the lake district fells & tarns tour
3
Days Riding
2
Nights Accommodation
82km
Total Distance
1870m
Elevation Gain
5/10
Overall Difficulty
£319
Cost PP
A fully supported three-day biking route through the heart of the Lake District National Park. This immersive journey winds through intricate forests and high fells, between tarns and lakes on gravel roads, bridleways and flowing singletrack.
Every detail is meticulously planned to ensure a safe and enjoyable adventure and you'll relish the convenience and peace of mind of our support vehicle, equipped to aid with any unexpected mechanical issues and to provide refreshments.
This unique journey promises a fusion of challenge, exploration and fun, set in a world-class destination
Day 1
staveley to rydal
24km
589M
We’ll gather as a group in Staveley, sort kit, do our pre-ride bike checks and set off. Soon we'll be whizzing along the local 'three rivers' trail before descending into Troutbeck and around to Jenkins Crag. Day one is all about building confidence and travelling together as a team. Our basecamp at Rydal campsite is quiet, well equipped and is surrounded by fells on all sides.
Day 2
rydal to hoathwaite
37km
870M
Within moments of leaving our campsite you'll be travelling through iconic Lake District backdrops; traversing Rydal Water, Grasmere Lake, Loughrigg Tarn and Elterwater. Our route now takes us south towards Claife Heights, Near Sawrey and the home of Beatrix Potter. Quiet backroads meander between ancient drystone walls and alongside open water. Once in Grizedale forest, surrounded by towering pines, we’ll make our way on forest trails and flowing singletrack to the Lawson Park descent and the shores of Coniston Water. You're now traversing classic Cumbrian landscapes as we navigate between the fells, streams and tarns on intricate ancient trails. Our destination at the end of day one is the Hoathwaite Campsite; a hidden gem on the shore of Coniston Water. Our base camp will be set up waiting for us.
Day 3
hoathwaite to ambleside
21km
412M
Sunday morning sees us wake up the legs by following the edge of Coniston Water north to access remote singletrack through the forest towards Tarn Hows. Progress is quicker now on compact gravel as we make our way through Grizedale, Hawkshead and along picturesque cycle paths alongside Blelham Tarn to Wray Castle. From here we'll descend into Ambleside - our final goal before sorting kit, bikes and saying our farewells.
Expedition Highlights
Riding between tarns and fells on beautiful trails and secluded singletrack.
Visiting the Little Ice Cream Shop in Hawkshead and sampling a scoop, or two.
Navigating Grizedale Forest and searchng out the best bits of the North Face Trail.
Cycling through ancient forests in Great Langdale on compact gravel trails.
Riding alongside Coniston Water with Grizedale Forest rising from its banks.
Refueling at key spots with our support vehicle, allowing us to move light.
FAQ
What trip paperwork will I need / recieve support with?
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We have extensive experience of working with schools and colleges to ensure that all aspects of our expeditions meet the highest standards of safety, safeguarding and are in line with local authority guidelines. We will share details of our risk assessments, code of conduct, emergency planning, liability insurance etc, and help you with any trip paperwork that is required.
What bike is best for Lake District Fells & Tarns Tour?
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Our journey travels through quite varied terrain and we'll experience a bit of everything, except anything really technical. With that in mind, we feel a lightweight mountan bike is recommended.
Do riders need their own bike?
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No, we can arrange rental for you and your students and it can be picked up and ready for you to ride. Please let us know if you need a bike and we’ll discuss options but rental prices start at £79 for the expedition.
Do riders need their own bikepacking bags?
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No, we'll have our own support vehicle and travel light each day. Riders will need to carry a few items while riding but they can do this with a few small bikepacking bags or a small rucksack.
What clothing and equipment will riders need?
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You can find a recommended clothing and equipment list by clicking...
If you are unsure about any of these items, or you need to purchase any of these items, you are more than welcome to get in touch for some help and advice. We've bought our fair share of kit over the years and we're very happy to share what works for us.
How physically fit do riders need to be to enjoy the Lake District Fells & Tarns Exped?
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We'll cover between 80-100 km during the expediton, depending on ability level. So, riders need to be comfortable riding for most of the day, BUT, the best speed to travel through these amazing landscapes is...quite slow actually, and we'll take breaks periodically to refuel, chat, soak up the atmosphere and snap some photos. We'll have a support vehicle following us each day, but we'll need to take clothing that matches the weather forecast, water, and some snacks. We'll reunite with our support vehicle for lunch.
What sort of prior experience do riders need to have, to enjoy the Lake District Fells & Tarn Tour ?
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Not much. Riders will need to be confident on rough terrain and over the distances / elevation highlighted above, but if staff / students have never done a long day in a remote area, or lack confidence / experience with kit, equipment etc, that's fine. We can help (and love helping) with all of that. We're confident that whatever level you're at, you'll develop your knowledge and skills further during the trip. This three day expedition is perfect for sharing ideas, learning from each other and having a great time and your guide is experienced in looking after everyone's specific needs.
Where will the expedition start and what's the best way to get there?
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We'll start in the small village of Staveley, situated between Kendal and Ambleside, where we'll meet up as a group and prepare to start the expedition. If you're travelling by car, directions can be found by clicking...
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When and where will we finish on the final day?
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Day three will be spent making our way from Coniston back to Ambleside and we'll aim to get back by mid-afternoon. We'll clean bikes, sort kit, have a debrief, take a final group photo and then say our farewells.
Can I leave a car / minibus securely during the expedition?
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Yes, vehicles can be left at Rydal Hall for a small fee and we can discuss drop off / pick up logistics during the planning stage.
Will spare clothes and equipment be transported during the trip?
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Yes. When riding we'll travel as light as we can and our support vehicle will carry all group equipment. This is an important aspect of the expedition. Being able to travel light and being supported allows us to cover more ground and explore further. It also affords a level of flexibility and peace of mind that, we feel, gives the very best chance of enjoyment and getting the most of our time together. Riders will get access to their kit bag whenever we meet up with the support vehicle which is likely to be 2-3 times a day and our support vehicle will meet us at the designated campsite at the end of each day.
What type of accommodation will we be using?
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We'll be using two excellent campsites during the expedition. We'll have access to a large expedition tent to socialise and eat in and you can either bring your own tent or use one of ours, for a small fee. We try to use tented accommodation wherever possible for all of our expeditions as this affords a greater degree of flexibility and helps develop skills that can be transferred to more remote and self-sufficient adventures.
What's the catering plan?
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We’ll provide all meals and snacks between the time you arrive until we say farewell on Sunday. We love food and know how important it is during an expedition. All meals provided will be healthy and plentiful (cake will just be plentiful). A sample menu can be found by clicking...
Once you've booked onto an expediton, we’ll ask you which meals and snacks you and your students like, so that we have the best chance of offering foods you love.
What if riders have allergies and / or dietary requirements?
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No problem. Let's discuss this during the booking process and we'll do our utmost to support your needs.
How many riders will make up the group?
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We require at least 6 fee paying riders to make the expedition viable and will never have groups larger than 8. We are able to lead two or more groups at a time, but this requires us to use additional guides and can be discussed during the planning stage.
How do I book onto an expedition?
There are three easy steps to securing an expedition. See below.
If we've not covered an area you're keen to explore in the FAQ above, please do get in touch using the 'Ask Us Anything' form below and we'll answer your query as quickly as we can.
Book an adventure in 3 Easy Steps
Let's talk! If you've seen an expedition that looks exciting, fill in the 'Ask Us Anything' form below and we’ll get back in touch as quickly as we can to answer any questions you have and to arrange a convenient time to call you. We just need to make sure you’ve picked the perfect expedition for your group.
Once we've worked through the expedition plan together and you're keen to progress, we'll ask you for a deposit (50% of the total cost of the expedition), then we'll confirm your place, via email, and guide you through the rest of the booking process.
We’ll stay in regular contact as we prepare you for your expedition. We're happy to field any queries you have and roughly 14 days before your expedition is due to start, we’ll contact you to make sure you’re ready to join us. We’ll update you on any relevant information and finalise expedition practicalities. We'll be with you every step of the way!