Our favourite Lake District cycling routes

You've just arrived at your holiday cottage in the Lake District, the sun is shining overhead, and you want to get out and about on two wheels instead of four. But where should you go to find the best Lake District cycling routes? 

Even with its famously hilly terrain, the national park has a wonderful mix of cycling to suit everyone, from leisurely flat and family-friendly routes to more challenging mountain bike rides and intimidating road cycling climbs. We’ve gathered some of our favourites for you to enjoy.

Before you go: ensure your bike is suitable for the terrain and that you have a map of the route, food and water, and always wear a helmet. Always let walkers and horse riders know that you're approaching and pass with care. These tips ensure everyone has a lovely time exploring the Lakes. 

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Windermere West Shore

Distance: 8 miles return
Difficulty: Suitable for beginners
Best for: A lakeside ride

The peaceful western shore of Windermere is the ideal place to explore by bike, with beautiful lake views to be enjoyed from bridleways, which have gentle slopes and are mainly traffic-free.

The route can be accessed from Wray Castle by car, Bowness-on-Windermere on the ferry, or Brockhole on its Bike Boat on selected weekends and daily over the summer holidays. Stop for refreshments at Wray Castle or Claife Viewing Station.

If you love this route, browse our other bike rides around Windermere.

Grizedale Forest 

Distance: Varies
Difficulty: Easy to challenging
Best for: Family bike rides

There are plenty of excellent family cycle routes in the Lake District, and Grizedale Forest offers some of the best. This is the perfect traffic-free environment for young cyclists, with its gentle Goosey Foot Tarn Trail (2 miles) and family-friendly Mushroom Cycle Trail. Look out for the wooden mushrooms along your way through the forest!

There are also a number of graded orienteering trails and longer routes for more experienced riders (one passing all the famous forest sculptures). Adrenaline junkies will love the North Face Mountain Bike Trail and severe black trail known simply as 'The Black'. There really is something for everyone here.

Whinlatter Forest

Distance: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate and challenging
Best for: Beginner and advanced mountain biking

Whinlatter is England's only true mountain forest and is home to the longest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the Lake District. 

Routes include the Quercus Trail (2-mile and 4.6-mile options), mountain bike orienteering trails, and the more difficult Altura Trail for experienced riders with excellent off-road skills and higher levels of fitness. Some great climbs will bring you incredible views above the forest canopy, and lead to rewarding descents through the trees.

The Torver Trail 

Distance: 6 miles return
Difficulty: Suitable for beginners
Best for: An easy bike ride

Coniston once had its own railway line connected to the Furness Railway, which was abandoned in 1958. However, in recent years, parts of the track bed have been converted to form a cycle path: The Torver Trail!

This lovely railway route begins at the lakeside car park on Lake Road, Coniston, and is mainly off-road with gentle hills. It heads south along the western shore of Coniston before moving inland to Torver.

The easiest return route on this trail is back the way you came. There is also a (busy) on-road alternative, which is only suitable for experienced and confident riders.

The Grasmere Trail 

Distance: 10 miles return
Difficulty: Moderate
Best for: Exquisite scenery in the heart of the Lake District

This stunning route takes you from Ambleside to Grasmere and back (or vice versa) and is mostly off-road or on quiet lanes, leading you along Rydal Water and Grasmere, and across the lower slopes of Loughrigg Fell.

The route is uneven and undulating, taking in some short steep hills and descents. It is well signposted as it’s also Route 6 on the National Cycle Network. What could be more inviting on a pleasant day than to stop for a picnic on the tranquil shores of Grasmere?

Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell Cycle Loop

Distance: 17.3 miles
Difficulty: Challenging
Best for: Demanding road cycling

Ullswater in the south-east of the Lake District offers some scenic but challenging terrain for cyclists. This particular road-cycling route takes you away from the lake to wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. 

Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell are both surrounded by a network of quiet lanes at a fairly high level, which makes the area perfect to explore by road bike. Start out and finish at Pooley Bridge, where you can stop for some after-ride refreshments at a choice of local cafés or pubs.

The Eskdale Trail 

Distance: 8.5 miles one way
Difficulty: Suitable for many abilities with one challenging section
Best for: Coast and countryside views

The Eskdale Trail is a waymarked cycling route with no cars, which reaches from Dalegarth in the Eskdale Valley to the coastal town of Ravenglass. The route is suitable for most ages, with one difficult section that may be a challenge for some.

The scenery of this area is impressive, with far-reaching coastal views from Ravenglass at one end, and up towering mountains at the other. The one-way route also has an excellent return journey on a charming miniature steam train, so you don’t have to pedal all the way back!

A tour of Borrowdale and Derwentwater

Distance: 16 miles
Difficulty: Challenging
Best for: An exciting technical mountain bike challenge

If you're looking for an invigorating mountain bike ride around classic Lakeland scenery, the Borrowdale Bash delivers on this and more. Starting in Keswick, the route forms a loop around Derwentwater – best biked in a clockwise direction – and takes in Watendlath, Rosthwaite and Seatoller to the south.

You'll see some of the area's most iconic views, including Ashness Bridge and Surprise View and, although the route isn't particularly remote, it delivers steep climbs and technical descents. This one isn't for the faint-hearted!

Langdale Cycle Trail

Distance: 11 miles
Difficulty: Moderate with some steep sections
Best for: Riverside riding

Take in the fantastic scenery of Great Langdale on the Langdale Cycle Trail, which winds through tranquil woodland and a fascinating slate quarry and follows a crystal-clear river for much of the way.

Begin your ride at Stickle Ghyll car park and be aware there’s a steep climb near the beginning of this route, perfect for getting the hard part out of the way. Be sure to stop and look back when you reach the top for fantastic views. Chesters by the River is a café and acts as the turnaround point on this trail – grab a refreshing drink before returning the way you came to Stickle Ghyll car park.

Ennerdale Valley Cycle Routes

Distance: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate
Best for: A remote and tranquil ride

The valley of Ennerdale boasts more than 10 miles of forest roads, which, with beautiful scenery and very little traffic, makes it a perfect place to explore by bike.

From Bowness Knott car park, a rough track slopes down to the lake, and then you can enjoy a 3-mile bike ride to the Irish Bridge over the River Liza, do a short loop through the forest (7.5 miles), or climb to the top of the valley (11.5 miles). The long route through the valley is a particularly good option if you want to gain height without too much effort: the gradually ascending path makes the uphill reasonably easy.

Keswick to Threlkeld Railway

Distance: 6 miles one-way
Difficulty: Easy
Best for: A flat cycling route

This disused railway cycle route is a pleasant, fully paved path that forms part of the C2C. It’s ideal for families and those after easy cycling options in the Lake District. The path enjoys views towards Latrigg, Skiddaw, and the river, with interesting information boards along the way.

Starting at either Keswick or Threlkeld, you can opt for the one-way option, or a there-and-back-again route. There are opportunities at both ends to pick up some refreshments at pubs, cafés and restaurants.

Electric and mountain bike hire in the Lake District

There are plenty of locations where you can hire mountain bikes and electric bikes in the Lake District. So there’s no need to bring your bike on holiday with you.

Holiday cottages close to cycle routes 

If you're planning a visit to the national park, our range of self-catering cottages with bike storage provides plenty of options for your stay. There are even many properties right next to these Lake District cycling routes!