Route 37 from Penny Bridge: Coniston, Langdale and Walking Branches towards Ambleside: bicycle in United Kingdom
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Route 37 from Penny Bridge: Coniston, Langdale and Walking Branches towards Ambleside

Distance
58.1 km
Time
6 h 50 min
Elevation gain
—
Difficulty
Hard
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Route description

From Penny Bridge, this expanded Route 37 variant heads north towards Coniston Water and the Langdale valleys. Bridges and rural roads mark the opening, before the journey develops along the lake’s eastern side. A short shoreline approach is followed by Brantwood, John Ruskin’s former home, while the Coniston branch passes St Andrew’s Church. Stony roads around Tilberthwaite, Little Langdale and the calm water outlook at Elter Water come next. Trevor Woodburn Memorial Bridge gives a view down towards Skelwith Force; the final portion heads towards Ambleside’s western approach. The variant contains return branches and pedestrian sections. Riding is restricted on some paths, so the whole outing cannot be treated as continuous cycling. It suits visitors who enjoy combining country-road riding with separate visits, while checking access rules and arranging return transport in advance.

Route status

Проверяем свежесть данных по треку и учитываем сообщения сообщества

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Проверяем спутниковые данные о пожарах и предупреждения по региону.

Следить за маршрутом
Подробнее о состоянии маршрута No recent trail condition reports
Data source Information prepared

The description, logistics and points of interest were prepared using maps and open sources. Trail conditions may change.

Route data was imported from GPX and has not been field-verified.

Last updated 12.10.2026

Before travelling, check trail access, restrictions and the weather forecast.

Current conditions No recent trail condition reports

Conditions may have changed. Share a report after completing the route.

Community experience

Recent completions

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Elevation profile

gentle climb steep

Surface

Asphalt 15% · Gravel 9% · Compacted dirt 7% · Unknown 65%

Surface data covers 20.5 km of 58.1 km; the rest of the track is not yet classified.

Asphalt 15% · 8.66 km
Gravel 9% · 5.08 km
Compacted dirt 7% · 4.00 km
Fine gravel 3% · 1.57 km
Dirt / grass 2% · 0.98 km
Paving stones 1% · 0.22 km
Dirt 1% · 0.04 km
Unknown 65% · 37.6 km

Before you go

Всё важное о маршруте

Route at a glance

Главное за минуту
Connect lakeside scenery, John Ruskin’s history and the Langdale valleys in one substantial journey. Coniston Water, stony roads around Tilberthwaite and the river at Woodburn Bridge provide particularly distinctive contrasts. This variant allows time at interesting places for those prepared for a long day, return branches and separate walking sections.
Length
58.1 km
Elevation gain
1392 m
Surface
Asphalt 15%
Route 37 from Penny Bridge: Coniston, Langdale and Walking Branches towards Ambleside: route photo 5 in United Kingdom

Route suitability

Кому будет комфортно
Without a car: Hard With children: No With a dog: No By bike: Partially With a stroller: No Mobile signal: No data

Nearby

Brantwood is a separate museum visit: the current page lists house opening 10:30–16:00, gardens until 16:30 and adult admission £16.50. From 16 November, Wednesday–Sunday operation is listed. Ruskin’s grave lies in Coniston’s old churchyard, but an individual grave visit is not established by this branch. Cathedral Quarry, Slater’s Bridge, the Ruskin Museum and Galava Roman Fort require separate approaches or visits. A Gondola sailing is also separate from the outing.

Getting there

Варианты и важные моменты Show on map
Without a car
Northern trains serve Ulverston, followed by your independently planned connection to Penny Bridge; the station is separate from this departure. Northern carries ordinary bicycles free without reservations, but offers only two first-come places. Space and carriage during bus replacements are not guaranteed. Plan the extra approach and return from the Ambleside area beforehand, checking bicycle policies with each chosen operator.
By car
The southern road approach follows the M6 and A590 towards Greenodd, then towards Penny Bridge. Establish a permitted drop-off point near the departure. Coniston and Ambleside have separate northern approaches, but the ending is well away from the southern start. Arrange your return to the vehicle beforehand; bridges and rural paths do not imply motor access.
Parking
Parking is unconfirmed. Verified sources do not establish general public all-day parking beside the Penny Bridge departure for this entire variant. Confirm a permitted place, length of stay and return from the Ambleside area beforehand. Keep entrances and farm access clear, and avoid places reserved for local businesses’ customers.

Электрички туда и обратно

Расписание на дату и время, до которого нужно выйти на маршрут

What to expect

Places
Penny Bridge the actual bridge crossing on the southern portion.
Coniston Water Eastern Shore a short water-side approach between the rural road and lake.
Brantwood Exterior John Ruskin’s former home; the house and gardens require a separate visit.
St Andrew’s Church in Coniston Exterior the village church near the lake’s northern end.
Elter Water the water outlook from the nearby path.
Trevor Woodburn Memorial Bridge the Brathay crossing with a view towards Skelwith Force.

Difficult sections and safety

На что обратить внимание
Elevation gainСуммарный набор высоты — 1392 м.
SurfaceAsphalt 15%, Gravel 9%, Compacted dirt 7%, Unknown 65%.
Риски The outing combines roads carrying vehicles, gravel ways, rough stony sections and pedestrian paths. It includes a short busy A593 section. The eastern Coniston paths, Wilson Place Farm branch and some northern branches have pedestrian-only designations; do not plan to ride these, and establish separately whether walking with a bicycle is permitted. The route number does not replace local signs. Return branches add effort, while wet gravel and rock reduce grip.

How much time to allow

Оцените свой темп
Расчётное время в пути 6 h 50 min
С запасом на остановки + 30–60 мин
Allow a long day with an early start, stops and an independently arranged return. A reliable single duration for the whole expanded variant is not established. The short Langdale cycle outing’s time does not apply here. Allow separately for walking branches, places of interest and any museum visit, checking opening hours and evening transport. A permitted shortened section can be selected beforehand, but would form a separate reduced outing.

Best time to go

Сезонность и рекомендации
Prefer dry roads, long daylight and ice-free stony descents. Rain can leave unsurfaced sections and waterside approaches wet; check minor-road conditions before travelling. Start earlier in autumn and avoid relying on late attraction hours. Winter suitability of the entire combination is unconfirmed.

What to bring

Базовый список для комфортного похода
A serviced bicycle suited to gravel and uneven roads
Helmet, front and rear lights
Puncture repair kit and pump
Footwear for separate walking sections
Map showing permitted path types
Rainwear and an extra warm layer
Water and food for a long outing
Charged phone and a prepared return plan

FAQ

Questions before the trip

Can I do this route without a car?

Northern trains serve Ulverston, followed by your independently planned connection to Penny Bridge; the station is separate from this departure. Northern carries ordinary bicycles free without reservations, but offers only two first-come places. Space and carriage during bus replacements are not guaranteed. Plan the extra approach and return from the.

Is this route suitable for children?

Do not treat this as a basic child-friendly route: check difficulty, length, and trail conditions before going.

Can I download GPX and KML?

Yes, GPX and KML are available on the route page. Open the map, download the file, and use it in a navigator before your trip; key route facts: 58.1 km, hard.

Discussion

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