Lakes Extravaganza
Tour of Coniston, Cumbria
By Kevin Hodgson

Physical	Technical	Fun	Scenery	Singletrack	Rideability
***	***	*****	*****	*****	****

A truly superb lake district route which will easily occupy a day's riding. You may be a little squeamish of the road riding section, but trust me - the A593 is far from the major road it pretends to be, and the predominantly downhill slant will mean that the whole section is covered in just a few minutes.

The route starts with some delectable singletrack around the Dunnerdale fells, the early descent from Stickle Pike is hilarious, and the rolling tracks through the bracken around Stephenson Ground are some of the nicest bridleways in the Lakes.

The bridleways through Broughton Moor plantation are presently (until May 2001) closed with a traffic order, due to felling. So you may have to improvise your route using forest and/or tarmac roads, depending on where the no-entry signs are currently posted. However, I'm still publishing the route as such, as it IS normally legal. The rights of way have to be closed, as it would otherwise be illegal to block them. Unless you see "no entry" or "no bike" signs, accept the forestry commission's usual hand of free-access.

The forest and unfortunate road section can both be avoided completely by taking the macho route over Walna road to Coniston. The bridleway from Stephenson Ground is the best approach route to Walna scar anyway. The descent is not the high-speed extravaganza that it is fabled to be, however, every mountain biker should try Walna at least once in their lives.

After a café stop in Coniston, the routes leads you up a fine climb into Grisedale forest. A short forest road section joins up with the boggy "fell-edge" bridleway. Despite the unappealingly wet nature of this area, the riding is respectable, and the views are simply awe-inspiring.

A track is reached at the deserted farm of Parkamoor. Don't let the tame appearance of this double track lull you into a false sense of security. This track is one of the greatest descents in the south lakes. Super fast sections lead very abruptly into rock-strewn hairpins, which spit you out as a quivering wreck.

The bridleway across woodland fell offers a subtle wind-down to the route. This seldom explored corner of the lakes is littered with perfectly formed bridleways. The BW climb offers mildly entertaining singletrack, but the downhill (easily missed on the left), is a fitting end to the ride. The most deceptive downhill imaginable - invisible rocks spit you off line, and the shallow fords contain stones coated in "green ice". Finally, twisty tarmac double-track provides you with a natural "duals" course to race your mates on. But now you have to face the evil road climb back to Broughton - Doh!

Route Directions

1. 0.0km. Start in the village square at Broughton in Furness. There is usually enough space to park in the square (free).
2. 1.9km. TL down narrow side road toward Broughton Mills.
3. 3.7km. SO at hump backed bridge by Blacksmith's Arms. Continue up dead end road.
4. 4.0km. As road turns L through farmyard, go SO up BW past house.
5. 7.0km. Reach road at bottom of singletrack.
6. 8.3km. Track and private road, follow up to house then SO through gate.
7. 10.7km. Through farm, and sharp right up unbelievably steep tarmac.
8. 11.7km. Top of kiln back road. Thin track through bracken drops and crosses track.
9. 15.3km. Small gate on R leads into walled lane with stream.
10. 15.6km. Reach road at Stephenson ground.
11. 16.1km. BW on L into forest.
12. 19.0km. Leave forest. Turn L onto road.
13. 20.6km. Junction with A road. Very steep, watch your brakes!
14. 26.4km. Ride A road to Coniston. R over bridge to tea room. Coniston Dairy Tea Room
15. 27.8km. R on road following lake shore.
16. 29.2km. Gate on L into wood (BW).
17. 31.2km. SO at Lawson Park onto path through dark forest.
18. 31.9km. Reach forest road. Go R.
19. 32.8km. TR onto BW above lake.
20. 35.1km. High Parkamoor. Past house, up track and R onto gentle downhill.
21. 38.9km. Nibthwaite. End of track. Go down to road and TL.
22. 39.9km. TR onto v. narrow road & over bridge.
23. 40.5km. A road. TL
24. 41.4km. TR by tel. box onto narrow road.
25. 42.0km. TR onto single track road.
26. 42.8km. L onto BW, immediately after track junction.
27. 44.4km. Slam on the anchors! Thin track steeply up to L (v.good downhill follows shortly).
28. 46.0km. TL onto tarmac double track.
29. 46.5km. Join road, TR then TR again. Follow road signs back to Broughton (nasty hills)

Total Distance - 53km
Duration - 4.5 hours
Difficulty - Difficult
Map - Harvey Maps 1:25 000 Superwalker map Southern Lakes, and NEW South Eastern and South Western Lakes Superwalker maps

Variations on a Theme

Possible modifications to this route:

• As already stated - from Stephenson Ground via Walna scar to Coniston.
• From Torver, climb the BW into the quarries on Little Arrow Moor, before joining the lower sections of the Walna scar road to Coniston.
• A crossing of Grisedale forest to the visitor's centre and back again. Both outward and return routes are via very entertaining unsurfaced roads (which may not be marked as ROWs on older maps).

WARNING

For disc brake users - this route contain one or more sections of extremely steep tarmac, that WILL cause severe fade on disc brakes. Be sure to pump and/or alternate your brakes on these descents to minimise overheating. Severe fade could easily result in you overshooting the junction with the A593 at km 20.6, leading to a serious accident. THIS IS NOT A JOKE!

Last Updated 28-12-2000
You can contact me at James@OffroadAdventures-Online.co.uk
To return Home click here: www.OffroadAdventures-Online.co.uk

All pages and content Copyright © 1999 - 2000 James Murnaghan or their respective authors. All rights reserved.
No content of this web-site may be used in whole or in part, without the express permission of The Editor.