Words by Alex, Routes by Eric, Photos by Pete
Crew: Eric, El Pres, Slim, Butty, Troll, Dr S, Stunt, Mark McDermott
An Eric and Dr S production with accommodation at the Coniston Inn and four days of riding in big terrain.
Day 1 – Elterwater 22 Miles & 3,333 ft
Day 2 – Dunnerdale and Seathwaite 25 Miles & 3,700 ft
Day 3 – Grizedale
Day 4 -Greenodd to Newby Bridge 13 Miles & 1000 ft
Thursday is blue skies, sunshine and barely a breath of wind. With the exception of the Troll, we are all able to make a 13:30 depart from the Coniston Inn for a decent day 1 ride. With lovely grounds running down to the lake it’s a fine venue for picnic lunches ahead of the ride.
We head north out of Coniston and off road over the little lump of Tarn Hows before dropping down crossing the main road and picking up the dead end road to Timberthwaite. Here on the climb framed by the fells either side just showing the first yellows of autumn we get stunning views of the Langdales and the big peaks of the lakes.
A chunky descent to little Langdale Tarn, where the bridleway takes us to the the longest & deepest ford in christendom, luckily there is also a bridge! Non of us pass the eye spy test set by Eric to find the unusually named building (a house called Eric). Pretty lanes, and a 21st century working dry stone waller are some of the delights as we climb up the side of Lingmore fell. Then into the woods for some swoopy descents, through the quarry, and a sharp turn right into Elterwater village. The latter is missed by Photo lagging Pete – but he manages to find us again at our mid ride stop on the village green.
A nice coffee shop where we buy the last cakes in the village to restore us. Turning back south Eric has planned some excellent riding on Holme Fell – with one totally gratuitous extra climb for a superb downhill (totally worth it)
Tired but happy arriving back to the Inn c6:30pm where Troll is delighted to see us.
Walk into the village for supper at the Black Bull – six years after we stayed here after our first day on the 2019 off road coast to coast. Coniston ale excellent, but what is this! they close at 10pm.
Stars on the walk home truly stunning, milky way clearly visible! another pint back at the hotel, then cheeky double Talisker (was this wise!?…well it was only £2 more to upgrade from the single)
Day 2 – Originally this was to be a Grizedale day to miss the crowds, but the weather for Sat looks dodgy, so we opt to make sure we get out on the big loop to Seathwaite under more clement conditions. Dr S brings out the E (nice when you have both!).
After a gentle leg stretch along the lakeside, we stop at Torver for coffee – there being nothing between here and our lunch stop en route. Prize for most unusual use for an old red telephone box – a rainwater butt for watering the pub’s hanging baskets (water looked pretty scuzzy)
A very long steep road climb then into forestry – mind the cock and balls shaped turds at the gate!
Off road climb on the Dunnerdale fells to the col, with a quick detour to Brown Haw for stunning views of the Duddon estuary, with Barrow to the South and offshore windfarms on the horizon.
Cracking descent into Seathwaite and a cozy pub with amazing stripy slated floors. Those who hesitate reading the menus end up in a queue behind a big group of dirt bikers! Pete and Alex have a cheeky pint, the homemade fish finger sandwiches are amazing, and the tea warms through. El Pres has his trail snack of choice in Millionaire shortbread for pud.
The cloud is coming in – and not just in the skies – the shadow of Walna Scar road looms large. Fortunately we are only going part way up – but that is bad enough. E bikes ride most of it, but echoes of the coast to coast long push as acoustic bikes are no match for steep and chunky terrain here.
Sugary treats and time to catch your breath needed at the wall – where we now contour right on marshy ground before the pay off – a superb rocky trail on the side of the Ickle all the way down to the road.
Retracing our tracks through the forestry – with a quick pause to work out if Ebikes were ahead or behind, then out and down grassy off road to the valley floor. Frustratingly no access to the old railway line, but only a few humps and bumps to Torver and then traffic free trails into Coniston.
Another big day in the saddle, thank goodness for hot showers and comfy rooms.
Tonight we eat in the Inn, which bodes well as some rain arrives overnight. Post food we retire to one of the summerhouses for some excellent ginger cake from Mrs B, washed down with some team whisky!
We awake to news that Mark has to bail with a flare up of a foot problem. Troll heads off to collect his hire E bike, and we fuel up at breakfast for a day in Grizedale!
Before the off we need to celebrate Pete’s 62nd birthday – and give him some pressies from home.
It’s a big climb from the off to get up to the head of the trails, and it’s fair to say that acoustic legs are feeling it having had two big days already. Skies are gloomy – but the rain is now only coming this afternoon, so we are at least dry (for now). Eric quickly hatches a route plan to give E boys plenty to enjoy whilst keeping mere mortals away from gratuitous climbs.
The new red trail section is underwhelming (as Eric had said) with swoopy berms there is easy air and Insta attraction rather than any great skill. But the bridleways are amazing! and Parkamoor good fun.
We regroup back at the trail centre an team E bring glowing reports of the Lawson Park descent. More good nosh ..even the “horrible” soup was nice ;-), the chunkiest millionaire shortbread ever, and restorative coffee. There is even a glimmer of brightness in the sky.
Some things don’t change though, and Troll has back tyre issues having been enjoying his momentum downhill. We head back out on the main Red trail – the first section is a twisty rooty rocky singletrack heading gently up hill. A great test for acoustic and E alike – perhaps not on day three legs though. From here we take fire roads back to the Lawson Park turn, and head down – it just keeps on giving – and all smiles at the bottom. Some gentle minor roads back to base for an early bath and to watch the Womens Rugby world cup final!
The red roses overpower the canadians in an entertaining match – albeit without sound (but we did manage to get the subtitles switched off!). With the inevitable weather front coming in, we opt to eat in again, which apart from a slap dash pasta for Butty (they did make it again – this time with all the advertised ingredients) does the job.
The highlight of the evening is an excursion to the summer houses for some birthday whisky and drambuie…however our first choice summer house is suffering from noxious odours – not from Butty’s rear – but from the septic tank vent. We retire up wind to another by the lake shore for fresher airs. Laphroig is too good a malt for making rust nails – so of course we do it anyway! Improptu field surgery on trolls splinter with pin and tweezers from a swiss army knife.
We ask Eric for a gentle ride tomorrow!
Day four and the sun is shining again, our routemeister has devised a nice flattish route with lots of coffee stops which starts and finishes half an hour down the road at the little village of Greenodd. Packed up and checked out we arrive in convoy and manage to find parking at the agricultural machinery shop which is conveniently closed on a sunday.
We head through the village (past some very interesting vintage rovers and landy’s) to get to the traffic free bridge over the water. Lots for the cameras here – bushes covered in dewy spiders webs that are catching the morning light, jellyfish on the estuary banks, and some of us riding the double track.
We follow a disused railway line then onto bridleway before dropping down to the river and the motor museum for some coffee . On the sunny decking overlooking the river we are entertained both by the wasps coming to join in Butty and Phils jam and cream scones, and the whitewater kayakers arriving for wetter fun!
A road climb back out of Backbarrow takes us up to the bridleway across low brow edge, and views of the steam railway – with obliging engine and carriages! Good distraction as Phil is struggling with that pesky back tyre again!
Damp and slippery trail to a damp and boggy moor – but a nice descent down and into Newby Bridge. The ailing wheel needs more air (close inspection reveals that the rim has a patina of dents and was probably on it’s last legs before Phil rented it!).
Minor roads make for good progress as we cross the river and head along the other side, opting to do lunch at the Steam railway station.
Plenty to enjoy here in the engine sheds, as well as some hearty homemade soups and sandwiches, before the train arrives for the full steam experience.
A nice flat couple of miles back to the cars in Greenodd before heading our separate ways – tired legs but an excellent long weekend!! Top marks to Eric and Dr S – this format works well (especially for E bikers)
