Bikepacking : April 2015

We had a day off with a great forecast so we thought it would make for a good ride to nip over into Longsleddale up Gatescarth pass down into Haweswater then the hike a bike of Nan Bield pass. After that into Kentmere over Green Quarter down HP over to Browfoot and finally pick up the three rivers descent.

Green Quarter Fell Track

The Sun is out to play

Dropping down into Haweswater via Gatescarth

That's the way up to Nan Bield

Looking back from where we had come from

Fi pratising bike carrying

Nearly made it to the top

My bike at the top of Nan Bield just waiting for the descent

Fi carrying her bike - nearly at the top

Short video how to put your bike down (Not!)

Kentmere Reservoir

Kentmere valley

Looking back from Smalithwaite Knott

Near the disused lead mines

We had a couple of days so the plan was to head over to Reeth and do a two day bike tour from there. This was a warm down from the previous weeks Lakeland 200km. The route started off in Reeth and headed up a nice tarmac climb towards Gibbon hill then down past a shooting hut which was open with a flushing toilet! Then we head up and over the next hill to Askrigg. From Askrigg we took a long track over the tops past Stake Moss via Gilbert Lane, turning right to head towards Hubberholme then the carrying started up and over Horse Head to Halton Gill. This was the only bit of carrying we had to do but there was more pushing to come. From Foxup we headed past Plover Hill and down to Horton in Ribblesdale where we had to make a tough decision whether to keep going or stop and wait for a pub tea. (To get to Askrigg for pub food would be about another 22 miles away with a couple of hills in the way). Foolishly we manned up and went for the extra miles by starting off on the Pennine Way over to Greenfield to meet some tarmac miles until we got to the old Roman Road. The night was staring to close in so we made a new plan to put the tent up and cook some tea.(It was getting chilly and a bit late for pub food)
The following morning we got up to another great day weather wise so we set off to Bainbridge where the draw of a cafe got the better of us and we stopped for sausage sandwiches and proper cups of tea. After the quick refill we set off for Reeth via Whitaside Moor and Cat Scar we got to Grinton and the day was still young and legs still had something left so Fremington Edge was calling. A nice steady climb and a great descent to a lovely little pub in Langthwaite. A quick loop over to Gunnerside Gill before it was back alongside the river to Reeth.

The Stats
2 Days
Day 1 49.1 miles 6671 ft climbing 10h 31m total time

Day 2 41.3 miles 5386 ft climbing 9h 20 total time