Behind Skiddaw - Detail
Where to start
Arrive along the A66 and turn towards Keswick at the roundabout. Take the first left just after the petrol station and park outside the leisure centre (Map).
This route starts with a long road section: if you have a willing driver get dropped at the start of the bridle path near Peter House Farm (map).
Route
The initial part of this routed involves getting round to the back of Skiddaw by road. Turn left out of the parking, go back to the roundabout and cross straight over, signposted A591 to Bassenthwaite and Carlisle. The road follows Bassenthwaite Lake at a distance, passing Dodd on the right and later the Ravenstone Hotel. At High Side,800m beyond the hotel and 8km from the start, fork right onto a single track road that starts to climb quite steeply in places. Continue along this road for 2.6km, to where the bridle path exits on the right (the elevation is now 220m). There are several paths exiting from this road: be careful not to leave too soon: the track you want is surfaced for the first few hundred metres and signed to Skiddaw House.
Now comes the real riding! The route climbs continuously for 2.5km to Whitewater Dash waterfall (elevation 420m) passing the interestingly named Cockup and Dead Crags on the right.
After the waterfall there is a little more climbing to a high point of 490m followed by a descent to Skiddaw House, 2.5km from the waterfall.
The path turns left (east) at Skiddaw House and almost immediately forks: take the right (south) trail towards Threlkeld and follow this for 1.5km to the junction of paths above Glenderaterra Tarn. (If you've had enough rough stuff, you can turn left here and return to Keswick via Threlkeld and the old railway line. It's not shorter, but the riding is much easier).
Continue straight on on the path and climb gently along Lonscale Fell (the eastern edge of Skiddaw) reaching a height of 400m after 1km, and then descend gently again for a further 1km before the path turns sharp right to cross the front of Lonscale Fell. The route to the corner is rough and rocky: quite technical riding. After the corner the path becomes more rideable and the steeper gradient provides a fast, exciting descent for over a kilometre to Whit Beck. If you have time to look there are good views on your left over Derwent Water and beyond: Keswick stone circle is clearly visible.
After crossing Whit Beck the path climbs gently to the Latrigg car park (map). Turn right into the car park and after 100m left onto the bridle path signed Keswick. You now have a fast descent all the way back to Keswick. Beware of walkers (there are lots due to its proximity to Keswick and the relatively gentle climb) and the vicious drainage cross ditches - I've seen several riders taken by surprise by these and fly ungracefully into the undergrowth!
The descent is about 1.3km before you reach a surfaced track which takes you back over the A66 and down to a T junction: turn left and then right 100m later to bring you back to the car park.