The Lake District is a fantastic place to go cycling in the UK and is particularly popular with road cyclists and mountain bikers. The national park is criss-crossed with excellent tracks and paths suitable for gravel bikes.
Gravel Rides Lake District by Andrew Barlow unlocks the hidden gems in the fells and is a must-have guide for the growing number of gravel cyclists who live in or visit the area. As good gravel routes in the region can be hard to find, the book showcases fifteen of the Lake District’s best, ranging from easier 20-kilometre rides up to more challenging 50-kilometre days out.
Barlow said: ‘This genre of cycling accepts everyone from all walks of life – any bike or any shape or size, there are no egos here. We just want to ride bikes and be outside for as long as possible. This guide has been put together in the hope it will inspire others to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.
Gravel riding in the Lakes can be something of a mixed bag. There isn’t the abundance of pristine gravel which you get in parts of Scotland, but this is more than compensated for by the variety of terrain you will encounter and the sensational, ever-changing views.’
Andrew Barlow is a photographer and content creator based in Kendal, Cumbria. He is a passionate advocate for making cycling inclusive and his experience of working at Wheelbase, the UK’s largest bike shop, where customers ask him daily for the best gravel routes in the Lakes, gives him a unique insight, which he has used to select these fifteen inspirational routes, for all levels of cyclist.
