The Windermere, Hawkshead and Kentmere loop — The Lake District

Mountain biking trails

The Windermere, Hawkshead and Kentmere loop — The Lake District

Hard

5.0

(7)

riders

The Windermere, Hawkshead and Kentmere loop — The Lake District

04:54

54.3km

1,230m

Mountain biking

Embark on the Windermere, Hawkshead and Kentmere loop, a demanding mountain biking adventure through the Lake District. This difficult 33.7-mile (54.3 km) route, typically taking around 4 hours and 53 minutes, challenges you with 4043 feet (1232 metres) of elevation gain across varied terrain. You will encounter unpaved tracks, rocky…

Last updated: April 23, 2026

This route includes a ferry crossing

Tips

Includes a ferry crossing

Check ferry timetable.

After 50.1 km for 498 m

Waypoints

Start point

Get Directions

7.24 km

Bridleway to Kentmere

Highlight (Segment) • Climb

A gentle, but very pleasant climb and a similar descent whichever way you tackle it.

On a good day, the views are, as you'd expect, spectacular, and it's surprisingly quiet despite its proximity to the Ambleside and Windermere walking honeypots.

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8.82 km

Lunsty Howe doubletrack, Kentmere Hall

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

A thrilling descent or testing climb, with stony doubletrack and Hall Wood to the side of the dry stone wall.

The views from here are just breathtaking, but you should probably be concentrating on where you're going!

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11.4 km

Garburn Pass

Highlight (Segment) • Mountain Pass

Debate has long raged as to whether it's better to ride the Garburn Pass from Kentmere to Troutbeck or vice versa. The trail is much steeper on the Kentmere side; …

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26.5 km

Gravel Trails Between Brathay, Outgate and Wray

Highlight • Cycleway

Nice way to avoid the roads into Ambleside. Good for campers in Low Wray.

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37.1 km

Grizedale Stone Fox Sculpture

Highlight (Segment) • Monument

Flat out fast descent, double track with natural drops and rock sections. Look out for motorbikes and 4x4’s as this is an open green lane.

Take care when you get …

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38.6 km

Esthwaite Trout Fishery Café

Highlight • Viewpoint

Fantastic quiet cafe by a fabulous location and views

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41.4 km

Claife Heights Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This trail between Sawrey and Belle Grange/High Wray is an absolute delight. It's not remotely technical, but it's utterly stunning. There are no huge mountains to take the breath away …

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49.9 km

Windermere Ferry Crossing

Highlight (Segment) • Bridge

At the time of writing, the ferry (an otherwise wonderful way to start or end a trip) is out of action, likely until October 2018. Windermere Lake Cruises is offering …

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54.3 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

16.5 km

16.0 km

10.1 km

7.28 km

2.54 km

1.37 km

473 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

22.7 km

12.3 km

8.98 km

7.59 km

1.37 km

1.35 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (450 m)

Lowest point (40 m)

Weather

Tuesday 6 October

13°C

7°C

30 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 9, 2023,The Windermere halo — the Lake District

A great ride to taste what riding in the lakes is all about. We started in Ings so it wasn't long before we were sampling the infamous Garbon Pass hike a bike. I don't think there is really a directional debate about the pass as the worst of it isn't really ridable anyway. Or not in anyway that would be …