Biking around Ullswater is fantastic!
Below we have included 5 do-in-a-day rides in the Ullswater valley. Two of the rides mentioned include sections on The Ullswater Steamers where no pedalling is required!
Route 1
Exploring Ullswater’s North Western fells
The start and finish are linked by taking a cruise on the Ullswater Steamer the full length of the lake.
- Cross the bridge over the River Eamont on the B5320 and follow it along the shore of Ullswater to the jct with the A592. Turn R and follow it for 1.6km to a turning on the L at a bend. Turn onto it and follow the road to Dacre. Just up hill after crossing the bridge over Dacre Beck turn L and then follow the road for 5km past the north side of Little Mell Fell to a jct at High Birchclose.
- Turn L and follow the road as it climbs steeply. It soon eases, leads through Lowthwaite, and then makes another short climb to a T jct. Turn R and follow the road for 900m to a jct. Turn L and follow the road as it climbs and levels to another junction. Take the R branch and follow this to join the A5091. Turn L onto it and follow it to Dockray.
- Continue on the A5091 out of Dockray crossing Aira Beck and around Park Brow to make the pleasant freewheel down to the A592. The onward route is R at this jct following the A592 around the side of Ullswater to the Steamer Pier at Glenridding, however if you have time and it has been raining in recent days, you should take a look at Aira Force which can be accessed a few meters to the L of the A592.
Route 2
Moor Divock
- Turn R out of the car park on the B5320 then turn R again by the church and follow the road to a X roads. Go SA at the X roads and follow the lane ahead as it climbs to a gate (bridleway) at Roehead.
- Follow the bridleway as it climbs on to Moor Divock where it levels. Continue SA and follow it as it descends slightly to a fell road. Cross the road and pickup the bridleway on the other side. This is then followed over open fell then along a rough lane alongside enclosed fields until it eventually joins a road at a jct. Turn L and take the road into Helton. Head out of Helton to Askham.
- In the centre of Askham turn L and follow the lane then bridleway that climbs back up to the cross-roads on Moor Divock. Ignore the track back down to Pooley Bridge. Instead go SA and follow the rough section of track to The Cockpit (Megalithic stone circle).
- Head along the main track (ignoring the High Street bridleway/ Roman Road) and follow it to the side of a wall. This is the start of the main downhill. It gives a long interesting descent to finally join the road at Howtown after a loop through Mellguards.
- From Howtown follow the road alongside Ullswater back to Pooley Bridge.
Route 3
The Old Coach Road
- Turn R out of the car park onto the A592 then turn R onto the A5091 and follow it steeply up hill to Dockray.
- Turn L past The Royal Hotel and follow the road as it climbs through Green How and Bank Farm to a jct and car park at Red Moss.
- This is the start of the Old Coach Road – go through the gate and follow it alongside the trees for 7.2km. Generally the going is easy but there are some boggy sections and a couple of climbs. The last 3.2km section down to the B5322 at Wanthwaite gives a fairly speedy descent.
- Turn R onto the B5322 and follow it to a junction with the A66. Carefully cross the A66 and join the lane on the opposite side. This section is busy and the traffic is fast so great care needs to be exercised whilst crossing.
- Follow the lane up to a T jct and turn R and follow this to another T jct in the centre of Threlkeld. At this junction turn R again and continue past the pub then turn L on Fell Side Road which is followed to the cycle track by the side of the A66. Follow this to Scales.
- Continue on the A66 for 200m until opposite the Wallthwaite turning. Cross the A66 (with care – extremely busy) and turn R onto it, follow the lane for 1km to a junction (second turning). Turn R and head into Wallthwaite. The road turns a corner in Wallthwaite and is then followed for 3.5km to the A5091. Turn R and follow the A5091 through Matterdale End to Dockray.
- From Dockray retrace the route back down the A5091 to the start at Aira Force car park.
Route 4
The Mells
- Cross the bridge over the River Eamont on the B5320 and follow it along the shore of Ullswater to the junction with the A592. Turn R and follow it for 1.6km to a turning on the L at a bend. Turn onto it and follow the road to Dacre. Just uphill after crossing the bridge over Dacre Beck turn L and then follow the road for 2.6km to a X roads.
- Turn R and follow the road to a junction at Sparket Mill. Turn R again and follow the road across Calley Bridge and uphill to a jct. Turn L through Hutton to a fork.
- Take the L branch and follow the road through the dog-leg at Stoddahgate and onto a T jct at Stoddah Bank. Turn L and follow the road through the gap between Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell for 2.7km to a fork. Take the L branch for 630m round a bend to a jct.
- Turn R at the junction and head to a fork. At the fork take the L branch and follow it up to Ulcat Row and past Todgill to a T jct. Turn R and follow past the side of Little Mell Fell to a jct. Take the L branch which leads round past the campsites to Bennethead.
- Turn R at the jct at Bennethead and head along the road to another jct after 150m. Take the L fork which is followed to a T jct. Turn R and head to Dacre then turn R again and retrace your outbound route back to Pooley Bridge.
Route 5
Boredale and Eastern Flanks of Ullswater
- From the Steamer Car Park head out to join the A592. Turn L onto it and follow it through Patterdale for 1.8km to a turning on the L to Rooking. Follow the lane for 400m to a junction with two bridleways. Take the RH bridleway and follow it a short distance uphill to join another bridleway. Follow it steeply uphill to Boredale Hause, it is rideable, but most mortals will choose to push their bike up it!
- The bridleway heads across the hause towards Boredale into a notch. You will need to carry/push your bike through the notch but it is soon passed and it brings you to the top of the fantastic descent track into Boredale. Follow it all the way down hill to the road at Boredale Head.
- Join the road and follow it down Boredale and then over the road pass at Martindale to Howtown. From Howtown follow the road alongside Ullswater to the X roads at Pooley Bridge.
- Turn R at the X roads and follow the lane ahead as it climbs to a gate (bridleway) at Roehead. Follow the bridleway as it climbs on to Moor Divock. At a X roads on Moor Divock (marked by a stone bench post) turn R and follow the rough section of track to The Cockpit (a Megalithic stone circle).
- From The Cockpit head along the main track (ignoring the High Street bridleway/Roman Road) and follow it to the side of a wall. This is the start of the down hill. It gives a long interesting descent to finally join the road at Howtown after a loop through Mellguards.
- From Howtown follow the road alongside Ullswater back to Pooley Bridge.
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