| 1. This is a nice road route, on a mix of A, B and country roads, that goes along lake shores, has a long climb up Dunmail Raise, goes along Thirlmere Resevoir and past a stone circle to St Johns for tea and cake. You then complete a loop and return mainly by the same route.
Initially head through Ambleside on the A591and follow this up through Rydal, White Moss and Grasmere, passing Rydal Water and Grasmere Lake on the way. Stay on the A591, on the long climb through the Pass of Dunmail Raise, and then look for a turn off to the left.
Take the left turn, off the A591, and follow this quiet coutry road past Thirlmere. Towards the end of the water, follow the road left, rather than going right along the shore. Follow this road along the edge of the trees, and take the first turn off to the left. Follow this through the trees and at a fork in the road go right. This brings you around a farmhouse and back to the A591.
At the A591 turn left heading towards Keswick. Just before reaching Keswick, take the right turn into Castle Lane, heading towards the Castlerigg Stone Circle. At the next T junction turn right, past the stone circle and follow the road till the next T junction. Go right and follow the road as it loops to the left. This will bring you to another junction. Turn right towards St Johns in the Vale. Take the first turn off to the right and follow this road to the junction with the B5322.
Follow the B5322 through St Johns Beck and on until just before Legburthwaite. Take the road to the right, which cuts across the A591 on its way back to the top of Thirlmere. Follow the road left to head back down the side of Thirlmere, which you already rode up. Retrace your route back to Rydal, enjoying the run down through the Pass.
Just after Rydal turn off the A591 onto a country road heading for Rydal Beck. Follow this road through Rydal beck and Under Loughrigg. Pick up the A593 back into Amberside andd take the A591 back to the start point. |