MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mountain Bike Guiding & Skills Instruction I Guided Gravel Biking I The Lake District & Beyond
Live life on two wheels and enjoy some of the best cycle trails the Lake and Peak District have to offer. Join our fully qualified Mountain Bike guides for a memorable ride, or a skills session to help improve your riding. The two National Parks have hundreds of miles of bridleway to explore as well as top quality trail centres and so the options are almost seemingly endless. The best thing about Mountain or Gravel biking? Mud! There's nothing quite like spending the day smashing through muddy puddles and getting covered top to toe to really feel like you've had an adventurous day.
Guiding
You may have a route in mind that you'd like to be led on, or you may just want a fun adventure, either way our mountain bike guide can provide an excellent day out. Available across the Lake District and Peak District.
Please note we cannot guide rides on the high fells. e.g Skiddaw, Helvellyn
Prices from
Half Day: £120 Full Day: £200
Skills Coaching
It's amazing how fast bad habits can form, or how a few hours of coaching and learning a new skills can transform your ride. Why slow down for that tree stump when you can hop over it?
Hire our guide for either a half or full day session targeting your areas of weakness. Full riding assessments can be done to let you know what's working great and what needs work.
Prices from
Half Day: £120 Full Day: £200
Ideas & Recommendations
Basic fitness required
Some on bike fitness necessary, undulating terrain with chance to rest
Good bike fitness, steeper and longer hills
Capable of riding all day, previous experience of this effort recommended
A total enduro, expect to need a rest day (or two) afterwards!
FITNESS
Smooth trails, tarmac, and forest fire roads
Simple off-road trails & loose surfaces
Sections of rocks, and loose surfaces; technical climbs and descents
Sustained sections of roots, steps, slabs, and loose surfaces; technical climbs and descents
As gnarly as it gets whilst not requiring wheels to leave the ground!
TECHNICALITY
Half Day Intro to MTB
Fitness: Technicality:
New to mountain biking? Then come along and join us for a half day introductory session so we can show you what it’s all about. Based at Whinlatter forest, where you have access to bike hire should you need it, we will show you the ropes. The session will cover all you need to know to get you started on the rougher stuff. Aimed at beginners and roadies wanting to try some gravel riding.
Shorter Routes - These can be done in half a day and are a great intro into the excellent natural trails you can find in Lakeland.
Claife Heights - 15km
Fitness: Technicality:
An absolute beginner’s dream, right in the tourist centre of Lakeland. Starting on the eastern shores of Windemere, you can even combine the days riding with a trip on the ferry for that total lake district experience!
A tour of Loughrigg Fell – 13km
Fitness: Technicality:
A cracking wee outing which circumnavigates Loughrigg Fell. A superb little mountain bike journey with views to die for over Grasmere and Rydal waters.
Coffin Route – 9km
Fitness: Technicality:
Two routes in one! This one is equally as good clockwise as it is anti-clockwise. Tucked away in the North-West corner of the national park, it is another quiet one, but no less special. The views over Loweswater are just incredible, and buzzards can often be spotted soaring above the woods. This is a route which can be lengthened to include a lap of Low Fell giving a relaxed full days riding.
Spark Bridge – 17.5km
Fitness: Technicality:
What’s not to like about this half day spectacular? Quiet trails which are often ignored by the MTB masses heading for the man-made North Face trail just up the road in Grizedale forest. This is not a route for the adrenaline junkies or those seeking mega techy trails, it is however totally suited to those looking to improve their skills.
Blawith Common – 14km
Fitness: Technicality:
One of the best half day rides in the Lake District in our opinion. Superb scenery and a complete feeling of wilderness coupled with some great single-track climbs and descents. A good chance of having the trails to yourself, but there are a couple of sharp climbs though, so bring your legs for this one! Can also be extended into a full day if required.
Nannycatch Gate – 24.5km
Fitness: Technicality:
This route is just about pushing the limits of what can be done in a half day, but what a route! Starting from the stunning Wath Bridge in Cleator Moor, this is great riding in a very quiet part of the national park, and if you are willing to make the effort you will likely get the trails to yourself! For those on a gravel bike, this route can also be extended, and we can offer a longer full day to include a tour of Ennerdale as well.
Longer Routes - All of these require a good level of fitness as you will be out with us for around 5-6 hours
Coniston Loop – 37km
Fitness: Technicality:
Starting in Coniston, this is a spectacular journey through some remote feeling landscapes. A real taste of what natural riding has to offer here in the South Lakes. A mix of punchy climbs, open fellsides, streams and forest tracks, all topped off with a technical rooty and rocky descent to finish off. Not for the feint hearted, this is a tough and long day in the saddle.
Grizedale Grunt – 28km
Fitness: Technicality:
One of several options we have to offer in the awesome Grizedale forest. Almost completely off-road this is a great test of your skills. This route takes in the best natural trails Grizedale has to offer without going near the man-made North Face trail. Goes in all weathers and conditions.
Dunnerdale Enduro – 34km
Fitness: Technicality:
Another full day out in the saddle. This time we are in the almost deserted Dunnerdale valley. A great mix of open scenery and great technical rocky descents all linked together with quiet bridleway cruising and empty sections of road. Best saved for a clear day where the views will blow you away!
Need to Hire a Bike?
There are multiple options for Mountain Bike hire, with prices ranging from £25-£50 per half day / day. Let us know what you need when enquiring and we'll do our best to help.
For bike Hire in the North Lakes, bike bits, a new bike, servicing and much more head to
Keswick Bikes. https://www.keswickbikes.co.uk/
LMG's Mountain Bike Guide
Scott Robertson
The phrase 'Now you see him, now you don't' comes to mind when biking with Scott! He's fast! But that speed isn't just down to Scott not caring and letting go of the brakes, it comes from being an experienced and skilled rider.
Scott's extensive biking experience coupled with his exceptional coaching style makes him a fab person to spend time on the trail with. A day on the trail with Scott would not be a wasted experience.
Scott is a British Cycling Level 2 Mountain Bike leader. To find out what that means, what it takes to become one and what Scott can do with you click here.
