The Lake District National Park is undeniably one of England’s finest landscapes, home to countless natural treasures. Based just a stone’s throw away from Skedaddles logistic hub, the Lake District is a place we’ve had a strong connection with for many years and one our local team is proud to call home. As England’s biggest National Park it’s become one of the UK’s best-loved tourist attractions, but the ability to explore it by bike has always enabled us to escape to its lesser-visited wonders. We caught up with Steve Woods who heads up our local team here to find out more…
Meet our expert guide: Steve Woods
Master mechanical-improviser, adventure-enthusiast and an all-round good guy… Steve started working with Skedaddle back in the early 2000s. He impressed founders Paul and Straws from the get-go with his expertise and plethora of professional qualifications and skills, from van driving to first aid.
He has been a familiar face on many of our cycle tours since then! Over the years Steve has guided for Skedaddle in far-flung places all over the world, from Chile to India, Cuba and Morocco. That’s not including more than 50 Scottish trips he’s conquered in that time too.
Steve now heads our UK logistics base, the hub where everything hands-on at Skedaddle gets looked after, including bikes, vehicles and equipment. He was also integral to helping set up our annual guide training, ensuring our global team get qualifications that are recognised all over the world.
When he’s not fixing bikes, he can still be found guiding several of our cycle tours, including our Lake District adventures in the UK…
– Have you always been adventurous?
I always wanted a bicycle and when I was 10 my dad bought me one. I then frightened my parents to death by going off on it for 2 days! I haven’t looked back since and just love exploring by bike, wild camping overnight. In fact, that’s how a lot of Skedaddle tours have been designed over the years.
I think there was always something in me that wanted to be adventurous. To me, adventure is all about the planning, just as the famous saying goes: ‘by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail’.
– Tell us a bit about why you love the Lake District?
I was born in Penrith, a Cumbrian market town on the edge of the Lakes, and have lived here all my life. I feel very privileged to have travelled all over the world, but there is something very special about this corner of the UK. I particularly love how much incredible stuff is packed into a small area – there’s just so much diversity here.
I also love the history of the National Park. It may surprise some to hear that the Lake District is actually older than the Himalayas mountain range. It was formed something like 500 million years ago, whilst the Himalayas are only 50 million years old. So really the Himalayas are just a new kid on the block. The Lake District was also volcanic. Things like that fascinate me!
The Cumbrian people definitely also deserve a mention. We look after each other here. It’s a rural community, with lots of farms – you get a sense of belonging. Cumbrians also seem to have a story for everything, you can’t really ask a question without getting one. In fact, the first time I visited Chile in South America, I was struck by the similarities. The friendly, rural communities based in extraordinary landscapes. It felt a bit like a home away from home.
– Why do you think exploring by bike is the best way to explore the Lakes?
There’s so much to see and whilst walking can get you to some remote places, you can have even more of an adventure in one day on a bike! No one really cycled here when I was younger but since then, it’s become a bit of a cycling central thanks to the increased ease of access! From Penrith there are so many trails now, you can be on the fells in 20 minutes if you want. The beauty of a bike is it helps you escape the honey pots and get out to some of the more remote, lesser-visited areas. You can still have a day out on a Bank Holiday weekend and only meet 10 people – you just need to know the right places…
– What are some of your favourite places?
The northern fells around Caldbeck are fun because they’re always quiet. You’re also cycling over years of mining history which is always interesting. The area around Ambleside is also quite special; it’s one of the places where you can ride on Lakeland rock, instead of mud. You’re in the middle of the Lake District here – enjoying massive views with steep rock faces up and down and all around. There’s also a history of slate mines here. It’s very varied, with some really technical sections. You’ll also find what I like to call the ‘xylophone track’. This is because the slates make a distinctive clanking tune when you ride over them.
Wast Water and the Honister Pass remind me of prehistoric places – they are a lot more rugged than other picturesque places in the Lake District. They are quite something and very unique. One of my favourite viewpoints is a place called ‘the park’ which overlooks Coniston Water – it’s very special.
– What local food and drink do you recommend?
Cumberland sausage is an absolute must. It’s now a protected Cumbrian recipe! There are lots of spices and herbs in it to add flavour, it’s also quite a big sausage, typically served in a coil (for those unfamiliar.) In my humble opinion, you can’t beat a sausage sandwich and a cup of tea after a long ride out – it’s just the best. I personally also love whisky, The Lake Distillery serve a good malt. Alongside some great gins too!
– Are there any local insider facts you could share with us?
Supposedly, there’s six times as many sheep in the Lake District as people. The sheep here are also quite special and bred specially for the hills – they’re known as Herdwick. Whilst not proven, it is believed they have Scandinavian heritage and were brought over by Viking raiders.
Another good fact for your future pub quiz, is that officially there’s actually only one lake in the lake district – Bassenthwaite. I really also love the fact that we have one of the rarest freshwater fish in Britain. It lives in Ullswater ‘lake’ and is called the schelly fish. Not only does it date all the way back to the ice age, but it can only be found in 4 lakes in the entire world, crazy!
You will also find one of the earliest known stone circles in Britain here (raised around 3,000BC). The Castlerigg Stone Circle may be less famous than Stonehenge, but I’d argue this Neolithic gem is even more impressive, given its epic backdrop which boasts panoramic views over the Lake District.
Our guide to cycling in the Lakes…
Combining his local expertise and passion, Steve has helped us carefully craft several cycling holidays based here in the beautiful Lake District. These itineraries are ideal for a wide range of cyclists, whether you’re eager to explore here for the first time, or keen to rediscover this amazing corner of the UK like never before…
Spotlight on: The Lake District Discoverer
– Who is this tour perfect for?
With cycling popularity increasing, we wanted to bring an easy-going, accessible cycling holiday into our range – offering more of you the opportunity to explore the beautiful Lake District region with those who matter most.
Whilst you can’t expect completely pancake-flat pedallin’, the daily distances are manageable and our route makes the most of quiet country lanes, as well as a network of local cycle paths. This makes the Lake District Discoverer perfect for those who are generally fit and healthy, but you don’t necessarily need to be the most experienced of cyclists to sign up and enjoy it.
Combine this with the fact that there’s also plenty of opportunities to explore off the bike and accommodation based in the heart of the Lake District’s cultural hubs – we think this is going to be a hit with anyone looking for a fun, active way to explore this amazing National Park.
Spotlight on: Classic Coniston e-Mountain Biking Holiday
– Why did we add it to the range?
The Lake District offers us fantastic off-road riding, with miles of amazing trails, single track and double track. With electric mountain bikes we have been able to pack this holiday with even more great riding and we’ll be able to reach some amazing viewpoints high above the lakes while still fresh to enjoy the descents.
– What can mountain bikers expect on tour?
Our base in Coniston gives us a slice of typical Lake District riding with rocky bridleways and occasional technical descents mixed with miles of flowing singletrack. This is a great trip to build your confidence on intermediate level terrain!
Whilst we enjoy the boost of a battery on this eMTB holiday, you’ll still need a good level of fitness and bike handling skills to tackle more technical terrain.