Kentmere and Garburn Pass

Below Staveley Head Fell  looking towards the Kentmere Horseshoe

A solo ride on the mountain bike, having parked at Staveley I rode up the well graded road to Park House farm. The bridleway starts here to go over to Longsleddle, but my route branched off here to contour along the east side of Kentmere before descending to Long Houses.

Above Long Houses in Kentmere

Garburn and Yoke

A short stretch of tarmac past Kentmere church led me on to the main ascent of the day, Garburn Pass. The sun made a very brief appearance as I rode, but mainly pushed up the pass. As I neared the summit there was ice on the path, I was hot but clearly the actual temperature was rather lower! The wind across the exposed top was strong enough to make riding difficult.

The windswept summit of Garburn Pass

The track was suffering from the recent frosts turning what should have been firm going into very stiff porridge. The very wet spell we've had has also left its mark, the track had become very washed out. Large sections unrideable (by me anyway!) once down at Applethwaite quarry the old road improves and I was able to make better progress.

The head of Troutbeck from Applethwaite quarry

Down the Dubbs road was easy going, and turning left along Moorhowe Road on the tarmac once more for a mile or so until the bridleway to High House led to the final offroad for the day. The easy tracks in Kentmere Psrk brought me down to Ullthwaite Bridge.

The bridleway descending to the valley from Kentmere Park

All that remained was to ride down Kentmere to the car. I'd only seen 1 mountainbiker, 1 fellrunner and 2 walkers, on a mild Sunday...great suits me!