Mountain Biking in the Lake District
It is a shame that the vast majority of the population of the UK don’t realise how lucky we are to have such a vast wealth of beautiful and compelling locations within our shores. With many people’s holiday itineraries being dependent on the average summer temperature before anything else; many gems are missed in favour for the Mediterranean and other similarly hot destinations. If you look within our own boarders you can see a shiny beauty, a landmark location which should not be overlooked, the Lake District.
Those of you with an adventurous streak (which, I’m guessing will be most – that’s why you are here, right?) the Lake District presents a perfect opportunity for a holiday of a life time whilst being merciful to your wallet and more importantly, the environment – especially for the eco-conscious who count carbon cost as well financial.
Mountain Biking is a truly excellent activity, which ticks many boxes within the adventure holiday list. For starters, there is nothing quite like the feeling of thundering down the side of a mountain or through a forest. It has the ability to quench the insatiable thirst of the speed-freak whilst leaving barely a mark on the environment besides your tire tracks.
If you manage to book a well located hotel in Lake District it means you’ll be within easy distance of the best trails. The Old England Hotel is located just off Lake Windemere close to local bike rental, but more importantly, the stunning lake itself. Whilst it is true that you may require a little bit of driving to reach some of the other “hot spots” in the area, however the time you spend in the car is going to be far out-weighed by that which is spent in the fresh air.
At the moment one of the most common words on people’s lips is “cost”, and this often is heard the loudest when leveled at the holiday. Providing that you already have a sturdy bike, the costs beyond booking accommodation and food is going to be pretty minimal. Although you will need to think ahead and pack some puncture repair kits, some new inner tubes and a small tool-kit amongst some other essentials, the outlay is going to be small.
For those who haven’t guessed it already, the most important reason why the Lake District is an essential location for those mad for mountain biking is linked to something there is an abundance of, mountains. Whilst it is accepted that with every steep, thrilling decent there is going to be a grueling ascent in the equation somewhere, there are few other locations that provide such a variety of terrain and stunning views. The lakes after which the national park is named are some of the most breath taking sights to be had south of the Highlands and this couldn’t be any more true than when seen from atop of one of the stunning peaks.
Exactly how much or little you put into your holiday is really up to you, from three mile circular routes to 20 mile+ cross country treks, just how adventurous are you feeling? For those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the Lake District before, it must be noted that you might have to trek a little way to see some of the best sites. But each minute peddling across the top of the hills within sight of Ullswater (above) is easily worth at least ten of each minute it took to get there.
Biking through the Lakes really provides one of the biggest feelings of freedom you can get in the UK without ever being too far from nearest civilisation. So this year, why not trade the sunny climbs of Spain or Italy, be sure to check out what is on your own doorstep – one of the most spectacular jewels of the UK.
About the Author:
Olga Leleka is a content writer for http://www.booked.net/, a hotels booking website which specialises in hotel books in the UK and world-wide.
