March 2026
54°32'50.19"N 3°9'33.01"W
Most MTB riders will have heard of the Borrowdale Bash. This version takes in the best descents and singletrack of that classic loop and adds in two savage, mostly road climbs and an absolute monster of a descent over Honister pass. That does make it a more binary route than most in terms of on and off road and also the high level of rock riding skill you’ll need to clean some of the descents safely. You’re also topping out at 557m in the wettest part of the UK so you’ll potentially need to be prepared for serious weather exposure.
In terms of packing in breathtaking scenery, climbing, and tackling some of the toughest but most rewarding riding in the Lake District with minimal pushing / hiking though it’s a magnificent beast of a ride. You can also create a shorter but still awesome 18km version or add in the Keswick section of the classic Borrowdale Bash to create a 45km epic.
POLARIS Borrowdale Beast
31.8KM, 1,143M VERTICAL
Start and finish point - We started and finished our ride in Grange which is a beautiful but tiny hamlet at the south end of Derwent Water. It does have a cafe but check opening times before you rely on it and consider fuelling up in Keswick beforehand. Parking is also limited although there are other lakeside options en route to the start and at Rosthwaite and Seatoller on the route itself.
what3words ///bullion.loopholes.handrail
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.
For full navigation data download the GPX file and watch the Strava fly through. Then watch our ride video for a highlights preview of the route.
Stops & shops
Considering how wild it feels in places it’s also surprisingly well served with cafes and pubs en route. That includes cafes at Grange, Seatoller and Honister, plus pubs/hotels at Derwent Water, Rosthwaite and Seatoller.
However, all of them operate seasonally and so opening times can vary. Judging by how many were open when we rode, despite saying online they were shut you might get a happy surprise.
If you want to be double sure you won’t go hungry or lack vital spares stop off in Keswick on the way for a wide variety of shopping and eating spots and several bike shops.
Route information
Grange to Watendlath 0 - 8km
From Grange head back over the River Derwent via the beautiful and historic double arch bridge that dates back to 1675. Turn left onto the road you came in on and retrace your drive past the Borrowdale Hotel taking the beautiful views north up the lake and the steep flanks of Cat Bells on the far side. Turn hard right, back on yourself when you get to Barrow Bay landing stage at 3.6km. You’ve now got a solid 185m vertical climb up a singletrack road through beautiful old woods with a stream rushing down your right-hand side, so settle in and spin for a while. Watch out for traffic creeping up and down to the viewpoint at Lodore Wood, which is worth a visit yourself if your legs and lungs need a break.
The climb levels out into the lost valley of Watendlath as you roll under Reecastle and Goat Crags before you get to the traditional Lakeland farm which is owned by the National Trust. The tiny stone packhorse bridge you pedal over was also named the 4th best bridge in England on which to play Poohsticks in 2015. Not surprising given the stunning views over Watendlath Tarn and the fells beyond.
Watendlath to Rosthwaite 8 - 11km
There’s something of a shock straight after leaving the tranquil beauty of Watendlath and it’s Poohsticks bridge as you’re straight up a climb that’s something of a piglet. The rough ‘cobbled’ surface at the bottom is relatively rideable, but the further you go up the more random, loose and large the rocks get. A proper hop up shelf near the top means you’re going to need to pack some serious horsepower and show jumping skills to get up this ancient pack horse trail cleanly.
The reward is a stunning view southward over the head of Borrowdale towards Scafell Pike and the rest of the Lake District’s jagged teeth. Unusually on this ride you’ve actually got a couple of minutes to take it in and get your breath back as you roll along the broad gravel track over the saddle of Grange Fell. Buckle up for Birkett’s Leap though as the first descent of this figure of eight loop is a cracker. It starts as a fast, wide and fun blast with just a few water bars to hop, but soon sharpens into a proper tech trail. Nothing alarming in terms of drops and all rollable if you’re not feeling sendy. Narrowing gaps between seriously sharp and jagged geology won’t be kind on body or bike if you put a wheel wrong though so don’t go charging in if you don’t want to be limping out. A brief respite over a level stream curves you into the lower section which continues the steppy, rocky riot all the way down to Rosthwaite for high fives and high heart rates.
Locals will know there used to be an even more tech descent through Frith Wood off to the right half way down too. Unfortunately, while the spicy start is still there, the lower half has now been fully sanitised into a steep gravel chute that’s depressing, dull and an eyesore in an otherwise beautiful natural woodland. In other words, don’t bother with that like we did on the ride preview video, just stay on the rock descent all the way down to Rosthwaite.
Rosthwaite to Honister Top Quarry 11 - 16.5km
Rosthwaite is a lovely little hamlet and home to several pubs - including the awesome Yew Tree which dates from 1628 - and a couple of cafes too. Seatoller, just 2km down the road, also has food and drink stops which are perfect for refuelling before the gruelling uphill grind to come. The climb up Honister Pass doesn’t take long to show its teeth either, hitting 20% as soon as you leave Seatoller. If this first ramp is enough to tell you that your legs have had enough, this is the point to take the shorter option back to Grange. It’s still a great ride and still starts with a 130m rocky off road hoik up on the bridleway that peels off to the right at this point.
Otherwise drop those gears and keep your head up to take in the stunning views as you cruise effortlessly (positive mental delusion is the key here I reckon) up the valley of Little Gatesgarth with the rushing waters of Hause Gill on your left. From a pacing point of view don’t get too carried away here as while the 250m vertical gain up to Honister Slate Mine is the biggest part of the climb on paper, it’s the bit afterwards that really goes into beast mode. That means a stop at the ‘Bait Cabin’ at Honister might be best saved to the way back over or you might want to dodge the surly service, high prices and constant Coldplay soundtrack entirely TBH.
At least the wailing of Chris Martin will give you impetus to start the comically gruelling climb up to the top of the old slate mine though. In case you hadn’t guessed it’s the steepest, left-hand option of the various loose gravel ramps that claw their way up from the cafe and crescendo’s up to a set of switchback corners that only the truly tenacious will clean. For the record, when we rode it Ryan, typically, made it look easy while Mick and I walked the top section. Obviously, we only did that to properly take in the stunning views that explode around you as you close in on the iconic rusty tin shack at the summit though. Not because we spun out our tyres and our legs simultaneously on the steepest section. Oh and I lied about the tin shed, as that’s not actually quite at the summit of this muscularly memorable 200m of vertical violence, but it’s not far off so just keep grinding.
Honister Top Quarry to Gatesgarth Cottage 16.5 - 20km
While the views from the top level of the old slate mines at Honister (they’ve been harvesting the famous Westmorland Green stone up here since the 17th century) are truly stunning and well worth a sit and ponder. However, be aware that this is officially the wettest place in the UK, with a ridiculous record of 341mm of rain in a single 24hr period in 2015. So, while we were incredibly lucky to have a totally still and cloudless day on our recce ride in early March the weather up here can often be not just miserable but dangerously cold and wet if you’ve not the right equipment. That means checking the mountain forecast for nearby Scafell (not just a generic lowland one) is absolutely vital, and even then, take extra clothing just in case. The meteorology round here can change dramatically in minutes. You’re also about to tackle one of the most demanding legal MTB descents in the whole of the UK to Warnscale Bottom so Honister is a pretty intense experience all round.
To be honest as you sweep down the broad mine tracks at the start of the descent it all seems fine and flowy. You can even use the shale tip banks as berms as you drop down past old workings and ruined stone buildings before splitting left onto singletrack. Even the first bit of singletrack is relatively mellow with just a few sniper rocks in the grass alongside the rocky trail ribbon to keep an eye on. It doesn’t take long for the rocks to start growing in ferocity and frequency though so be ready to get on the brakes as the big block armoured trail starts to morph into more belligerent and hard to read bedrock.
Given the remoteness and potential weather complications of the location this is a bad place to be brave too. So however tempting it might be to be a hero on the more hardcore sections, take your time and stay well within your sensible limits. Only the legendary goat like locals and the most skilled incomers are going to be able to clean all of the 2km dark slate heart of this descent. Even then stopping to check the steepest, sharpest sections is definitely advised rather than just pressing send as this is a trail carved out of the mountain for hikers well before wheels were even thought about up here. And speaking of our beloved rambler pals, be prepared to meet plenty of them up here on holidays and weekends and remember to give way, be nice and say Hi however much you have to grit your teeth at the grumpier ones. Because even while some of them seem to delight in being deliberately obstructive, they’re not going to get anything like the satisfaction you are from the sections that you do clear. And if / when you do stop to let your brakes cool and arms and nerves recover, be sure to take in the incredible views down the valley to Buttermere and beyond. You’ll get to fully appreciate that in the gentler final km of the descent too and if you’re really lucky the snack van might be waiting in the car park at Gatesgarth for well-earned refreshments.
Gatesgarth Cottage to Honister Slate Mine 20 - 24km
Let’s not beat around the bush here, the next 4km back up the road are going to be a challenge for legs rattled to bits on the Warnscale descent. That said you’ll probably be so buzzing and swapping stories of terror or bravery that the first couple of relatively flat km will pass unnoticed. There’s no escaping the last 2km though, it’s a proper ramp up so tell yourself whatever you need to to get it done. Be very glad when you crawl round the slate walled buttress and sculpture and corner at the top, as despite there still being 6km to go, nearly all the climbing is behind you.
Your efforts and excitements up to this point might make the prices and stony attitude of the Bait Cabin cafe more tolerable too. Or maybe the state you’re in might make you want to consider ordering yourself a custom Honister headstone.
Honister Slate Mine to Grange 24 - 30km
Either way, you’re rolling through the slate mine complex to get onto the first of a series of easy but fun bridleways that snake back and forth across the road climb from Seatoller. Do be careful of traffic as you criss cross the road though as this is a busy road in summer. The first section of bridleway is also the coach route up to the slate mine too. The speed and rocks pick up as you peel away from the road further down, but don’t get too carried away as you go past the 25.5km point. That’s when you need to keep your eyes out for a small blue marker that signposts where the bridleway to Grange peels off to the left as a small singletrack rather than continuing down the main track to Seatoller.
This puts you onto a short climb, but consider that as loading up a fabulous natural roller coaster that swoops, pops and swerves you along the left side of Borrowdale in the blissful flow state that makes riding in the Lakes so legendary. Tech sections up and down mini crags, bridges over dazzling mountain streams, stunning feels looming above you on the left. This section has it all and the ride ability is a really nice relaxing change after the horrors of Honister.
Do be ready for the rock and rowdiness level to be dialled up again once you’re past the towering buttress of Castle Crags, as this poet’s favourite is the opening sonnet of a fantastic final descent. Again, this starts chill before the pentameter picks up, and the fact it’s the only part where Mick punctured on the rocks is quite telling, considering how hard he attacked all the previous descents. Flat fixed we rolled into the final section, where beautiful old woodland is mixed with broad stream crossings feeding into the River Derwent. A fantastic spot to take a moment about the stunning terrain you’ve mastered in the past few hours, before a gentle roll along the last km of road back into Grange
