In the summer, Alan Goldsmith had mentioned some possible changes to his original Lakeland 200 route. Whilst the variations make a route roughly the same length, they add in a couple of significant hills which make the ascent greater, around 7000 metres. So that was the plan, the new Lakeland 200 route. Rather than start from Staveley, we opted to start from near Keswick.
A couple of pints with some friends in the Coledale Inn the evening before, a good night's sleep in the back of the car, and just after 6:30 am, in the darkness, we are away towards our first hill, Skiddaw.
Tom and I had been up here not long ago so no surprises. A push up the first bit, then a mix of riding and pushing up to the top.
We knew that this route was going to have a lot of pushing, so instead of the usual bags on bikes set up, we carried everything on our backs.
By the time we got to Threlked we were in need of coffee and cake. Oh and some cardboard to sit on so we didn't soak their seats. It wasn't raining but the trails were certainly wet.
After some quiet valley roads and bridleways we find ourselves at the foot of Sticks Pass which heads up towards our next main hill, Helvellyn.
We'd ridden down here before, so knew it was steep. There wasn't much riding until we made the pass.
Over Raise, White Side, then a bite to eat near Helvellyn Summit.
Some nice easy riding towards Dollywagon Pike, followed by some real tech stuff down to Grisedale Tarn. We then follow the valley pictured below down to Patterdale.
In Patterdale we stopped to refuel again. It would be dark in a couple of hours, but we certainly weren't done for the day.
From Patterdale we ride towards Hartsop, where once again we commence hauling bikes up a steep grassy hill. Our goal is High Street. We do make the summit ridge before dark, but it still takes the best part of an hour to get to the trig point.
At Thornthwaite Crag a piccy. Before the tricky descent down to Troutbeck Park.
I only say it was tricky as it is justification for the spectacular over the bars thing I did half way down.
Above Limefitt Park we stop to eat some delaminated sausage rolls before the last climb of the day.
Garburn pass again is a familiar, and is not really a thing after the day's previous climbs. The descent as ever is testing though.
By the time we make Kentmere 16 hours in, we've both had enough and set up camp on Green Quarter Fell.
We both had a rubbish nights sleep, it was much colder than had been forecast. We woke up feeling more tired than we had been the night before. So instead of the planned 5:30 am start we opted for the 8:30 start followed by breakfast at Wilf's in Staveley. Below, on our way to breakfast.
It was a stunning day, so we were still going to ride back to Braithwaite where we had started, but day 2 was now, not going to be a tough one.
After a top breakfast we followed cyclepaths mostly to Ambleside where we popped into the Alpkit shop for a cup of tea (thanks Chris).
Bridleways round Rydal Water to Grasmere then over Dunmail raise.
We then followed the West road round Thirlmere, before heading up over Long Moss to Watendlath.
Here, Tom catching the last of the afternoon's Sun.
Bogtastic up there, but beautiful with a sweet little last drop down to Watendlath.
Back on the road to Keswick for some chips, and back to the car before dark.
A great couple of days in the Lake District. With day 1 being a strong contender for the toughest bikepacking day we've done.
