Kendal Leisure Centre – Burneside – Rather Heath Tarn – near Crook – Staveley – Bowston – Burneside - Kendal
14 miles (23 km) 630' climb (190 m)
Map
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Description
From the back of Kendal Leisure Centre go left on the shared pedestrian/ bike path for a mile, crossing over a road half way along. This is National Cycle Network 6.
At the end of the shared path follow the NCN 6 signs to and through a small park diagonally on your left (take care – pedestrians and blind bends), back on yourself for 50 yds on a public road, then right and immediately right on a shared path to follow the river through a larger park.
The route becomes slightly confusing here. At the path end go straight ahead past the food kiosk to push on the short footpath to cross the nearby bridge, using the 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 main road (traffic lights) and along the river to join a road by the former Magistrates Court, going right (sign 6, maybe obscured by vegetation).
Continue to and through Burneside, at the far end of the village going left after the tennis courts. The lane is unsigned, but immediately crosses the Oxenholme – Windermere railway branch line A short sharp hill beyond the railway starts a steady climb up to the A591 dual carriageway.
Cross both carriageways here, using the central reservation, and go ahead onto the Rather Heath road, gently dropping down, to then join (going right) the Kendal to Bowness road.
In a few minutes, just before Crook, take the right turn to Staveley.
Staveley is reached in a couple of miles, and there turn right at the big crossroads.
This is now NCN 6 again, and the homeward signs are followed through Staveley, along the cycleway after the railway level crossing, left at the end over the railway bridge, through Bowston and soon after rejoining the outward route by the tennis courts.
The outward route is now simply retraced back to the Leisure Centre.
