Grasmere, Lake District

DISTANCE 28.7km (17.8) CLIMBING 1,385m (4,545ft) TIME 2hrs 30mins to 4hrs

Start/ inish Red Bank Road car park, Grasmere (grid ref NY 336/073, postcode LA22 9PU)

Route summary A short but very hard ride with technical elements and hike-a-bike sections, which really shouldn’t be underestimated. One for experienced riders wanting an adventure

1Head left out of the car park on the road, on what becomes a super-steep climb up Red Bank. Bear right at the fork, uphill, past YHA Langdale. Turn right at the next junction, to Chapel Stile. Keep right, to the main road (B5343). Go right on this for over 1km, then turn left onto a broken tarmac track, by a small layby with a postbox.

2Go through the car park, right on the main road and then left, towards the Sticklebarn Tavern. Keep ahead past the buildings, then go left on the Cumbria Way (bridleway). Keep ahead on this track, up the valley. At the end, cross the bridge over Stake Gill and fork right to climb Stake Pass.

3The tough ascent is followed by a technical descent down the Langstrath Valley, beside the beck. Keep to the right-hand side of the stream, then take the footbridge over Greenup Gill and turn right, alongside it. Continue to follow this trail as it bears left, to climb up Lining Crag, through the lower section of the ridge/pass of Greenup Edge.

4Go over and down the far side, across Grasmere Common, passing Moor Moss and following Far Easedale Gill. The trail is technical to begin with but turns into tarmac. Keep ahead on this, back into Grasmere. At the crossroads in the village, go right, on the main road. Continue straight on when the road bends left. Turn right at the T-junction, back to the car park.