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Lakes 2007
Somerset 2007 Lakes 2007 Archive

 

 

 

 

Cycletouring is probably the ultimate adventure for cyclists, taking them to new villages, new scenery, new cultures, new tracks and new challenges.  Taking part in a tour does require a little preparation of course, but once you’ve experienced the freedom and fun of cycletouring you’ll very probably feel it was all well worth the effort.

Our major tour this year will take us to arguable the best national park in Britain - the Lake District.  It will include most of the main lakes of the area and introduce you to some of its scenic delights, including fell walks, waterfalls, high passes, ancient tracks and of course spectacular views over the very best lakes in England.

We last visited this area in August 1991, and whilst we will be staying at many different hostels on this visit we will be taking roughly the same route, but travelling anticlockwise this time around.  See our full report and photos from the 1991 tour here.

There are a limited number of spaces available on this tour, and the beds we have reserved can only be held for a short time, so please give us your firm booking as soon as possible, preferably by the end of May!

Itinerary

Click on the hostel link to see photos and more information about each youth hostel.

Date Mileage Description Accommodation
Mon 23 Jly 20m

You will take the early train from Devon, arriving at Oxenholme station shortly after lunch.  After cycling past the castle and grey limestone buildings of Kendal you will head directly for Lake Windermere, the largest of the lakes, thought to be the setting for Swallows & Amazons.  You'll follow the lake through to Ambleside and on to the attractive village of Grasmere, where the youth hostel is a traditional Lakeland Victorian house in its own extensive grounds.

 Grasmere Butharlyp Howe YH
Tue 24 Jly 20m After looking around Grasmere village and maybe taking a rowing boat onto the lake you'll ride all the way along another lake, Thirlmere, then past Castle Rock to the market town of Keswick with its narrow lanes, grey stone houses and many interesting buildings.  Derwent Water will be your next lake, and then you'll ride on to the stone-roofed hamlet of Watlendath, famous for its Devil's Punch Bowl formation at Watlendath Tarn outflow.  You can then enjoy a track climb over the hills and a very steep track descent to Rosthwaite.  Borrowdale hostel, built of Canadian red cedar wood, is located on the bank of the river Derwent in the beautiful Borrowdale valley. Borrowdale YH
Wed 25 Jly 13m A leisurely day will give us plenty of opportunity to explore Sour Milk Gill, a superb waterfall near Seathwaite. Next stop will be Honister Pass, climbing to 356m, taking you on to your next lake, Buttermere. The hostel is a Lakeland slate house offering peace and tranquility.  There are many footpaths that lead to the fells, offering spectacular views of the lake and valley, and we hope to climb to the Robinson ridge behind the hostel. Buttermere YH
Thu 26 Jly 33m / 20m On Thursday you have a choice of routes: either your longest day of cycling which will take you past many lakes on the west of the national park, including Crummock Water, Lowes Water and Ennerdale, or a track short-cut that leads over the fells through Scarth Gap Pass and Black Sail Pass.  The route you take will depend partly on the weather.  You'll spend the night at Eskdale hostel.  Nestling among the fells and set in its own extensive grounds, this purpose-built, child-friendly hostel is located in a quiet corner of the Lake District near the Eskdale steam railway. Eskdale YH
Fri 27 Jly 24m Eskdale Mill, a two-wheel water corn mill dating back to 1578, may be worth a visit on Friday morning, along with a couple of waterfalls that are near the hostel.  Hardknott Pass will take you past the Roman Hardknott Castle, then you'll negotiate Wrynose Pass on the way to the Langdale area.  If there is time you may be able to climb Side Pike, which offers excellent views of the area, and look at the famous Dungeon Ghyll Force waterfall in Great Langdale.  The hostel at Elterwater, converted from Elterwater's oldest farm, is superbly located for the Langdale fells in the popular but peaceful village. Elterwater YH
Sat 28 Jly 25m On Saturday you'll take a fascinating track to High Tilberthwaite that passes the picturesque arched footbridge Slaters Bridge in Little Langdale.  Next stop (weather permitting) is the famous beauty spot Tarn Hows, followed by the village of Coniston with its museums and nearby copper mines.  It was on Lake Coniston in 1967 that Donald Campbell died in an attempt at the water speed record.  There may be time to explore the forest tracks in Grizedale Forest before heading for Hawkshead with its old lanes and interesting cottages.  It is famous for its grammar school, now a museum, with William Wordsworth carved on one of the desks.  A short ride will then bring you to the large town of Ambleside which offers some excellent shops.  The hostel is located right on the edge of Lake Windermere, offering outstanding views from the lounge and waterfront bedrooms. Ambleside YH
Sun 29 Jly 15m On the last day you'll cycle back along the side of Lake Windermere and on to Oxenholme station, ready to catch the mid-afternoon trains home.  You should arrive in Devon during the late evening. Home

 

Estimated tour costs

We keep costs low by staying at youth hostels and preparing our own meals in the self-catering kitchens.  You need to pay youth hostel costs when you book the tour, as beds need to be reserved in advance, but you can delay paying your rail, spending and food money until the tour begins.

Cost component Age 12-17 Adult (with YP railcard)
Rail travel, Newton Abbot to Oxenholme return, including bikes (approx) 25.00 40.00
6 Youth hostel bednights 74.95 100.45
Food (recommended minimum) 45.00 45.00
General spending (recommended minimum) 30.00 30.00
Total cost 174.95 215.45
 

 

Preparation

Your cycle needs certain features to cope with the special demands of cycle touring.  It needs to be sturdy enough to carry heavy loads and cope with occasional rough roads or tracks; it needs to have low gears (30" or lower) so that you can cycle up most of the hills even when the bike is heavily loaded and you are exhausted; and it needs to be reliable, as breakages are not always easy to fix when you're a long way from civilisation.

Specialist touring bikes offer the best combination of features, but mountain bikes are more popular and can usually meet most of the requirements with just a few modifications.  You will certainly need to fit a good quality pannier rack, and full-length mudguards are a sensible idea if you don’t want to have to wash your clothes every night on wet days.  We also recommend changing the tyres for faster, road tyres:  you will spend most of the tour riding on roads, where chunky tyres make the riding hard work.

If you’re planning to buy a new bike,  start by looking at the Trek 3500 or Giant Rock / Boulder ranges which offer quick release wheels and four-point rack fixing bolts for around £200, and have a chat with Michael to discuss your ideas before you make the final decision.  Whatever bike you decide to use, make sure it is roadworthy and safe before the tour begins.

Panniers are really essential for a tour, so you can carry all your luggage safely on the bike.  A good pair of panniers will have a total capacity of at least 40 litres in two separate, easy-to-remove bags and will cost between £38 and £65 for the pair.  Altura and Karrimor set high standards for their products, but some other manufacturers offer similar quality.

When choosing a pannier rack, try to get a strong one that uses four-point fixing, as this will be more stable when loaded with heavy panniers and will be less likely to break - expect to pay £20-£35 for a good rack.  

You are almost certain to get rain on at least one day of the tour, so you will need good raingear that is completely waterproof.  The recommended kit here is a waterproof jacket made of proofed nylon or one of the cheaper breathable fabrics, costing around £25-£80.  Three-layer GoreTex would be even better, but prices start at around £150 and so would not be a sensible purchase if you are still growing.  Over-trousers are not really very useful in spring or summer - you'll be better off wearing shorts in the rain than getting hot and uncomfortable in overtrousers.

The best footwear for the tour is probably a good pair of trainers that you can use on or off the bike.  Select other items of clothing according to your personal tastes.

Cycle helmets are optional on the tour but we strongly recommend that you wear one.  Just remember that they are not designed to protect you in a collision with a car, for example, so you still need to ride carefully and safely at all times.

If you are not already a member of the CTC you will need to join now, before you send in your booking form.  CTC membership costs just £12 per year for under 18s and includes free third party insurance (in case you cause an accident while cycling) and free legal aid.  You can join online at www.ctc.org.uk or telephone 0870-8730061.

You must also be a member of the Youth Hostels Association when the tour starts.  Membership costs £9.95 per year and entitles you to stay at the youth hostels that are part of the tour.  Once again you can join online at www.yha.org.uk, or telephone 01629-592700.

Lights are optional, but could be useful in case we are forced to arrive late by unforeseen circumstances.  Other items for your packing list will be listed on your final information sheet just before the tour begins.

Final bookings (21 July)

1. Sam Acland
2. Olly Acland
3. Freddie Tyler
4. Henry Gunter

Adult leaders / assistants
5. Michael Jones
6. Charles Acland
7. Heidi Acland
8. Jill Hockmuth
 

How to book

Complete the online form below urgently and we'll send you our detailed information booklet and booking form, which includes parental consent.  Just return the application form to us as quickly as possible with the hostel charges and we'll then let you know whether you can be included in the tour.  But don't leave it too long: this is a peak season tour and hostels often get fully booked well in advance.

Tour enquiry form

Select the items that apply, and then let us know how to contact you.

I am interested in the tour - please send me details and a booking form
Please ring me with more information

Name
Address
E-mail
Phone
Age

 

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Last modified: 13 June 2007