Hardknott / Wynrose routes from Ambleside?

[thecube]

I am visiting Ambleside next month and was hoping to attempt one or two of the big climbs. Does anyone have any advice on a senisble route from Ambleside? I don't fancy anything too long since the trip is a family holiday and i'm not allowed too much down time! The best I can come up with is a straight trip over both and then a return! this sounds brutal. Not sure about any circular route options. I can also drive to shorten the ridding if necessary.
I have a bike with a 50/34 front chainset and 12-30 casette, i take it this will be just about doable? I am relatively fit but run more than cycle, so not sure how my legs would fair. I have done the the Kirkstone pass from Ambleside in the past, this was OK for me. Any advice on decent routes in the Lakes will be much appreciated.

 

[Ajay]

Yes, once you go over Hardknott its a long way round back to Ambleside!
Option 1: Ambleside - Hawkshead - Tarn Hows - Consiston -Wrynose. Back down Wrynose - Little Langdale - Langdale - Skelwith Bridge - Ambleside

Route 2 Ambleside - Windermere Ferry - Hawkshead - Coniston - Broughton in Furness- Duddon Valley - Cockely Beck - Ascend Hardknott from east then return over Wrynose and continue as per route 1.

I'm happy to post a route map etc if you want

 

[thecube]

Ajay, they sound like interesting routes, I don't have a map to hand. I did cycle to the start of the Wynrose last year, then I detoured right over to the Langdales and back, this was a nice ride. At the time I didn't have the guts to try the Wynrose! I need to dig out my OS maps to check the routes. Thanks for your reply.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Can you not get family to drop you on the other side and make your way back by bike?
We will be doing these passes at the start of next month as well (just on touring bikes for which I will make sure I have a suitably low gearing on... )

 

[thecube]

Well my other half doesn't drive! and my 2 year old pukes in the car when we drive about 2 miles! Touring bikes sounds like a sensible option. I could do with an extra chainring, but I like the challenge of doing it with just the two!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Well my other half doesn't drive! and my 2 year old pukes in the car when we drive about 2 miles! Touring bikes sounds like a sensible option. I could do with an extra chainring, but I like the challenge of doing it with just the two!

Rohloff hub, so easier to switch the ratios as and when - switch out the 40T front chainring for a 38T one and tighten the eccentric bottom bracket and sorted 5 mins work...

sounds like you are either doing one big ride or will be going there and back over the same passes... or you could try the bus service... or a really long train ride...

 

[Pale Rider]

I drove over Hardknott and Wrynose just to have a look.

Eek, I admire anyone who can cycle those two.

I couldn't for two reasons, I lack the fitness to get up them, and I lack the bike handling skills to get down.

 

[thecube]

I drove over Hardknott and Wrynose just to have a look.

Eek, I admire anyone who can cycle those two.

I couldn't for two reasons, I lack the fitness to get up them, and I lack the bike handling skills to get down.

Whilst I might have the fitness to get over them my bike handling skills on the decent pretty much amount to heavy braking all the way down!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If a lift to Eskdale and riding from that side is out of the question, @Ajay's second route is probably the best bet. Riding both passes twice in one day would be brutal.

Another possibility would be to follow that route to Ulpha then climb over Birker Fell to Eskdale. I think that would be my choice for a future attempt on Hardknott & Wryose as part of a circular route. It may well take longer than you have in mind though.

 

[gavgav]

Having been the transport for @Rickshaw Phil last year, when we drove over to Eskdale and dropped him off ready to watch him cycle up, much kudos to anyone who can cycle over those 2 passes .

 

[thecube]

having had a quick look at at map last night one option to check out some good roads is to drive to keswick, off-load the family for a couple of hours and do a route to Buttermere on the Honister pass and then back via the Newlands pass, this looks great.

 

[jazzkat]

having had a quick look at at map last night one option to check out some good roads is to drive to keswick, off-load the family for a couple of hours and do a route to Buttermere on the Honister pass and then back via the Newlands pass, this looks great.

That's a nice loop and a lovely part of Cumbria. It's probably a more sensible idea too, being a loop rather than an 'out and back'.
If you want a good climb, from Ambleside you can't do better than go up the struggle. It's a tough one, but nice in that you can come back down Kirkstone into the bottom end of Windermere and the views are superb.
A bit easier, but you could also drop down into Coniston from the north (A593) and go back over Hawkshead hill (B5285). Lovely quiet roads and not too tough.

 

[danielstucke]

If you've got the time then I'd recommend heading from Ambleside down along Conniston to Broughton, from their head over Corney Fell which is one of the great unknown climbs of the UK, more height gain than Hardknott but more spread out, it's about 6 miles over it, bit more continental in style. From the valley below Muncaster fell you can then head up Eskdale over Hardknott and Wrynose and back over towards Ambleside. Bascially this route: http://www.strava.com/activities/41841336 but you can cut down the other side of Conniston on the A495 to shorten it a bit and to cut out the chunk of A595 which is always a really busy road to do with too many HGVs to make it any fun.

Can't recommend Corney Fell enough and that whole side of the Lakes in general (but then I'm biased as I grew up round there!).

 

[geocycle]

This might help? http://www.golakes.co.uk/travel/New-Bike-Bus.aspx

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I did Hardknott and Wynrose a couple of years ago going west to east then continued on to Ambleside and did The Struggle @ Kirkstone. Excellent stretch that is a real test of the lungs and legs. If you have a good level of fitness then a 34-30 combo will see you right. Having good bike skills to balance when crawling along will also help. Easy to say it but dont stop! If you do getting restarted can be almost impossible on some of those bends. Stay clipped in, growl and power on, it is do-able. A couple of tips I learnt by doing it, do not burn out early by going at your normal pace, knock it back a little, you'll need the legs. Also, when descending Hardknott & Wrynose do not constantly brake. A friend of mine had a front sidewall blow out at +40mph down Wrynose as his rims had heated up that much it caused an explosive failure! Not good on one of the bends with a Merc coming the other way, he was a very lucky chap.... Keep your momentum in check early and feather at a comfortable speed. There's no doubt that you'll enjoy it, it's an awesome stretch of road! Have fun!