With The Lake District and The Yorkshire Dales on our doorstep - KDCS offers an exciting selection of cycle rides throughout the local area and beyond. There are social gatherings including slide shows, talks and supper evenings and members are kept up to date with cycling news and issues through this web site, emails and our Facebook pages. KDCS are an affiliated group of Cycling UK.

KDCS route 1 - Longsleddale and Patton Bridge

 Summary

LONGSLEDDALE  via BURNESIDE, then to PATTON BRIDGE and MEALBANK
25 miles (40 km)                                    960' climb (290m)                       Grade – easy to moderate

A gentle family ride up the valley, with undulations before and after. No refreshments are available. There is a community w.c. half – way up Longsleddale.

OS 97 (Kendal) and 90 (Penrith, Keswick)
Start – Kendal Leisure Centre, Burton Rd, Kendal LA97HX

Map






 To view elevation details please use this link and select "Elevation Graph" from the top left hand side corner of the map.
http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=472916

Description


From the back of Kendal Leisure Centre go left on the shared pedestrian/ bike path (National Cycle Network 6)  for a mile (2- km), crossing over a road half way along.

At the end follow the National Cycle Network 6 signs to and through a small park diagonally on your left (take care – pedestrians and blind bends), back on yourself for 50 yds/m on a public road, then right and immediately right on a shared 150 yds/m path to follow the river through a larger park.

Here leave NCN 6, turn onto the Castle St public road, with the church on your right, and in 100 yds/m turn left onto the one-way road just after the pub. At the junction in 100 yds/m dismount and go along the pavement right, crossing the road via the nearby pedestrian lights, then remounting and passing under the railway bridge.

In ¾ mile (1+ km) and after passing a car showroom turn left into Gillthwaiterigg Lane (sign Road closed to motor vehicles) and pass through the barriers, going straight over at the nearby crossroads (same road closed signs). You soon re-join the public road, going right, past a new warehouse.

In a few minutes arrives a T with a bigger road – go left (unsigned) and in a mile (2- km) turn right onto a small lane (sign Longsleddale), which undulates to its end in Garnett Bridge.

Turn left here and follow the road up the beautiful valley to Sadgill at the road end (approximately 11 miles from the start).  There is a popular off-road crossing to Kentmere from here, but we have to retrace our steps.

On the return continue straight past the bridge you came in on and continue up the rise, turning left (sign Penrith) onto the A6, and in ¼ mile (½ km) right off it (Patton Bridge sign).

Follow the undulating road all the way to Patton Bridge, and turn right, up the steep 14% gradient hill.

A long descent takes you down past  Mealbank, crossing the river bridge (sign Kendal) to join the A684 by Spital Farm.

Going right here brings you back into town, joining the A6 (Town Centre sign) and straight on at the nearby roundabout (Town Centre sign).


The left turn in 100 yds/m (sign Sedbergh) brings you back into Castle Street and the riverside park you came out on. From here simply retrace your steps -  following the NCN 6 signs through the park, left at the road and almost immediately right through a small park (danger – blind bends) and onto the shared path back to the Leisure Centre.