Ullswater, Lake District Mountain Biking Trails

Ullswater, in the eastern Lake District, is an iconic natural mountain biking area: rocky bridleways, big fell climbs and some of the best-loved descents in the Lakes, linked by quiet lanes and the Ullswater 'Steamers'. There is no trail centre here. This page covers four classic routes from around 14km to around 36km, from a short Place Fell loop to a big day on the High Street ridge, most of them sharing the famously technical lakeside bridleway.

The Trails

Every route here is natural, ungraded and unwaymarked, on public bridleways and quiet roads, with some pushing or carrying on the steepest climbs. Distances are approximate.

• Place Fell Loop (around 14km): the shortest of the classic rides. From Patterdale, follow the lakeside bridleway north past Silver Crag towards Sandwick, take the quiet road round into Boredale, then climb out of the valley to Boredale Hause, with a short carry through a rocky gully near the top, before descending back to Patterdale.
• Boredale or Bannerdale Figure of Eight: from Patterdale, climb to Boredale Hause, then choose your first descent. Drop straight into Boredale through a rocky notch that may need a brief carry, or carry on over the shoulder of Beda Fell for the narrow hillside singletrack into Bannerdale, which adds a little climbing and which many riders rate the better of the two. Both options meet in Martindale, take the bridleway up to The Cockpit stone circle on Moor Divock, descend to Howtown, and return along the lakeside bridleway.
• Moor Divock and Askham Fell (around 23.5km): a figure of eight from Pooley Bridge at the northern end of the lake, and the least technical route here. Climb from Roehead onto Moor Divock, cross the open fell to Helton and Askham, climb back up to The Cockpit, then take the long descent to Howtown and follow the lakeside road back to Pooley Bridge.
• High Street and Ullswater (around 36km, around 1,400m of climbing): the big day. From Hartsop, climb past Hayeswater, carrying over the dam and pushing up to the col behind The Knott, then follow the Roman road north along the High Street ridge, which tops out at 828m, over High Raise and Loadpot Hill to The Cockpit. Descend to Howtown, take the road round to Sandwick, and finish on the lakeside bridleway to Patterdale. The ridge is exposed and boggy in places, so save it for dry weather and come fit and well equipped.

Route Notes

• The Cockpit to Howtown: one of the best-loved natural descents in the Lakes, a long bridleway down the flank of Barton Fell with Ullswater in view the whole way, dropping to Howtown via Mellguards. Near the bottom it passes through a garden where signs ask cyclists to walk.
• The Ullswater lakeside bridleway: from Howtown, the shoreline path around the foot of Hallin Fell is footpath, so take the road over to Sandwick instead. From Sandwick, the bridleway follows the shore past Silver Crag to Side Farm and Patterdale. There is little flat ground and a lot of rock: short, steep technical climbs and drops that test good riders, especially in the wet.
• Walkers: the lakeside path is very popular, with many walkers taking the steamer to Howtown and walking back. Ride considerately, give way, and avoid the busiest summer weekends and holiday periods if you can.
• Navigation: several footpaths branch off the bridleways, particularly across Boredale Hause, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off and stick to the bridleways.

Visit Eden publishes route cards for two of these areas: Boredale and Eastern Flanks of Ullswater, a steamer-linked ride from Glenridding, and Moor Divock from Pooley Bridge.

Using the Steamers

• The Ullswater 'Steamers' link Howtown with Glenridding and Pooley Bridge. Bikes are carried at the skipper's discretion (not on Lady Dorothy), space is limited and bike places cannot be booked in advance, so passage is never guaranteed.
• Taking the boat from Howtown back to Glenridding skips the lakeside bridleway on any of the Howtown routes.

More Riding Nearby

• Helvellyn and Sticks Pass: a big mountain route from Glenridding over one of the highest bridleways in England.

Getting Here

• Glenridding: the main car park by the Ullswater Information Centre is a central base, with the steamer pier and cafes close by.
• Patterdale (Place Fell Loop, figure of eight): pay and display car park opposite the Patterdale Hotel on the A592, CA11 0NN. Spaces are limited and fill quickly at weekends. The King George V Playing Field community car park (CA11 0PJ) is an alternative.
• Hartsop (High Street): the car park at the end of the lane through Hartsop, or Cow Bridge car park on the A592 nearby.
• Pooley Bridge (Moor Divock and Askham Fell): the village car park, or the small free layby at the end of the lane to Roehead Farm, which has space for around eight cars and no facilities.
• Public transport: the Stagecoach 508 bus runs year-round from Penrith, which has the nearest railway station, to Glenridding and Patterdale.
• Facilities: Glenridding, Patterdale and Pooley Bridge have public toilets, pubs and cafes, and there are pubs in Askham and Helton on the Moor Divock loop. Side Farm campsite sits right by the lakeside bridleway near Patterdale.

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• If you have ridden the mountain bike routes around Ullswater, please share your reviews, photos, and videos to this listing.