Our recent cycling & hiking trip in the Lakes truly delivered: epic riding, lush trails, daily lake dips, quaint villages and excellent food... that is our week in a nutshell.
We will take a group again in July 2025, but for now you can read all about our Cumbrian adventure.
Our 30 guests arrived from all over the UK (and Europe) on the Wednesday afternoon. After ensuring that everyone was happy with their room it was time to go for a shake-out ride -either on the road or on the trails.
In true Lake District style, rain showers were on the menu, but so were stunning country lanes and dozens of shades of green all around.
We then headed to the pub for dinner, all keen to fuel for the big rides ahead.
Day 1: Coniston Water Loop
Some early birds went for a quick lake dip before the cooked breakfast: a choice of avo toast, salmon & eggs or full English. We then get ready for the activities of the day, trying to navigate the weather forecast.
A first group decides to go for a 100km road ride, another one opts for a gravel adventure whilst the third one goes for a morning hike followed by a 60km spin after lunch.
Of course all three groups got rained on but the spirits stayed high: we're in the Lakes after-all and our waterproofs did the trick (... maybe not for the gravellers who had to cross some rivers!). Everyone comes back buzzing from their day and it's simply wholesome to hear everyone wanting to tell all their ride stories to the rest of the group.
Day 2: Hardknott & Wrynose
The sun is shinning this morning, which is pretty good news since we're climbing the iconic Hardknott and Wrynose today. Even the gravellers are joining, they're up for the challenge!
The ride begins with the sun casting a warm glow over the rolling hills and verdant valleys. The 80km journey is both challenging and breathtaking, with steep gradients that test our endurance after only 10km into the ride.
As we ascend Wrynose Pass, the narrow, winding road reveals panoramic views of rugged peaks and tranquil, sheep-dotted fields. The descent is a thrilling rush before enjoying an incredible 5km river strech in the Duddon valley, where the landscape becomes even more dramatic.
We then cycle across the Eksdale valley, another beautiful patch of lush landscapes, to our coffee stop just before Hardknott Pass. We're not too sure on what to munch knowing that this 30% gradient climb is waiting for us in the next 2km... we opt for a few chips to get some salt in and get into attack mode.
Some ride it in one go, some take breaks and other simply walk it - whichever way to choose to climb the iconic Hardknott it will for sure be an unforgettable experience!
Photo credit: Siân Pratley
On the hiking side of things, our guide Sian took the group to the challenging 21km Fairfield Horseshoe - a stunning walk that goes over ridges offering stunning views on the many lakes of the region. The group came back buzzing and ready for a hot shower & a big meal after such a day!
Day 3: Kirkstone Pass & The Struggle
Today the gravellers are back on the trails, a crew of hikers goes wild swimming in Grasemere and the roadies tackle another iconic beast: Kirkstone Pass.
We enjoy a stunning sunny morning as we start climbing Kirkstone from the shore of Lake Windermere. The 10km ascent is going quite quickly thanks to some majestic views, and before we realise we're already at the top.
We get over the pass to start descending to Ullwaster Lake and wow, what a surprise: the tarmac has just been redone, the road is smooth as butter and the view on the lake just breathtaking!
We then ride along Ullwater Lake all the way to charming Pooley Bridge where we enjoy lunch by the lake: a lovely place that serves avo toasts, poached eggs and banging chips amongst other things.
The return journey is the climb back up the butter-smooth Kirkstone, road surface that makes the challenge even more enjoyable. The sense of achievement is palpable as we reach the pass and begin the final descent down The Struggle. A storm is coming and this narrow, winding road offers a thrilling conclusion to the ride: we're home and dodged the rain. Winning.
The gravel group discovered some tropical water spots and enjoyed exotic landscape, almost making us feel like they spend a day gravelling in the Alps - the rest of the crew is blown away by the pictures they're showing us and is commited to have a go at gravel riding next year.
Photo credit: Timur Valiev
The rest of the day is spent swimming in the nearby Lake Windermere and watching England win the football game before our pub dinner.
Day 4: Lake dip & village stroll
It's the last morning in the Lakes, and we decide to start it with a dip: I could make this part of my daily routine easily, there is no better feeling!
Half of the group leaves after the late breakfast since they have a long drive ahead. The rest of us opts for a town stroll: Ambleside is a very quaint village with a lot of nice shops, great cafes and viewpoints hidden all around. It's giving some ski town vibes, and we're here for it!
We opt for a jam & sausage roll with a wholefood salad picnic for lunch and finish packing before driving back to London: planning for next year has already started and we cannot wait!
A big thank you to Fettle for sponsoring this escape and enabling us to offer more accessible trips. You can enjoy 10% off your bike servicing with the code MOLOKO10.
Check out our brand page for all exclusive offers and discount codes with our partners.
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