Following your arrival at Penrith you will be shown where you can store your bike (if bringing your own) and to your room. Most people tend to arrive early evening, but if you do wish to arrive earlier in the day then do let us know.

In the evening we will be meeting as a group in a local pub, where over a drink and something to eat there will be an informal chat about the events of the weekend. For this trip we use B&Bs / small guesthouses in Penrith (2 nights) and Ambleside (3 nights) which provide us with great bases and offer a warm welcome after a day in the saddle.

Tonight is a good opportunity to get to know our MIAS (Mountain Bike Instructors Award Scheme) qualified guides who represent Skedaddle’s enthusiastic and friendly attitude to mountain biking as well as the other bikers on your weekend.

Accommodation : Penrith

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Starting off our trip in style, we head off from Penrith via Brougham Castle and we’ve a few gentle introductory miles via Askham Fell before High Street arrives at our wheels. This Roman thoroughfare is etched in Lakeland riding folklore and at a height of 828 metres, getting to its summit will certainly test our legs on this initial day.

Whilst certainly a tough climb, the views from the top are well worth the effort and from this lofty vantage point we will be able to spot some of England’s highest peaks including Helvellyn and Skiddaw.

After rolling (in a Lakes way) along the narrow trails of these higher reaches, our just reward is the superb technical descent to Ambleside that rounds off a memorable initial day of riding.

Accommodation : Ambleside

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Time to explore Coniston Water on a fantastic circular route that will tick all your mountain biking boxes – speedy descents, technical trails, sweet singletrack, and cracking views that’ll see you snapping a few shots to annoy your riding mates who didn’t join you!

Open fells, cheeky climbs, and forest trails start our day before we reach the Coniston Viewpoint. From this lofty vantage point you’ll be able to look down to Coniston Water below and across to the Old Man of Coniston. This is for sure a place to kick-back and take it all in for a while.

From here, and for many the highlight of the day, is the devilish descent across Parkamoor down to Nibthwaite. That said, the route along Walna Scar will run a close second especially if you enjoy fun, fast technical riding

Our route takes us back into Ambleside for our second night here, with our evening meal again taken at one of its great pubs or restaurants.

Accommodation: Ambleside

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

A change in scenery from yesterday as we explore Grizedale, where lush forest trails snake around the hillsides and technical rocky descents such as Devil’s Gallop focus our attention.

Esthwaite Water makes for the perfect snack and caffeine kick stop before a spell of fun trails lead us to Claife Heights. From here there are great views of the Langdales with the riding delighting and challenging us in each measure.

This area of the Lakes is criss-crossed with former slate mines with the tracks around them providing the perfect playground for mountain bikers….and that’s where we head next. Get ready for an afternoon of twists and turns, ups and downs, and superb singletrack as we explore the trails around Hodge Close and Iron Keld.

We end today via Loughrigg Terrace with its superb views of Grasmere and Rydal Water before returning to Ambleside, where we stay again tonight.

Accommodation : Ambleside

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

The best has indeed been left till last and is without a doubt the most challenging day in the saddle. Reading like a who’s who of Lake District classics our ride today really does round-off our time here in style, with classy cross-country riding every pedal stroke of the day!

We start the day with some tricky sections around Jenkins Crag before reaching the legendary Garburn Pass – an equally challenging section. Kentmere is next on the menu and serves us up a little respite with our well-deserved breather taken here in this beautiful valley.

From here, the highlights come think and fast with Sadgill, the Longsleddale Valley, and Gatescarth Pass enthusing and exciting us. Our final treat is the descent to the hidden village of Mardale on Haweswater before an undulating last section sees us weaving our way back to Penrith via the fells above Lake Ullswater and then Lowther Castle.

Suitably chuffed and rightly so, our final night is spent in Penrith. Time to celebrate with the clinking of glasses and tales of the trails after four days of top-notch mountain biking that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Accommodation : Penrith

• Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast polished off it’s time to load up your bike and head home. Same time next year? Rude not to eh!!