Die besten Mountainbike-Trails in Lake District National Park

From the parking area at Bowness Knott, on the northern shores of Ennerdale Water, follow well-surfaced forest roads heading steadily up the valley. eventually reaching the remote Black Sail youth hostel and a perfect spot for a picnic whilst admiring the lofty peaks all around....

A great fun trail for those with basic off-road riding skills and a reasonable level of fitness. Starting down hill with gentle flowing corners, the trail then twists and turns it's way up gradually, eventually passing through a section of oak woodland and back into the darker conifer forest....

This mountain bike route could definitely be called Loughrigg Lite in comparison to some possibilities in the area, but this wouldn’t really do justice to a superb little loop that in just 10km takes in a little of everything that’s good about Lakeland mountain biking....

From Under Loughrigg Lane, an initial steep climb takes you up over Loughrigg Fell and down on fast tracks to Tarn Foot. Quiet back roads past Skelwith Bridge and a short tarmac uphill then lead to a punchy climb up onto Iron Keld....

Leaving Ambleside on the main road, a few kilometres of pedalling brings you to a series of steep track and road climbs and a short descent. Further quiet roads lead to the Dubbs Road track and a rough but pleasant climb past the reservoir....

Leave Glenridding and head uphill on the lane that leads to Greenside road and climbs to the Youth Hostel. A wide stone track heading alongside the Beck is rideable for some and a push for others, before the track turns and zigzags steeply up on loose rock....

Leaving the pretty little villlage of Boot in Eskdale, a tough, technical climb on the old Coffin Road (a route on which the dead were carried from Wasdale over to Eskdale to be buried) leads you up onto open fell and some good singletrack riding past Burnmoor Tarn....

Head out of Keswick on the bridleway which climbs around Lattrig, and then skirts the side of Lonscale fell towards Skiddaw Hause. Tricky singletrack riding will keep you entertained but watch out for the obvious rocky section with exposure to your right....

At approximately 9.5 kilometres in length and fully waymarked, this trail features some wonderful flowing sections of singletrack. There's some steep climbing in the first half of the loop, but riders are well rewarded with what some claim to be the best downhill in the UK....

From the parking at Maggie's Bridge, follow the lonely valley of Mosedale up to a push past Floutern Tarn. Be aware that in anything but dry conditions this can be boggy! A great descent drops you down to Ennerdale, where hilly single-track lanes bring you back through Lamplugh to some fine high level riding above Holme Wood and Loweswater and a steep old mine track descent to finish....

As the old dismantled railway trail from Keswick to Threlkeld is currently closed (since the December 2015 floods) this route now heads out of town on quiet road then a track on the opposite side of the river....

From Troutbeck, a bridleway leads through Limefitt Park before heading up on an obvious stony track to the head of the valley. This becomes a grassy slog, before steepening so much that the only way up is to push or carry your bike up this seemingly never-ending climb (think of the descent if you need motivation....

From the car park in Patterdale, a quick road pedal takes you to Bridgend and a wide track rising steeply uphill to Boredale Hause. Kudos to anyone who rides all the way up this! The trail becomes vague for a while here as it crosses a plateau before becoming good singletrack and a fast, swoopy descent, with a few tricky steep drops down to Martindale....

This route is good in both directions, with some great technical singletrack climbing on the way up from the old Glenridding mines, (as well as an inevitable amount of pushing) and what many would vote as one of the best descents in the Lakes....

From Staveley, the road heads out past Ings and up to the rough stony track climbing past Dubbs Reservoir. Head through Limefitt Park and up the Troutbeck valley on good stony tracks....

Starting with a brutal grind straight out of the carpark at Low Hartsop, you'll get a flavour of what's in store on this ride! Once at Hayeswater, steep pushing/carrying/climbing takes you up to a better defined and more rideable track heading from the Knott to Rampsgill Head....

From Thirlspot Inn, follow the steep bridleway climbing up onto the fell, contouring around the side of Whiteside, and joining the Helvellyn ridge just below Lower Man. Take a quick(ish) diversion to the summit if you haven't been before to check out the view and stand atop the highest mountain you can legally ride in England with a bike, then retrace your steps and follow the ridge north past Stybarrow, Watson's, and Great Dodd....

Starting from Grasmere, a good bridleway climbs up the steep grassy slopes of Little Tongue, before joining the obvious footpath ascending from Tongue Gill. Rocky climbing and technical descending lead through Hause Gap to Grisedale Tarn, from where a big carry up the rocky steps of Dollywaggon Pike begins....

From the car park at Wythburn, you may as well start with your bike on your back as you make your way up steeply through forest and onto fell on the climb to Nethermost Pike and then Helvellyn; it's a beast of a climb....