Mountain Biking in the Lake District

A captivating landscape of mountains, moorlands, lakes, forests and valleys, honeycombed with bridleways, rocky trails, steep climbs and thrilling singletrack descents… there's no end of great mountain bike (MTB) trails in the Lake District, with options for everyone from beginners to expert riders.

Our guide to mountain biking in the Lake District takes in everything from purpose-built trail centres to some of the park’s most iconic rides, with directions, local information and essential tips thrown in. 

Best MTB trail centres in the Lake District

Grizedale Forest

Between Coniston Water and Windermere, Grizedale has several forest tracks starting from its visitor centre, of which two are specifically for mountain bikers. 

The North Face MTB Trail is a purpose-built 10-mile route on singletrack and forest roads, with boardwalks and some tough climbs rewarded by thrilling singletrack descents. It’s graded red (difficult) and takes over two hours to ride, so you’ll need to be both fit and experienced to take it on.

The Black MTB Trail is an exhilarating steep singletrack descent through the forest with a frantic kilometre of jumps and berms, graded black (severe). Don’t even think about it unless you’re an expert rider. If you are, watch out for the split on the way down with a ‘double-diamond’ option to add even more of a challenge.

For beginners and leisure cyclists, there are also five straightforward waymarked forest trails of between two and 14 miles, taking in sculptures and artworks in the trees, the chance to spot local wildlife and some lovely views of Coniston Water. Bike hire (including e-bikes) is available on site from Biketreks Grizedale, and there’s a café for breakfast, lunch and coffee. Meanwhile, for resolute non-riders there’s also a GoApe treetop ropes course to try out.

Forestry England has more information on all of the trails, with a handy downloadable map.

Whinlatter Forest Park 

Five miles outside Keswick, Whinlatter Forest Park has two great trails, including the Altura, the longest purpose-built MTB trail in the Lake District. 

The Quercus Trail is a blue (moderate) 4.6-mile singletrack through forest and oak woodland with some not-too-testing berms, rolling jumps, gradual climbs and a few technical features. Good for intermediate riders.

The Altura Trail is the really big draw here. The 12-mile trail is divided into two loops (North and South), both of which are rated red (difficult). If you decide to take either of these on, you’ll need to know what you’re doing. The North Trail is a singletrack featuring 200 metres of steep climbing, fast, steep descents, berms, jumps and optional black sections, with some fabulous views of Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite, Helvellyn and Skiddaw. The South Loop has one long and testing climb, followed by a challenging singletrack descent with berms, jumps and optional black sections

For a more gentle ride with some great views, try the Gorse Cycle Trail (also suitable for gravel bikes and hybrids) or explore the forest on the blue Orienteering Trail. Bike hire (including e-bikes) is available on site from Cyclewise and you can grab food and drinks from the café. For those who don’t want to ride, there are walking trails and a GoApe centre. 

Forestry England has a page with more information on the trails, and a map.

Top mountain biking trails in the Lake District

Here are three of our favourite mountain bike trails in the Lake District, with links to more great suggestions from some local experts below. 

Borrowdale Bash

Start point: Keswick

Distance: 17.8 miles (28km)

This classic Lake District loop involves a lot of climbing (including the epic stretch of road up the legendary Honister Pass) and some extremely challenging rocky descents, so it’s one for experienced riders only.

The route travels alongse Derwentwater and then climbs towards Watendlath Tarn, with great views of Borrowdale Valley, descending to Rosthwaite via the Birkett’s Leap bridleway, with drop-offs, rocks and drainage channels to negotiate. A long and testing climb up Honister Pass is followed by a flowing descent with some great views and a bumpy, technical and speedy section down to Grange Village. From there, there’s a trail up the side of Catbells until a final fast descent back to Keswick – a great thrill to end the day.

The LakesMTB website has a map and full description of the route, with a downloadable GPX file.

Helvellyn

Start point: Grasmere

Distance: 25 miles (40km)

It would be criminal to visit the Lake District without tackling Helvellyn, the park’s third-highest summit and the most accessible of the high peaks for mountain bikers. An extensive network of bridleways on its slopes means that there are many routes you could take to the top, but we’ve chosen a glorious 25-mile ride with a daunting 4,400 feet of climbing, which tackles the entire ridge from south to north. Needless to say, it includes some tough climbs and thrilling descents and requires a very high level of fitness and skill but it does also have superb views along the entire route.

From Grasmere, you start out with a bridleway and a steep grassy ascent of Little Tongue. After passing through Hause Gap, you follow the zigzag path on Dollywaggon Pike (you’ll have to carry the bike on some sections here) across Dollywaggon and Nethermost Pikes before a steady climb to the summit of Helvellyn. Don’t forget to stop and admire the view – and to congratulate yourself for your efforts. Follow the North Ridge over Whiteside and Raise to the top of Great Dodd, then descend through the peat and heather and follow the Old Coach Road to St John’s in the Vale. A road section on the B5322 and A591 is followed by a bridleway across Thirlmere, through the forest and back to the road, where you can choose between tarmac and bridleway for the final, fast descent back to Grasmere.

The Pedal North website has a great page with full directions, a map and a GPX file of the route. If this one sounds tough to you, their excellent routes page includes two shorter variations that also visit the peak. 

Parkamoor

Start point: Grizedale Forest Visitor Centre

Distance: 17 miles (27.5km)

This is another classic route that tackles the area between Coniston Water and Windermere, notable for its superb views, forest trails and a memorable fast and technical descent.

You start out with a climb on Grizedale’s North Face Trail, then follow a fire road through the trees before joining the fast narrow singletrack signposted to Parkamoor. After a couple of short but testing climbs, you’ll be rewarded with glorious views over Coniston Water and The Old Man of Coniston to the mountains beyond. The subsequent downhill section takes you across the fell (often boggy) and through more trees before being greeted with three speedy descents. These are separated by a path, but if you still have the energy you can push on and combine them in one. Eventually, you’ll end up on the road just outside Satterthwaite, which you follow back to Grizedale. For a final thrill, speed down the forest’s black run and back to the start. 

Once again, LakesMTB is the place to find a map, GPX and full description of the route.

Tip: If these trails whet your appetite, the excellent LakesMTB website has a page listing details of the best Lake District mountain bike routes, all of which have maps and GPX downloads, and Pedal North has some great suggestions too.

Best starting points for mountain biking adventures

Keswick

Close to Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake, and within reach of classic routes in Whinlatter Forest, Borrowdale and Skiddaw, Keswick is a great base if you’re planning a Lake District mountain bike trip. If you stay here, you’ll have access to a wide range of trails, from scenic lake and valley rides for beginners to full-on climbs and descents that will test the skills and fitness of any rider. Visit Keswick’s cycling page has details of several local trails, cycle shops and hire facilities, great for beginners who want to hire a bike, or for picking up any essential kit that you forgot to bring with you.

Ambleside

In the heart of the park at the north end of Windermere, Ambleside is close to Grizedale Forest, which has a wide range of trails for all abilities, while Loughrigg Fell, where you can ride with great views of Windermere and Rydal Water, and Helvellyn are also within easy reach. The town is a popular hub for outdoor activities, so there are plenty of places to hire bikes or pick up spares, including Ghyllside Cycles. The Visit Lake District website has some handy suggestions for other local routes if you’re planning to make the town your base.

Coniston

The pretty village of Coniston has some excellent mountain bike routes close by, including those around the Old Man of Coniston, Parkamoor and the Walna Scar mountain pass, and it’s only 20 minutes by car from Grizedale Forest’s trail centre. If you have less experience, the Visit Lake District website suggests several easier local trails, and, of course, a pedal beside the lake is always a great way to wind down after a long day’s ride. If you’re looking to hire a bike or pick up equipment, Grizedale Bikes (at the trail centre) is the place, and you’ll be able to hit the trails straight away.

Simple tips for a successful mountain biking trip

• Always make sure you have the right clothing, which includes weatherproof and breathable layers, a helmet, gloves, knee and elbow pads and appropriate footwear

• Carry tools for essential trailside repairs, including spare tubes, tyre levers, a pump, allen keys and a chain tool

• Ensure you have enough food and water to sustain you for the duration of your ride

• Make sure you have a fully charged mobile phone and/or a GPX device, with a paper map as back-up

• Check the weather forecast before you set out, and always inform someone of your route and when you plan to return

• Respect other trail users, including other riders, walkers and horse-riders

• Leave no trace - take all your litter home with you or dispose of it properly

Lake District accommodation options 

If you’re planning to camp out, take a look at Pitchup’s guide to the best campsites in the Lake District, including many that are close to popular mountain bike routes. If you prefer a hostel, self-catering, a cottage or a B&B, the accommodation pages on the national park’s website and Visit Lake District will leave you spoilt for choice.

Whether you want to fly downhill through the forest, tackle a mountain pass or conquer one of the region’s highest peaks, the Lake District has a mountain bike trail for you. It’s time to start planning your next adventure.