advice needed on mini-tour in the Lake District, Jubbly Bank Holiday weekend

[dellzeqq]

dear Cycle Chat Touringpeeps. I've been asked about touring in the Lake District, and this is something I know nothing about, so it's over to you...

will the roads be very crowded that weekend?

what's the condition of the roads?

any particular places to avoid?

thanking you in advance.....

 

[Red Light]

Even on a Bank Holiday weekend you will find the roads pretty quiet away from the tourist honeypots.

Roads are in pretty good condition - better and fewer potholes than you are used to in London. They are narrow though.

The main A roads into the Lakes - A590/591 and A66. Ambleside, Windermere and Bowness tend to get very busy with traffic and tourists but they are small, you are just passing through and they have some good cafes so don't bother too much about avoiding them.

Just be aware the Lakes are hilly with some big hills and some long hills. There are lots of quiet back roads you can enjoy, the tourist drivers tend to be on holiday and therefore patient in passing but the off-road tracks/bridleways you might be tempted to take can be quite rocky so best not for touring. Save them for the mountain bike.

Oh and the lakes are there for a reason - it rains a lot - so be prepared.

My daughter's favourite poem for the Lake District:

It rained and it rained and rained and rained,
The average fall was well maintained,
And when the tracks were simply bogs,
It started raining cats and dogs.

After a drought of half an hour,
We had a most refreshing shower,
And then the most curious thing of all,
A gentle rain began to fall.

Next day was also fairly dry,
Save for the deluge from the sky,
Which wetted the party to the skin,
And after that the rain set in.

 

[Alun]

The roads around Windermere, Ambleside, and Keswick will be busy as they are every BH weekend, and are best avoided, as are the main roads that lead there. The roads are generally well surfaced unless recent weather has taken a heavy toll. The roads over the passes can be very steep and narrow in places. Finding accomodation can be a problem at a BH. The area to the north of Keswick is good cycling country, and a lot quieter, but not what some people regard as the "Lake DIstrict"

 

[Spinney]

The roads over the passes can also be very steep, esp. Hardknott and Wrynose. As well as being steep, they are narrow, and on a bank hol weekend more likely to contain tourists in cars unused to such narrow/steep roads, with consequent problems if they try to overtake you, or don't give you enough space if you are going in the opposite direction.

TBH, I normally avoid the Lakes on bank hols.

 

[Red Light]

TBH, I normally avoid the Lakes on bank hols.

That might appear the sensible thing to do but over recent years they are nowhere near as busy as they once were and I am constantly amazed at how I can go out for a ride on a Bank Holiday Sunday or Monday and come across virtually no-one outside of the honeypots. I certainly meet very few mountain bikers other than on the Bowness Ferry and round the mountain bike shops and I meet very few road cyclists too. And cars are pretty infrequent on the minor roads, driving slowly (apart from the Landies of the locals) and enjoying the scenery so less likely to be desperate to pass (which is good as the opportunities are much fewer on the narrow, windy roads).

Give it another go - you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Red Light]

The area to the north of Keswick is good cycling country, and a lot quieter, but not what some people regard as the "Lake DIstrict"

Ditto the area east of the M6.

 

[rollinstok]

Where are you starting/ending your tour dellzeqq ?
Are you camping ?
I may be able to offer some advice on good sites and possible routes

 

[kendalcottages]

Hello from Cumbria (I live on the edge of the Lake District National Park).

As already stated, the Lakes are busy at the Bank Holiday weekends. That said, there are plenty of quieter roads that you can enjoy.

I'm more a runner than a cyclist and last May bank holiday weekend, I did a run that started in Hawkshead, went down the western shore of Coniston, all the way down to the southern end, and then across to Oxen Park, and back up through Satterthwaite and Grizedale (note, great for mountain biking), and back to Hawkshead. Hardly a car in site despite it being Bank Holiday Monday and running for well over 2 hours, although I did see a number of cyclists, some of whom were doing what I assume was the same route (some going the other way around I saw twice!).

Also the A591 mentioned above... if you take the road that goes Kendal-Burneside-Bowston-etc. you can then pick up the route on the cycle paths and thus avoid the main road.

There's a similar alternative road that runs parallel to the A590 if you happen to venture out that way.

 

[oldfatfool]

The 'quiet' back roads do attract lge groups of bikers/ car rallies, as the roads are narrow and these groups are only there to drive them in a 'spirited' manner be warned.

 

[Ajay]

Personally, for the Central Lakes, I'd leave the road bike at home and take the walking boots and/or mtb instead. Unless of course you're on a mission to "tick off" the big climbs, in which case you could take your time doing this http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/fourseasons.php
There's great road cycling on the fringes and outside the national park (the beautiful scenery doesn't stop at the boundary).
We had a forum ride yesterday in the south east corner of the park - truly beautiful, with some great places to eat and stay eg Masons Arms, Bowland Bridge - Punchbowl, Crosthwaite - Wheatsheaf, Brigsteer. Plus foodie haven Cartmel with the Michelin starred L'Enclume.
I would recommend a tour in this area, then heading over via Kendal to Sedburgh, Dentdale, and Kirkby Lonsdale.

 

[rollinstok]

There are quite a few options for routes that avoid/skirt the fleshpots.
Need more info..come on dell..
Let me know if you are arriving by car or train, whether you are camping or not, how many miles per day do you want to do etc

 

[lpretro1]

Try the western lakes area as it it way more quiet as it is harder to get to - places like Lamplugh, Cockermouth, Ennerdale area. You have the advantage of coastal riing too if you go over there.