England's only true mountain forest sits a short drive from the lake, with waymarked red and black trails and hire on site. For a slower day, the valley's back lanes make for some of the best quiet road cycling in Cumbria.
Whinlatter Forest Park is the obvious draw for anyone wanting proper mountain biking — purpose-built red and black graded trails, bike hire on site, and uplift available for those who'd rather not climb what they're about to descend.
For a gentler day, the lanes around Ullswater and over towards Patterdale make for quiet, well-surfaced road and e-bike touring — the kind of ride where the destination is lunch, not a personal best. Prefer two feet to two wheels on a rest day? The fells are just as close.
From a first taster on hire bikes to a self-contained multi-day tour.
Guided or self-guided sessions on Whinlatter's waymarked trails, with hire and uplift arranged for the whole party.
Whinlatter red trail taster — half a day of forest singletrack with a qualified guide.
Self-paced routes along the quieter Lake District lanes, with luggage transfer if you're touring over several days.
Ullswater to Patterdale e-bike day — there and back, picnic arranged en route.
Flat, waymarked routes away from traffic for younger or less confident riders, with hire bikes sized to fit.
Whinlatter's blue trail — gentler forest riding, good for a first family outing.
A self-contained road tour over two or three days, with accommodation, luggage transfer and a route built around the group's fitness.
Three-valley tour — a loop taking in Ullswater, Patterdale and Kirkstone Pass over two nights away.
No — hire is arranged as part of the booking, sized to the group, helmets included. Bring your own if you'd rather.
The blue trail suits most reasonably active riders. The red and black trails are proper mountain biking — some technical sections and real climbs — better suited to regular riders.
Yes, that's largely the point of hiring one for this valley — the assist takes the edge off the steeper gradients without turning it into a motorbike trip. Tell us your route ambitions and we'll match the bikes to it.
Guided fell walking and the Ullswater Way, staged over several days.
Quad biking, off-roading, horse riding and clay shooting.
Full day-by-day plans built from these modules, ready to adjust.
Tell us about the trip you want and we'll build the route.
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