The lake district gravel weekend
Fri 26 - Sun 28 Apr 2024
Fri 6 - Sun 8 Sep 2024
2
Days Riding
2
Nights Accommodation
98km
Total Distance
2210m
Elevation Gain
5/10
Overall Difficulty
£325
Total Cost
A fully supported two-day gravel 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 quiet back roads, gravel bridleways and flowing singletrack. Along the route, you'll revel in the beauty of this unspoilt wilderness, encountering vibrant flora and local wildlife.
The route, thoughtfully designed for gravel biking, covers approximately 98 km over two days and caters for both resilient beginners and experienced riders. 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, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in an unforgettable adventure without worrying about logistical challenges. This unique journey promises a fusion of adrenaline, tranquility and fun, set in a must-visit destination for adventure cycling enthusiasts.
Friday
Arrivals Day at rydal hall campsite
Our meeting point is the wonderful Rydal Campsite, located just outside Ambleside and set in the beautiful grounds of the Rydal Hall Estate. You're welcome to join us from 3 pm. We’ll gather as a group during the afternoon, greeting expedition members as they arrive before enjoying a meal together and preparing for the weekend ahead. The campsite is quiet, well equipped and is surrounded by fells on all sides. If you're travelling by car, directions are in the FAQ below. If you're travelling by train, the nearest station is Windermere. If you’ve arranged for us to pick you up from Windermere train station, we’ll shuttle you and your bike to Rydal Campsite.
Saturday (Day 1)
rydal to hoathwaite
63km
1500M
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. There's a chance for a quick dip for the adventurous before our route enters Hawkshead and the home of the infamous 'Little Ice Cream Shop'. Post ice cream we enter Grizedale Forest. Surrounded by towering pines, we’ll make our way on forest trails and flowing singletrack to Low Parkamoor and one of the finest views of Coniston Water and the Old Man. You're now approaching 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.
Sunday (Day 2)
hoathwaite to rydal
35km
710M
Sunday morning sees us wake up the legs by following the edge of Coniston Water north to access remote singletrack through the forest to Tilberthwaite and the Hodge Close quarries. Head torches are needed here as we take a quick detour to view Cathedral Quarry, a man-made cavern and the remnants of a working mine. Progress is quicker now on crushed slate as we make our way into Little Langdale and up over Blea Tarn with the famous Langdale Pikes dominating the horizon. After a thrilling descent into Great Langdale, we pick up quiet lanes and more world class trails towards Elterwater and then Rydal Hall once more for a well-deserved brew and an unhealthy portion of cake. We'll dekit, clean and sort bikes, shower and eat more cake before 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.
Parkamoor and the views across to The Old Man of Coniston.
Wild swimming in Coniston Water at the end of the day 1.
Exploring Cathedral Quarry by headtorch.
Cycling through ancient forests in Great Langdale on compact gravel trails.
FAQ
What bike is best for Lake District Gravel Biking Weekend?
As the name suggests, the route has been created with gravel enthusiasts in mind. Our journey travels through quite varied terrain and we'll experience a bit of everything, except anything really technical. There are sections that will require most of us to push for short periods but since we link forest gravel and singletrack with sections of tarmac, a drop bar gravel bike with fast rolling tyres that are 40 mm or wider is recommended. All that said, if you only have a mountain bike, this works too. Please call for a chat if you think this will help.
Do I need my own bike?
No, we can arrange rental for you 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 weekend.
Do I need my own bikepacking bags?
No, we'll have our own support vehicle and travel light on both days. We will need to carry a few while riding and you can do this with bikepacking bags or a small rucksack. So you can bring bikepacking bags if you have them, improvise, or we can arrange rental for you. Prices for bikepacking bag rental start from £69. Please let us know what you need and we’ll find a solution together.
What clothing and equipment will I need?
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 I need to be to enjoy the Lake District Gravel Biking Weekend?
We'll cover just under 100 km during the weekend and day one is the longest day at 63 km. Elevation wise, we'll climb just over 1000 m each day. So, you'll 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 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 I need to have, to enjoy the Lake District Gravel Biking Weekend?
Not much. You will need to be confident riding your bike over rough terrain and over the distances / elevation highlighted above, but if you've never done a long day in a remote area, or lack confidence / experience with kit, equipment, bike maintenance, navigation etc, that's fine. We can help (and love helping) with all of that. If you're a seasoned rider with years of experience, that's fine too. We're confident that whatever level you're at, you'll develop your knowledge and skills further during the trip. This two day expedition is perfect for sharing ideas, learning from each other and having a great time and your guide will do everything they can to look after everyone's specific needs. Finally, before anyone takes part in any of our expeditions, there will have been a very sensible and supportive conversation that makes sure you've picked the right expedition.
How many hours will we be riding for each day?
We'll aim to be riding by 8:30 am each day. We'll ride between 12 -15 kmph for most of the day and finish mid to late afternoon each day, depending on the weather. The group dynamics will drive some of this but the key is to find a good flow and to keep things moving throughout the day, whilst stopping at the best spots to take in the views.
How many riders will make up the group?
We usually require at least 3 riders to make the expedition viable and will never have groups larger than 8.
Will riders stay together during the day?
Yes, we'll stay together as a group. There may be short sections (usually inclines) where those who want to stretch their legs can enjoy a challenge but we'll move together, and for safety reasons, we will always descend together, as a group.
Where will the expedition start and what's the best way to get there?
You're welcome to join us from 3 pm on Friday at the perfectly situated Rydal Hall campsite, where we'll meet up as a group and prepare for the weekend ahead. If you're travelling by car, directions can be found by clicking...
If you're travelling by train, the nearest station is Windermere and we're very happy to pick you up and bring you back to the campsite. We'll drop you back off at the station at the end of the weekend too, if this is helpful. You just need to arrange this with us during the booking process.
When and where will we finish on Sunday?
Day two will be spent making our way from Coniston back to our start point at Rydal Campsite and we'll aim to get back by mid-afternoon. We'll clean bikes, sort kit, have a shower and say our farewells.
Can I leave my car securely during the weekend?
Yes, we’ll meet up at the Rydal Hall Campsite on Friday and you can leave your car at the campsite until we return on Sunday afternoon.
Will my spare clothes and equipment be transported for me during the trip?
Yes. When riding we'll travel as light as we can and our support vehicle will carry all of your equipment and our group basecamp items. This is an important aspect of the Lake District Gravel Biking Weekend 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. You will get access to your 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.
What will I need to carry with me during the day?
You'll need to wear appropriate clothing to suit the weather and we'll all need to carry waterproof top and bottoms, spare warm kit, trail food and water. Some useful information can be found on the recommended clothing and equipment kit list above. You'll also need to carry any individual medical supplies and spares, specific to your bike. This will include spare tubes, repair kits for tubes and tubeless. Your guide will take care of group safety items and they will also carry a range of more general bike spares.
Is there a limit on what I can bring?
The only limit we have is space within the support vehicle. All we ask is that you fit whatever you need transporting into one bag / holdall / suitcase that is no bigger than 100cm x 45cm x 45cm. These measurements equate to a large expedition holdall and should be more than enough for the weekend.
What type of accommodation will we be using?
We'll be using two excellent campsites on Friday and Saturday night. 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, free of charge. We'll also have a secure bike tent, where we can prepare and service our bikes. Please note, if you choose to bring your own tent, please ensure it is a single or a regular two person tent. Anything bigger would create uneccessary issues with the campsite owners. 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.
Will I have to share a tent?
No, but you can if you choose to. All of our tents are two person semi-geodesic, which are comfortable for two or palatial for one.
What's the catering plan?
We’ll provide all meals and snacks between the time you arrive on Friday 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 like, so that we have the best chance of offering foods you love.
What if I have allergies and / or dietary requirements?
No problem. Let's discuss this during the booking process and we'll do our utmost to support your needs.
How do I book onto this expedition?
You can start the simple booking process by clicking...
We'll contact you to arrange a quick chat, just to make sure you've picked the perfect expedition that matches your ability and expectations. Once we're both happy, we'll ask you for a deposit (50% of the total cost of the expedition), then we'll confirm your place and take you through the rest of the booking process. This involves getting some information from you and us sharing everything you need to know in preparation for your expedition. If you would like to discuss any aspect of this expedition before making a booking, no problem, go to the 'Ask Us Anything' section below and we'll answer your query as quickly as we can.
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
Start the simple booking process by clicking and we’ll arrange a convenient time to call you. We just need to make sure you’ve picked the perfect expedition for you. If you’re keen to chat before deciding whether to commit to an expedition, no problem, contact us via 'Ask Us Anything' below and we’ll get back in touch as quickly as we can to answer any questions you have.
Once we're both happy that you've picked a suitable expedition, we'll ask you for a deposit (50% of the total cost of the expedition), then we'll confirm your place, via email, and take you through the rest of the booking process. We’ll need to get some more information from you and we'll send you some more details about your expedition.
We’re happy to field any questions you have leading up to your expedition but 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 share the final GPX file of your route and update you on any relevant information to include details about other expedition members.