Why join a guided ride?
- Enjoy a fun ride in the fresh air
- Learn about your National Park
- Navigation and bike issues taken care of by your guide
- Chance to make new friends
- Benefits your physical and mental health
- More environmentally friendly than exploring by car
Choose your tour
There are two tours to choose from. The aim is to ride on traffic free trails, cycle ways and quieter country lanes.
Tour 1 - Hawkshead to Langdale
The Lake District National Park is a Unesco World Heritage site, and this trip gives you a close-up look at this special place. From Hawkshead your tour will include a peaceful ride through Grizedale Forest past some small tarns. Enjoy spectacular views over Coniston Water to the mountains beyond. We head into the impressive Cathedral “Caves” slate mine, then see the ancient Slater’s Bridge alongside farmland walls of medieval origin in Little Langdale. We’ll head to the impressive U-shaped glacial valley of Great Langdale before returning to Hawkshead by the pretty shore line cycle path next to Elter Water and on quiet country lanes.
Highlights
- Stunning mountain views
- Cathedral Cave
- Shore line cycle path
Tour 2 - Windermere Shore and Grizedale Forest
With shoreline paths alongside Windermere, Elterwater & Coniston Water this is a route for lake lovers! You’ll start this tour in pretty Hawkshead Village and head off through farmland, home of the famous Herdie sheep, past stone barns, to Wray Castle, the Potter family’s first Lake District holiday home. Next, we’ll pedal along the peaceful western shore of England’s largest lake, Windermere, before climbing (easy on an e-bike!) to visit Hill Top, former home of Beatrix Potter. (Entrance Fee extra) Then it’s on to Grizedale Forest where will explore on peaceful traffic free trails with glimpses of the forests Sculpture Park, created in 1977, and stunning mountain views. Enjoy freewheeling down to Coniston Water for a Lakeside stop. The return offers countryside views which inspired William Wordsworth.
Highlights
- Windermere shore cycle path
- Hill Top – Entrance fee extra
- Peaceful Forest Trails
- Stunning mountain views
Your guide
Bike Tour Leader, Paul
Hi, my name is Paul, I am a Bike Tour Leader for the Lake District National Park. I’ve been guiding since 2010, first as a Mountain Bike Guide in Greece & Turkey, then as a Bicycle Tour Guide for Cruise Ship guests across the Mediterranean. I consider it a huge privilege to be able to help visitors to the park explore by bicycle! I look forward to welcoming you on a tour! If you have any questions about the tours, feel free to contact me.
- paul.hunt@lakedistrict.gov.uk
- 01539 440277 – 09.30-16.30 or
- 01539 724555 – 09.30-16.30 Mon – Fri
- (Ask for Paul – Hawkshead Bike Tour Leader)
Bike size guide and fleet info
Just so you know there are 8 bikes altogether in our fleet, 1 is ridden by your guide (Small, Medium or Large) so that leaves up to 7 for your group.
- Small x3 – 5’2″ – 5’6″
- Medium x3 – 5’6″ – 5’10”
- Large x2 – 5’10” – 6’1′”
How to find us
Hawkshead Visitor Centre & Bike Hire, Main Street, Hawkshead, LA22 0NS.
Get to us by bus
Hawkshead Cycle Hire Centre is directly opposite the bus stop in Hawkshead and easy to get to by Bus. From Ambleside and Coniston on the Kendal – Coniston 505 Bus operated by Stagecoach, and from Bowness on the Cross Lakes Shuttle , operated by Windermere Lake Cruises.
Frequently asked questions
The 2nd purpose of the Lake District National Park is:
- To promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park by the public.
Therefore these tours are open to the public, and the aim will be to learn about and enjoy the special qualities of your National Park, as we cycle through it!
As we do this we will minimise our impact on the environment, inline with the Sandford Principle, so other people can enjoy the park after our ride.
All tours are suitable for competent cyclists in good health. Previous e-biking experience is recommended, but not essential.
Up to 5 hours, including stops along the way for photos, talking points and picnic / snacks / lunch.
Between about 20 and 30 miles.
The aim is to ride at a leisurely pace and enjoy the scenery along the way, at a speed comfortable to the whole group. Electric bikes allow people of different finesses to ride together at roughly the same speed. Turn up the assistance if you need it, turn it down if you prefer a bit of a workout.
The aim is to ride on traffic free trails, cycle ways and quieter country lanes. There may be short bits that are busy with traffic, steep in places or rocky terrain. It’s ok to walk these bits if needed.
Less then 24 hours notice:
- no change of date
- no refund
24 to 48 hours notice:
- Yes, you can change of date
- no refund
More than 48 hours notice:
- Yes, you can change of date
- Yes, you can have a full refund
Our tours can operate come rain or shine! If you don’t want to ride in the rain the refund policy allows you to check the weather forecast in advance and cancel / change if needed. If it is raining and you don’t have suitable clothing you may not be allowed to participate in the ride for safety reasons, unfortunately there is no refund for this, so please come prepared.
In extreme weather conditions, i.e super windy / cold or stormy, the ride may be cancelled. We aim to give as much notice for this but this could be at anytime. A full refund will be given if we cancel.
Please ensure you are well prepared for the ride you book. Lake District weather can be notoriously changeable, so we’d recommend :
- Suitable cycling clothing
- Waterproof jacket & trousers (even if rain isn’t forecast as conditions can change quickly)
- Gloves & Extra warm layer (even in summer)
- Sun protection
- Snacks / packed lunch / money to buy food
- Water bottle
- Any personal medication
In exceptional circumstances our leader may turn people away if there is concerns about a participant’s suitability for the ride.
Yes we do. You and your group (Min 2, Max 7) can choose from either of the tours above or Paul can create a custom route to suit your needs. There is a premium of £60 per booking for a private tour. Contact Paul directly to request a booking.
