Three of us made it out on the first Sunday in 2011, Jamie, Grant and CT. We parked in Keswick and started by a warm up on the Borrowdale road, down the east shore of Derwent Water, it was probably above freezing but the wind chill felt COLD. We stopped off at the Barrow Bay landing stage to look at the frozen lake, at the edges the ice was thin but at the end of the wooden pier the ice was thick and would take a mans weight (whilst still holding onto the jetty!)like many other we threw a large rock onto the ice and it just bounced off, still not sure I would ice skate! Now onward and head UP the road to Ashness Bridge, steep but warming!, take in the view point at the bridge and keep going to the vista near lowcrag wood (see photos), it's a great view of the lake and you can see the ice formation on the water. Carry on and work your way down to Watendlath, now there is a tea shop, but we thought it too early to stop and anyway there are tea houses in Grange. So we kept on and started the ascent (this would not have been good after a gut full of cake!) the stiff climb gives way to a more gentle ride and then the descent, watch out for the walkers and keep left (there is an alternative route right towards the Bowder stone) quite technical but rideable if you keep your eyes open. Down to Rosthwaite and time for snacks, no Turkey sandwiches! Fuel up for the next climb, head along the road to Seatoller and UP the little hill heading to Honister, it's 25% something, makes you wish to had a 36 tooth ring!... a little while later we made it to near the top and our target bridleway, here you turn back and head down the fell to contour round the hill, beware not to get carried away and keep going downhill, otherwise you will have to retrace your steps uphill!!!! Now you are picking up the Allerdale Ramble route into Borrowdale, but first you go past Castle Crag (no time for a de-tour, thankfully) and this drops you into Grange via lots of rock steps where you really want a full sus' bike!!! Down for a coffee shop....but NO they were shut!!! so onward fuelled by cake and cake, pick up the next bridleway near Mansty, where after 20 yards Grant had a puncture, pause at the bottom of this climb for a rest. It was very still, no wind and very quiet, no birds. Tyre sorted and upward, the first corner is a tester and round the bend the rest of the climb opens up and does your head in, but keep going, tee right at the woodland (note the bridleway goes both ways). More time for snacks and to take in the view, Walla Crag, Skiddaw, etc a great vista, onward north along the side of the fell basically under Cat Bells, some up and some down (see photo) for over a mile and then drop down at Hawes End, now tootle back to Keswick via Portinscale, with legs trying to keep up with the brain! Back to the car for hot soup and the drive home. Overall we took about 5 hours, with some time take for navigation and stops and measuring off the map about 18 miles. A good ride, just avoid busy times as too many walkers will make it slow.
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