I had a trip planned all year for a tour of the Lake District but my only chance to go due to work commitments was on 4th October (when all the rain came!).
I set off anyway from my home town of Leigh and my first stop was Bolton-le-Sands near Morecambe. I stayed at red bank farm very nice site and I captured the sunset. Morecambe Bay
Left the next day with a plan to cycle and stay at Rydal Hall just north of Ambleside; this plan had to be changed due to heavy rain the week before... half the site was flooded! So now I had to cycle over to Great Langdale
Got there late and just after I set up the rain started! It was monsoon conditions and the wind according to reception in the morning was gusting around 80mph!! You heard the wind blow through the mountains before it hit your tent! The rain continued until 12pm the next day! So that's when I left the site. My plan that day was to head over to Wasdale... With such a late start I decided to have a short ride over to Coniston; I had a nightmare for the first 5 miles though, all that rain had formed huge Fjords in sections of the road that were so deep they came up to my panniers and my pedals went under water! Severe flooding! Flooded woods.
Eventually made it over to Coniston Hall
Great place for a rest by the lake. Having a beer by coniston. .
Next day was a ride over to Wasdale which I knew I could get to by several different routes... I decided to avoid this one! but I did go over a different pass which was still tough with gradients of 25%!
The brakes were burning on the way down!
Eventually made it to Wastwater Lake and the campsite is the far end. Got to Wasdale Campsite and booked in for 2 nights! I was here for a charity mission you see! Headed over to the wasdale head Inn and ordered a large burger, chips and salad; was a tad expensive but very very nice! Got back to site and went to sleep.
Next morning I had some cereal and made sure I had all my essentials for the journey up Scafell Pike! Not just me though.... the BIKE was coming too! All the way to the summit! Never ever been done before to my (or the locals) knowledge. Set off okay and the weather was fair, path was ridable and apart from a few styles that I had to navigate through it was good progress. Spoke to 3 hikers on way up who thought I was joking but they realised I was serious as I continued on! I had gone the Lingmell way so I soon came across the beck that runs down the middle; due to all the rain it was WIDE and FAST! There was also about 12 students filming a nature documentary next to this... so I did NOT want to fall in and be on You-Tube!!! Made it over and was still dry but now the pushing began since the steps are to steep to cycle over. Still going strong though and was half way up with this view...
The View facing me was a bit daunting though!
Just as the boulders started I came across the same three hikers as before; I had a map, compass etc.... but they led the way somewhat...(I lost them in the mist a few times but did a quick map reading whilst resting)... after a very long 35-45 mins over the boulder field I had made it! My mission was complete!
Myself and the hikers shared congratulations and they headed off into the mist leaving me in my own thoughts.
Time to get down! Which I did do without incident; the bike had suffered though... smashed my twist shift gears on a rock which stopped the selector working; so to use that gear I have to throttle like a motorbike! brakes were also a bit worn and cables loose. I would repair most of these jobs later. Got to campsite, wash, changed and back on bike to pub for chips and loads of bread and a pint too! The 3 same hikers walked through the door whilst I was there which was nice. Got back to site, did repairs to bike and got some sleep.
Woke up the next day after a really loud thunderstorm that night! Got my stuff together and set off; I was not in a rush to return home so decided to return to the Coniston Hall site since it was nice there and I just wanted to unwind... So much so that I stayed 2 nights, so on the free day I just wandered around the village, did some shopping, had a few pints etc.. Very quiet site first time but Friday night loads of campervans, tents turned up but loads of space for everybody.
Woke up on Saturday and left the site and headed down the road that runs along coniston; Had a final look at the lake and headed for Lancashire.
Made my way to Bolton-le-Sands again as it's on route for home; got there about 3pm and the sun had made an appearance which made a change! Pitched tent with a lovely view.
Next day was a mixed emotion day! Could not wait to get home... for all the missed comforts but also sad my journey was coming to an end. It was actually a lovely day which was a bonus and even though it was sunday I came across an open burger van! Yummy. Made steady progress and soon came to my home sign!
I have reviewed all the campsites I mentioned and also the Langdale and Wasdale sites are National Trust sites... They offer a Green Discount if you turn up on foot or bike! You get £5 discount! so a night at those sites was only £3.50! Thanks for reading about my trip; it was all for the Alzheimers Society. My just giving page
There's a good reason a bike has never been up Scafell! It's sheer and utter madness!!!
Surprised to see a post from someone local - we live in Astley!
Good report, but can't help thinking you're mad!
------------- Sheriff Hutton C&CC July 2015
Hamilton Fields July 2015
Hayfield September 2014
Laneside August 2014
Beech Croft Farm June 2014
Moorlands Caravan Park April 2014
Chateau De Martragny Normandy July 2013
Camping Haliotis Normandy July 2013
Beech Croft Farm Sept 2012
Barn Farm Aug 2012
Thanks to you all....
The weather was a hindrance and at times a real pain! Thankfully on the day of my challenge it was okay, that was my main concern. Tamed the beast anyway so I just have Ben Nevis left for me n the bike to do!
Hey cpaalp same goes for me; don't find many from this neck of woods! lol. Yea I get the 'I am crazy' comments loads from friends, family and strangers if i ever divulge my mad tours to em! People have stopped betting against me now!!! haha.
I have Red Bank Farm saved on my list... as we fancy an amble on our cycles along Morecombe prom. Probably best not to have mentioned that, in light of your somewhat more energetic post!
I see you mentioned charity... and I see you with a certain illness (for want of a better word) emblazoned on your Tee-shirt. I presume the two are connected?
Don't suppose you have a link for donations, do you?
(I presume that's within UKCS rules?)
Yep, my mate Billy in the photo was riding the Surly Big Dummy, quite an unusual bike, my bike is the silver one, that I put together back in 2004, Frame, Forks, Cranks all shipped in from China, firm called Tilon xcnd located in Xian Provence. they produce Titanium frames for around $300.
Both bikes run Rohloff Hubs for gearing so no Derailleurs, the Rohloff is a superb piece of kit, and can be retro fitted to any bike, and is good for well over 100,000 km, and there has never been a reported failure.
After Red Bank Farm, our next campsite would be Bridge End Farm, at the North end of Thirlmere water near Keswick, very peaceful with a pub near by.
Then the last campsite would be at Dalston, just South of Carlisle, called Dalston Hall, handy for the final days ride down through Carlisle and over the border to Annan.
We wimp out on the return journey, and get the train from Carlisle to Bolton!
Hats off to you sb, brilliant pics, great effort!. Will be doing the lakes one year, not cycling though as walking is more our thing and it would be a long cycle from Derbyshire!.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Lake District Bike Tour
Red Bank Farm.
