Mountain biking with Polartec Cockermouth route : Burnbank Fell Terrace

Cut into the hillside high above , on the steep slopes of Burnbank Fell, is a narrow access track. There is bit of a climb to gain the track from the road but once established on it, it provides exciting mountain bike riding. The views from it are extensive and stunning and extend across a wide arc of the north- including the shapely giant, Grasmoor. As a perfect warm up, a pleasant bridleway meanders through the pasture and woodland by the side of Loweswater and makes an ideal outward leg. Best of all though for mountain bikers is the long sweeping descent back down to the start at Maggie’s Bridge.

Grade: Time/effort 1, Navigation 2, Technicality 2 Start/Finish: Waterend Car Park, Loweswater (GR NY 117 224) Distance: 6.3 miles (10.2km) Time: 2 hours Height gain: 320m Terrain: wooded valley, pasture, lakeside woodland, rough narrow lane, minor roads, moorland, fellside terrace and open gill. Maps: OS Landranger 90, OS Explorer OL5, Harveys Superwalker (1:25 000) Lakeland West, British Mountain Maps (1:40 000).

1. From Cockermouth head to the Waterend Car Park, Loweswater (GR NY 117 224).

2. Turn left out of the car park and follow the road as it climbs west up Fangs Brow to a junction. Turn left and follow the lane for 250m to a bridleway on the left.

3. This is the start of the Burnbank Terrace bridleway. Follow it southeast across moorland until it levels on the side of Burnbank Fell. It then swings east and crosses the side of the fell in a spectacular situation. It loses height then climbs as it rounds the gill cut by Holme Beck then climbs again to skirt the top of Holme Wood.

4. After this short climb it descends in a spectacular fashion round the base of Carling Knott to enter the little valley carved by Highnook Beck. Across the beck it is followed northeast down a rocky track to High Nook Farm and then down to Maggie’s Bridge.

5. From Maggie’s Bridge, head west along the access track (bridleway) that leads to Loweswater. Follow it to Watergate Farm and go through the yard. Out of the yard take the track northwest and follow it into the trees at the side of Loweswater.

6. Through the trees head northwest to a junction by a tiny cottage (near a ford). Take the left fork (bridleway) and ignore the shore side path. Continue NW until you reach a rough lane (gate) at the edge of the trees. Join the lane and follow it as it climbs to Hudson Place. Take the tarmac drive that heads north and descends to the valley road at Waterend. Turn right onto the road and follow it back to the car park.

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