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Description:-
The Threlkeld loop is one of the classic routes from Keswick. Being relatively short, it's an ideal post work or evening ride, as well as being a good wet weather option, with the trail consisting primarily of well surfaced tracks and bedrock.
It's also a good route for fit novices, as the couple of technical bits are short lived, and the ride has a surprisingly wild feeling in the Glenderterra valley, especially considering you are only ever a handful of miles from Keswick.
There's plenty of car parking to choose from in Keswick, once you're sorted, head over to the swimming pool car park to pick up the old railway line that forms Sustrans route 71 (point 1), part of the Coast 2 Coast cycleway.
Head east out along the old railway, this makes a good scenic warm up for a couple of miles before the real work starts.
Eventually you will ride into the village of Threlkeld, turning left at the junction for Blease road and Blencathra (point 2). You'll be shuffling down the gears pretty quickly now, as the road heads upwards towards the Blencathra outdoor centre and the Glenderaterra valley.
Good views to the south as you climb up past point 3. Looking across the valley you should be able to see the high level path that you will eventually be returning on.
Continue around the valley on good gravel tracks, picking up speed towards the valley head before encountering the more testing sections there, including a short but near impossible rocky climb (point 4).
After that short push, you can at least be glad the climbing is pretty much done. A lovely singletrack traverses the side of Lonscale Fell, although you are very much aware of the increasingly vertiginous drop on your left hand side.
Eventually you reach a technical slabby section (point 5). The rock is polished and slippery in places, and still with that airy drop on one side. Most riders will find good challenge here to try and clean the section with as few dabs as possible, and repeat visits don't make it much easier!
Reaching the gate brings respite, and a fast grassy descent to Whit Beck and a short pull up towards Latrigg car park (point 6)
From the car park find the start of the bridleway back to Keswick. A small diversion is possible here up to Latrigg summit, it only takes 10 or 15 minutes extra and gives great views over Keswick and Derwent Water.
Now's the time to drop your saddle and hit the final descent! The final downhill back to town rides like a race track. A great hard pack dirt surface, complete with water bar jumps and natural berms. Unfortunately, this is also one of the main bridleways out of Keswick, so can be quite busy with dog walkers, tourists, and pensioners. Care must be taken as the speeds can be high, and several bends are blind. The best chance of a clear run comes at weekdays and evenings, but expect the unexpected!
Once you hit tarmac again, turn left and soon arrive back at the swimming pool before heading back into town for tea and cake.