Gatescarth Pass & Mosedale, an epic ride, EMTB

Starting from Sadgill and riding over the Gatescarth Pass, big, hard and long ascent followed by a big hard and long descent. Many “baby head” sized rocks and very loose in places on the descent. A major challenge, not to be underestimated, many would grade it black.

Then an easy road alongside Haweswater followed by an off road route to Swindale. The latter part of this proved difficult to follow the bridleway as the bracken was chest high in places.

An easy but mundane long section of rarely used hard surface track led to Wet Sleddale and Sleddale Hall, used in the cult series “Withnail & I”

After that the trail became less well defined and the weather took a turn as we were in the cloud and it seemed to take forever to get to Mosedale Cottage, a remote bothy. We had a look around and it was quite a big place, but as to be expected very basic indeed.

A further poorly defined trail with a descent led to the Gatescarth Pass. This whole section from Sleddale Hall to Gatescarth was energy sapping as there was a lot of friction from the terrain and a lot of stop start. Not recommended.

Finally there was the descent back to Sadgill which was good but with tired bodies extra care was needed.

A memorable ride with Frank and Bob !

https://www.visitcumbria.com/pen/sled...
https://thegreatbritishoutdoors.co.uk...

WRF Bob’s video from the same ride:
   • Stile end  and Gatescarth pass  a ver...  

00:00 Starting from Sadgill
01:28 Start of the climb
04:13 An easy section
05:19 Getting steep again
08:29 Start of the descent
10:44 Reprieve before the next hard section
12:00 Steep and loose
14:09 Haweswater
15:13 Into the jungle
16:49 The long and winding road
17:14 Sleddale Hall
18:26 Yuk
19:15 Mosedale Cottage
20:22 Descent to Gatescarth
21:07 Final descent