Welcome. Ennerdale offers more than 10 miles of Bike the Big Valley forest roads which provide an almost traffic free environment for biking. Exploring the valley by bike allows you to see the whole of the valley in one day. From views over Ennerdale water to the majesty of and , from the crystal clear waters of the River Liza to the history of ancient settlements.

Where to Park. To access the valley by bike please use Bowness Knott car park.

Suitability. There are no purpose built mountain bike trails in Ennerdale. However the forest roads in the valley bottom have few steep gradients and are generally wide enough to ride side by side. The steepest section is the first 350m between the car park and lakeshore. Please be aware that the forest roads can be potholed and lose gravel surfaces increase Please Protect Our Wild Valley Don’t start fires braking time and reduce control. Mountain bikes with Protect and respect wildlife, trees and plants good tread are recommended. Keep dogs under control

Take your litter home levels are low but please keep a look out for Traffic Make no unnecessary noise agricultural and forestry traffic and service vehicles Take only memories away especially between Bowness Knott car park and the YHA and Field Centre at Gillerthwaite.

Wild Ennerdale is a partnership between people and organisations led by The Forestry Commission, National Trust, United Utilities and Natural England. Our vision is “to allow the evolution of Ennerdale as a wild valley for the benefit of people, relying more on natural processes to shape its landscape & ecology.”

For more information visit www.wildennerdale.co.uk £1 or phone Gareth Browning on 07712751060. Start at Emergency! Remember! Bowness Knott car A&E Hospital  Carry a first aid kit and park Grid Ref NY110153 . 01946 693181 bike repair kit Nearest Public Phones  Always wear the right At the Irish Gillerthwaite YHA common safety clothing, at least a bridge enjoy the room. Low Gillerthwaite Field cycle helmet and gloves. Medieval crystal clear Centre.  Only cycle within your Bloomery where waters of the outside the school. abilities. iron was made Liza which Rescue Phone 999 ask for  Watch out for other visi- in the 14th means “shining Medieval twin Mountain Rescue. tors.  If a vehicle is loading “ in old Norse walled long Mobile Phones. Poor timber stop and wait for houses below (west) to no reception (east). the road.

Shattered tree from Gillerthwaite 2005 storm Look across to awesome Beware steep Field Centre YHA Pillar Rock section of forest first climbed road between car in 1826 park and lake.

Middle Bridge

See Lake and River. Enjoy a short New bridge allows dragonflies 5km (3 mile ride up to the Irish on Moss fish to spawn up Bridge across the River Liza, play stream, natural Dub Tarn pooh sticks, have a paddle, a picnic Look out for our jet Blacksail gravel movement YHA and ride back. black Galloway down stream and cattle that freely increases the sense roam the valley Short Loop. Feeling more of wildness by bottom. Take care adventurous pedal the 13km (7½ reducing vehicle when biking past Can you see miles) short loop. access up the valley. Barnards Cairn This ford may be Bike the 20km (11½ Whole Valley. © Ordnance Survey Crown impassable during miles) to the very top of the valley Copyright. All rights reserved [2011]. and after periods of climbing 140m (460ft) & marvel at Forestry Commission [100025498] high rainfall. Pillar Rock, Great Gable and