Lakeland 200 – Too Hot! (Video)

Words, photos, and video by Allan Boardman

I attempted the Lakeland 200 back in 2023, aiming for a sub-40-hour finish to qualify for the Highland Trail 550 entry application the following year, finishing in 38 hours, 23 minutes, and 23 seconds. This wasn’t the fastest time in the history of the route, though it was my time and I was proud of it. My first attempt a couple of years earlier was doomed from the start, as I headed anti-clockwise rather than clockwise. 

With a 50 percent completion rate of the route to date, I headed out in what may have been the hottest week the UK had seen all year. It was mid-July, and I had the weekend free. I chose to start the ride in Stavely and planned to start riding around 6 a.m. I’m never great with getting my stuff together quickly in the mornings, meaning that I eventually started the ride just after 8 a.m. 

Once I set off, I tried to keep a sense of urgency, not stopping for photos and eating whilst riding. I don’t have the skill to pack light, though with the weather being as nice as it was, I opted for a bivvy bag, quilt, down jacket, and a hat, rather than a full night change of clothes that I took on my previous attempts. I was rather proud of my minimalistic approach. My little front bag had plenty of snacks, sun cream, a water filter, and a few spares. A hydration bladder was tucked away in my frame bag to help keep weight off my back and shoulders. 

I made rather good progress through the twisty start to Jenkins Crag down into Ambleside without stopping and straight up to Loughrigg Fell towards Grizedale Forest. All the way there, I was telling myself that I wasn’t going to stop for long, just water, then on to Coniston. The lure of ice cream was too great as the heat was really ramping up. I at least ate the ice cream quickly and filled my bladder up. 

After a longer-than-planned break, I was back on my way again, climbing up and over towards one of my favourite descents into Conniston. The trail dust was sticking to my skin with the unpleasant mixture of suncream and sweat ecosystem I had built up over the last couple of hours. I made it into a busy Coniston for a stop at the garage. A slice of pizza was shoved into my mouth along with a Red Bull and a few treats to get some extra calories in me.

I set off riding towards the steepest part of Walna Scar, then I got off and pushed. I’ve never cleared this climb, and pushing meant I was still moving and making progress, keeping some energy in the bank for later. Halfway up Walna, the track crosses a river via a stone bridge. I’d developed a niggly headache, and whilst I’m a cold person who loves the heat, my body wouldn’t let me go on. I took my helmet, shorts, and jersey off and got in the river to cool down. I’ve spent the last year riding without padded shorts, so my boxer shorts wouldn’t take long to dry at all. In fact, it was less than 20 minutes of being out of the water, I was dry enough to get dressed again. 

I couldn’t admit defeat to myself, though I knew that I was going to pull the plug. Whilst I was contemplating what I was going to do, I saw in the distance a pink helmet on a mountain biker coming my way. Putting two and two together, I thought it may have been someone attempting the Lakeland 200 at the same time. It turned out it was Jade Saskia Simpson-Field, who, unlike me, had started the ride much earlier at Pooley Bridge. We chatted for a bit, then she rode off. Seeing her push on gave me a little more strength to get going again, but the heat quickly changed that, slowing me down to a stop at the top of Walna. I finally admitted defeat and made a decision to get some food, descending towards the Newfield Inn. Puncturing on the descent halfway down should have made me realise that once I’m at the bottom, no matter what way I went, there was a nasty climb back to Coniston. 

I ordered a burger and a zero beer at the bar as a consolation prize for scratching so soon into the ride, then I saw Jade again. She came in, ordered a drink, said hi, and went outside again to faff and drink. I started to regret my choice and sat down to eat. I decided that I’d sleep on the top of Walna before I descended to the Newfield. Sticking with that original plan, I pushed back up Walna until I found a good spot way off the path to sleep under the stars. My bivvy bag was out, and I was tucked up, hoping to see shooting stars, though before I knew it, I was fast asleep. 

The next morning, I woke to a breeze and a sunny sky. It was only 5:30 a.m., and it was already warm. Warm enough to sit without a jacket on. I had a strange breakfast of minestrone soup—I never thought to check the sachet when I was packing. Rookie mistake. I loaded the bike and headed down into Coniston. The descent from the top was a great wake-up call, skidding and hopping around full of energy after a long sleep. Breakfast was on the cards. I can’t refer to it as a second breakfast, as minestrone is hardly a good way to start the day.

After breakfast, I assumed I knew the way up to Tarn Hows, though in actual fact and typical Allen fashion, I went the wrong way, completely missing the tarn, and ended up pushing and shoving in the wrong direction along a dead-end track. Once I made it to the tarmac at the top of Hawkshead Hill, I took quiet lanes towards Ambleside for ice cream. If there was mint choc chip (my favourite) on the menu, then I’m stopping for a big one. It also has to be Luxury Lakes ice cream, though.

I never like any route out of Ambleside back to Stavely; usually, I head down the lake and jump on the ferry to avoid the main road, Jenkin Cragg or The Struggle, but I opted for the hike-a-bike up Jenkin. There’s pretty much no more hard work left to get back to the start, other than one climb and some quiet lanes.

Feeling happy that I still had an adventure, I couldn’t help but give myself a hard time for failing again. I guess there has to be a reason to go back for another attempt, right?

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