb continues for a mile (2 -km), and at the main road hairpin go right and immediately left (70 signs), then biking on to a crossroads, where go right (70/ Sedbergh) up a steeper hill before flattening and on past a reservoir wall on the left.
Soon you come to a white bungalow where turn left (70) onto a flattish small lane before dropping down past a farm, then to another left turn (70) at a T soon after.
300 yds/m down this steep hill bear right (taking care, oncoming visibility poor) – 70/ Lambrigg. The road falls, climbs and undulates to the T at Kiln Head, here going right (70) and with another climb and descent to eventually pass over the M6. This is c 10 miles (16 km) from the start.
At the T just after the M6 NCN 70 goes left, but our route goes right, then in a minute left onto the unsigned lane to Fox's Pulpit.
Carry on up, bearing right at a nearby unsigned fork, and climbing to then reach (Quaker) Fox's Pulpit, the highest point of the day. A long mile + (2 km) drop then follows, finishing with the steep drop down Shackla Bank to the Black Horse crossroads on the main A684. The route here goes left along the main road to Sedbergh.
But going straight over at the crossroads (sign B6256 Kirkby Lonsdale) omits this Sedbergh part, rejoining the route in a half mile or so by the River Lune bridge, and saving c 5 miles (9km). A further 7 m (12k) can be saved further on.
Otherwise bike into Sedbergh for refreshments/ wc. Afterwards retrace your wheels to the edge of Sedbergh, but then bear left onto the A683 (Kirkby Lonsdale/ Lancaster).
In a mile + (2 km) turn right into a small easily missed unsigned lane to follow the beckside lane, soon turning right at the main road.
If missed, simply continue and soon take (right) the B6256. The beckside lane soon comes in on the right.
The route almost immediately crosses over the River Lune and immediately goes left (Killington/ Old Hutton). The shortcut avoiding Sedbergh rejoins the route here.
The road continues parallel to the Lune, and in a mile (1 ½ km) our route takes the Killington turn for the start of the homeward climb.
Killington lies in a dip, with a short drop in, followed by a short 150 yd/m 20% very steep climb out before easing and the narrow lane then finishing with a steady 1/3 mile (c ½ km) further climb and short drop to the road near Three Mile House, there going left (Old Hutton).
Note – the route can be shortened by a further approx 7 miles (12 km) at the drop down to near Three Mile House by simply here going right (Sedbergh/ Kendal) and returning to the Leisure Centre, not taking the Kitridding extension, as follows:-
After the above right turn and in 200 yds/m this shorter route goes quickly left (unsigned) onto an open lane.
3 farms are passed and at the lane end in 1 + mile (2 km) it goes left and in 100 yds/m quickly right (unsigned, small blue Bendrigg sign for road going straight ahead) up to and crossing the M6 motorway bridge.
It drops down (rough surface) to Ewebank (take the right fork) and in 100 yds/m beyond goes left at the T, and drops down through Millholme to the Borrans T junction.
Here it goes left and drops down to the B6254 main road, where it turns right and simply follows this road all the way back to the Leisure Centre.))
Otherwise the Kitridding extension continues briefly on the Old Hutton road, but after ¼ + mile (½ km) bears left (effectively straight on – Old Town/ Kirkby Lonsdale) and continues on this pleasant open lane, turning left (same signs) by the big turbines.
In a couple of minutes a big T is reached, and the route goes right (Old Town/ Kirkby Lonsdale) for another 2 mile (3+ km) on a nice open road, flat then gradually down to Old Town.
At Old Town turn right at the B6254, and in a few minutes take the second left to Kitridding farm shop and cafe. At the time of writing this is open Thursday to Sunday.
After Kitridding, continue on this lane to High Row, where go right for a steep ascent and then a lesser ascent, then on and in a pleasant mile + (2 km) on to a long and sweeping fast descent over the M6 to Goose Green.
Turn right at the bottom, and continue straight on at the big crossroads through Gatebeck to reach Holmescales Farm in a mile + (2km). Here go left into Popplemire Lane, which is followed to its end at Middleshaw, and then (left) all the way back to the Leisure Centre.
Proceed (straight on) to nearby Natland, where turn left by the shop (Oxenholme/ Railway sign), in 50 yds/m right at the green and left at the church. You have now joined NCN 70, whose signs you follow for 8 miles (13 km).
A short steep climb after the railway bridge takes you to the A65, which you cross (70) for a gradual climb up the front of The Helm to the Station Inn, again going straight over (70).
The gradual climb continues for a mile (2 -km), and at the main road hairpin go right and immediately left (70 signs), then biking on to a crossroads, where go right (70/ Sedbergh) up a steeper hill before flattening and on past a reservoir wall on the left.
Soon you come to a white bungalow where turn left (70) onto a flattish small lane before dropping down past a farm, then to another left turn (70) at a T soon after.
300 yds/m down this steep hill bear right (taking care, oncoming visibility poor) – 70/ Lambrigg. The road falls, climbs and undulates to the T at Kiln Head, here going right (70) and with another climb and descent to eventually pass over the M6. This is c 10 miles (16 km) from the start.
At the T just after the M6 NCN 70 goes left, but our route goes right, then in a minute left onto the unsigned lane to Fox's Pulpit.
Carry on up, bearing right at a nearby unsigned fork, and climbing to then reach (Quaker) Fox's Pulpit, the highest point of the day. A long mile + (2 km) drop then follows, finishing with the steep drop down Shackla Bank to the Black Horse crossroads on the main A684. The route here goes left along the main road to Sedbergh.
But going straight over at the crossroads (sign B6256 Kirkby Lonsdale) omits this Sedbergh part, rejoining the route in a half mile or so by the River Lune bridge, and saving c 5 miles (9km). A further 7 m (12k) can be saved further on.
Otherwise bike into Sedbergh for refreshments/ wc. Afterwards retrace your wheels to the edge of Sedbergh, but then bear left onto the A683 (Kirkby Lonsdale/ Lancaster).
In a mile + (2 km) turn right into a small easily missed unsigned lane to follow the beckside lane, soon turning right at the main road.
If missed, simply continue and soon take (right) the B6256. The beckside lane soon comes in on the right.
The route almost immediately crosses over the River Lune and immediately goes left (Killington/ Old Hutton). The shortcut avoiding Sedbergh rejoins the route here.
The road continues parallel to the Lune, and in a mile (1 ½ km) our route takes the Killington turn for the start of the homeward climb.
Killington lies in a dip, with a short drop in, followed by a short 150 yd/m 20% very steep climb out before easing and the narrow lane then finishing with a steady 1/3 mile (c ½ km) further climb and short drop to the road near Three Mile House, there going left (Old Hutton).
Note – the route can be shortened by a further approx 7 miles (12 km) at the drop down to near Three Mile House by simply here going right (Sedbergh/ Kendal) and returning to the Leisure Centre, not taking the Kitridding extension, as follows:-
After the above right turn and in 200 yds/m this shorter route goes quickly left (unsigned) onto an open lane.
3 farms are passed and at the lane end in 1 + mile (2 km) it goes left and in 100 yds/m quickly right (unsigned, small blue Bendrigg sign for road going straight ahead) up to and crossing the M6 motorway bridge.
It drops down (rough surface) to Ewebank (take the right fork) and in 100 yds/m beyond goes left at the T, and drops down through Millholme to the Borrans T junction.
Here it goes left and drops down to the B6254 main road, where it turns right and simply follows this road all the way back to the Leisure Centre.))
Otherwise the Kitridding extension continues briefly on the Old Hutton road, but after ¼ + mile (½ km) bears left (effectively straight on – Old Town/ Kirkby Lonsdale) and continues on this pleasant open lane, turning left (same signs) by the big turbines.
In a couple of minutes a big T is reached, and the route goes right (Old Town/ Kirkby Lonsdale) for another 2 mile (3+ km) on a nice open road, flat then gradually down to Old Town.
At Old Town turn right at the B6254, and in a few minutes take the second left to Kitridding farm shop and cafe. At the time of writing this is open Thursday to Sunday.
After Kitridding, continue on this lane to High Row, where go right for a steep ascent and then a lesser ascent, then on and in a pleasant mile + (2 km) on to a long and sweeping fast descent over the M6 to Goose Green.
Turn right at the bottom, and continue straight on at the big crossroads through Gatebeck to reach Holmescales Farm in a mile + (2km). Here go left into Popplemire Lane, which is followed to its end at Middleshaw, and then (left) all the way back to the Leisure Centre.
