Kendal Leisure Centre –Natland – Sedgwick – Sedgwick footbridge - Sizergh – near Levens – Brigsteer – Levens Moss – Cotes (Levens) – Sizergh – Sedgwick – Kendal
16 miles (25 km) 910' climb (275 m)
Map
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http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=655362
Description
From the front of the Leisure Centre cross over the main road diagonally left into Rinkfield, at the end turning left towards Natland. (Note – an alternative off-road start is going left on the shared path in front of the LC, then crossing the main road at the signed central reservation and descending on to the old canal route through the wood to soon join the tarmac road to Natland.)
Pass through Natland, Sedgwick and down towards the river Kent. Where however the road turns left by the river, the route here goes right (wooden bridleway sign only) onto a short riverside tarmac road serving a few houses.
The route passes into a field through a gate at the end of the tarmac, and after 30 yards of hardcore track crosses the big river on the narrow footbridge to the road on the far side. It goes left and very soon right up a gradual hill (blue bike 70 sign on far side of post), passing under the dual carriageway, then taking the rising lane (70 sign) behind the Strickland Arms pub.
Soon the route comes to and ascends, going right (70 sign) the steep hill.
From the top it then descends gradually for half a mile, turning right (Brigsteer sign) onto Sizergh Fell Rd and right again (same sign) at the nearby scissor crossroads.
Brigsteer village is reached after a mile and a half, after descending through a wood, and soon after the village name sign the route bears left (Unsuitable for HGVs sign) and after 50 yards hard back on itself unsigned to drop steeply down to the Levens Moss valley floor.
After a couple of miles of flat Brigsteer Causeway valley floor lane the route turns left unsigned – big Lord's Plain farm on the right - onto a lesser Levens Moss causeway lane, and in a few minutes arrives at and goes left at the Cotes part of Levens village.
The road initially rises gradually, but then a sharp hill soon follows, to the scissor crossing previously arrived at. Here cross over to Sizergh Fell Rd and retrace your steps up to the top (Sizergh/ Kendal sign) where NCN 70 is again rejoined.
Retrace this part of the outward route (signs 70 or W2W), in ½ + mile going left halfway down the steep hill (70), then under the dual carriageway by Sizergh Castle entrance (70), and then at the bottom T by the river go right (70) and left at the nearby main road (70).
Immediately after crossing the river, turn right (Hincaster sign) and soon hard left (Sedgwick village sign only) onto the short lane back to Sedgwick, pass under the canal bridge and on through Natland to Kendal, there taking the 4th right (Rinkfield) back to the Leisure Centre.
