Mountain biking in the Lake District — England's true mountains

If you’re after the very best riding in England, there are perhaps a few places which could potentially pop their heads above the parapet, but all of them will have a tough time knocking the Lake District off its pedestal. Every point over 3,000 feet (900 metres) in England is here, steep sided valleys, deep lakes, and of course, staggering views. From a mountain biking perspective there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore via every type of trail, from twisty forest singletrack, easy lakeside runs, massively rocky doubletrack hurtles, hike-a-bike climbs and everything in between. There really is something for everyone here. No wonder it’s one of the most popular places to mountain bike in the UK.

The Tours in this Collection range all over the Lakes and include ‘must ride’ Lakeland classics, little known secrets, highly technical rides - both up and down - and gentle leg-loosening spins. There’s really no excuse not to pack your bags and head over!

The Borrowdale Bash is perhaps the most famous of the Lake District’s many classics. It’s been a classic for decades, and with good reason. Starting from Keswick, the Tour heads clockwise around Derwent Water, taking in fords, singletrack, potential cake stops, hilariously nadgery descents and passing possibly the weirdest-named fell in Cumbria (Cat Bells).

The Kentmere Park and Pike starts off innocuously enough, with a green and pleasant ride to Kentmere Park - before changing nature completely, and culminating in a brutal carry up Nan Bield. However, the rewards are fantastic; epic descents, and as much amazing scenery as you can cram into your eyes.

The next Tour of this Collection takes us along the very spine of the Lake District - High Street. It’s an old Roman Road, and it’s (relatively gently) undulating - but actually getting to it will leave you gasping - both at the views and the climbing you’ll have to do!

Next up is a true epic, the Helvellyn Monster. Debate rages as to which of the many ways to ride Helvellyn is better as a climb, and which as a descent; this Tour takes the clockwise approach with Grisedale Tarn as a climb, and spices it up with a drop down to Thirlmere before returning over Sticks Pass; this one is a real leg-burner.

Slightly less energetic, but still blessed with over 3200 feet (1000 meters) of climbing and an overabundance of views and fun riding is the Windermere Halo, taking in as it does the Garburn Pass and Grizedale forest. There’s even a ferry ride to finish!

The Walna Scar Road Tour is yet another classic which does a sterling job of disabusing mountain bikers from the notion that all the best riding is on singletrack. There are two long, rocky, technical and utterly fantastic doubletrack descents on this Tour, and purely coincidentally, a couple of excellent pubs.

And last but not least, Witherslack. Little known, perhaps - it’s not long, and it’s not high - but it’s a great shorter loop for when the weather is terrible, or you need something which doesn’t have ‘epic’ writ large all the way through it. It’s a quiet, varied, pretty Tour

Nay-sayers may decry the distances involved in getting to the Lake District. They may shy away from the tourist-trap reputation. But once you spin away from the honey pot tourist centres, things get a lot more quiet very quickly. And sure, if you live anywhere but the north of the country, it’s a drag to get to - you’re faced with long hours on the motorway, after all - but rest assured, it’s well, well worth it.