Kendal to Keswick cycle

[Galactic]

You could detour around the west side of Rydal Water/Grasmere (Red Bank) but it is a 25% downhill towards Grasmere town.

Not if you use the NCN 6 route, which hugs the shores fo Rydal Water and Grasmere. From memory, the worst bit there is a short, sharp push up the brae to reach the road on the west shore of Grasmere.

[cycleruk]

You could detour around the west side of Rydal Water/Grasmere (Red Bank) but it is a 25% downhill towards Grasmere town.

Not if you use the NCN 6 route, which hugs the shores fo Rydal Water and Grasmere. From memory, the worst bit there is a short, sharp push up the brae to reach the road on the west shore of Grasmere.

Out of interest - what's the surface like now? It's many years (30-ish) since I rode that and it was generally well trodden bare earth. We usually used it on our way back from an MTB ride after a day on the fells.

[rareposter]

You could detour around the west side of Rydal Water/Grasmere (Red Bank) but it is a 25% downhill towards Grasmere town.

Not if you use the NCN 6 route, which hugs the shores fo Rydal Water and Grasmere. From memory, the worst bit there is a short, sharp push up the brae to reach the road on the west shore of Grasmere.

Out of interest - what's the surface like now? It's many years (30-ish) since I rode that and it was generally well trodden bare earth. We usually used it on our way back from an MTB ride after a day on the fells.

Gravel with a few rocks and a couple of steeper pitches. Can be very splashy when it's been wet. Probably do-able on a gravel bike, I'd not take a road bike along there! Also, it still brings you out at the top of the Red Bank descent.

[Pete Owens]

I'm not sure of the surface of the "Coffin Route" from Rydal Mount to Grasmere. A long time since I last rode it. I know it's tarmac at both ends.

It is pretty rocky - I think you would want to use a mountain bike.

[Pete Owens]

From here, there's an unavoidable section of A591 and as you climb out of Grasmere it becomes a dual carriageway for a bit. It's not pleasant... Worth checking it out on Google Streetview before you commit to it. Then there's a short descent and you can turn left onto the back road around Thirlmere. When you come out of there, you want the B5322 north to Threlkeld then you pick up the old railway line (which Lookrider mentions above) from there to Keswick - do NOT follow the more obvious A591 road direct to Keswick!

Actually the stretch of the A591 over Dunmail is pretty good. On the climb out from Grasmere the uphill lane is VERY wide:
https://www.cyclestreets.net/location/90580/
The DC on the top is not busy so there is a whole lane available for overtaking.

There is a reasonable off-road track from the top of the pass to the west Thirlmere Road:
https://www.cyclestreets.net/location/171803/
Though if you are heading north (downhill) it is probably be better (certainly easier and faster) to free-wheel down the road, rather than stop a few times to open and shut gates.

[geocycle]

I agree with Pete above. The horrid stretch on the A road is Windermere through Ambleside to Grasmere where it’s very narrow, windy and busy. But if you can get to Dunmail rise then it’s tolerable because of the wide road almost to the Thirlmere turn off then it’s a case of crossing into the lovely St John’s in the vale. Personally, I’d probably go over Kirkstone.

[Pete Owens]

Another issue is that the Windermere ferry has been closed for a while so using NCN 6 up the west side of Windermere isn't an option currently.