1.Bull Crag:
Distance: 6 miles/9.5km
Average Ride Time: 1.5 hours
Overall Grade: Loop (a) Moderate Loop (b) Moderate
A scenic route on the Bull Crag peninsula following a figure of eight pattern.
After leaving Leaplish waterside park the route follows forest roads for most of its length. The terrain undulates gently with many fine views over Kielder Water and the Forest Park. The route leaves the road near the shoreline and follows a narrow and uneven path where extra CARE should be taken. For shorter alternatives either of the two loops can be ridden separately. Cyclists may notice a series of brass rubbing plaques around this route. They form part of the keepsake visual art commission by artist Nicola Moss.
Note: This route is also accessible to horse riders and walkers.
Additional route info:
Surface grade:
loop a - 100% forest road/surfaced path/tarmac road.
loop b - 75% forest road, 25% off-road narrow path with some stone surfacing
Height gained & lost:
Very Low
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2. Cranecleugh:
Distance: 5 miles/8 km
Average Ride Time: 1.5 hours
Overall Grade: Easy
Follow the new exit route out of Leaplish - under passing the C200 at Mounces Bridge - follow this route for 600 metres, turn left at main junction to pick up signs for route Nos 2, 3 & 4. The route continues 100 meters to Leaplish Crags, then right up a gorse lined track, gradually ascending to a clear felled area until a left turn takes you back towards Cranecleugh. Pick up signs for route No 2. After a steady climb alongside the Little Cranecleugh Burn (Cleugh means steep sided valley), the route drops down to cross the burn. After a short climb you arrive at the summit of the route, with good views of the forest ahead. The route then descends to meet a forest road. After turning left this road leads downhill and returns to the Calvert Trust. Once at the staff car park turn left along a track, cross a ford and follow a tarmac path for 50 meters (Please take care - riders, orienteer and walkers from the Calvert Trust use this route). The trail then climbs steeply up the track back to meet the C200 road. Retrace your tracks from here to Leaplish.
Additional route info:
Height gained & lost:
Low   
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3. Cross Crags
Distance: 6 miles/9.5 km
Average Ride Time: 1.5 hours
Overall Grade: Easy
(This is the Calvert Trust's main horse riding route-please take care)
This route leaves Leaplish waterside park via the new exit under passing the C200 at Mounces Bridge - follow this route for 600 metres, turn left at main junction to pick up signs for route Nos 2, 3 & 4. The route continues 100 metres to Leaplish Crags, then right up a gorse lined track, gradually ascending to a clear felled area until a left turn takes you back towards Cranecleugh. Pick up signs for route No 3. Before reaching the main complex the trail turns left and winds uphill bearing right at the track junction. The route steadily climbs providing good views to the right once out of the trees. After a left turn the route continues to rise for a short while before descending alongside Hen Sike. The route turns sharply left away from the burnside and follows a twisting, undulating road with steep drops to the right. There are good views of the Whickhope inlet on Kielder Water as you head back towards the Calvert Trust. From here follow the route back to Leaplish Waterside Park.
Additional route info:
Surface grade:
90% forest road/surfaced track, 10% tarmac road
Height gained & lost:
Low
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4. Humble Loop:
Distance: 10 miles/16 km
Average Ride Time: 2 hours
Overall Grade: Moderate
From Leaplish waterside park follow the new exit route under passing the C200 at Mounces Bridge - follow this route for 600 metres, turn left at main junction to pick up signs for route No's 2,3,&,4. The route continues 100 metres to Leaplish Crags, then right up a gorse lined track, gradually ascending to a clear felled area until a left turn takes you back towards Cranecleugh. Pick up signs for route No 4. The route passes straight through the Calvert Trust complex.
'Please ride with the utmost care between the buildings'
From the Calvert Trust follow the tarmac road which runs up alongside the Cranecleugh Burn. After passing over the Back Burn, turn left at the crossroads onto a forest road. The route climbs up with the steep gorge of the Binky Burn on the left. The route levels out passing an open wetland area with two prominent sheep stells by the Humble Burn. Ahead of you is a gradual climb through areas of thicket stage spruce. Wild moorland and the Cumbrian border lie ahead, but here you begin your descent eastwards running parallel with the Back Burn. The route passes two disused quarries (Please remember quarries are dangerous places-do not enter) before it opens out with good views over the forest towards Monkside, north of Kielder Water. The Cranecleugh Quarry is reached where the tarmac surface is rejoined. Please beware of quarry traffic on this downhill section. The road is followed all the way back to the Calvert Trust and to Leaplish.
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Loop a: Leaplish - Lewisburn - Leaplish
Distance: 8 miles/13 km 'short cut avoiding Serpent Brae 7 miles/11 km'
Average Ride Time: 2 Hours
Overall Grade: Demanding
Leave Leaplish waterside park by the new exit under passing the C200 at Mounces Bridge - follow this route for 600 meters, turn left after 400 meters, turn right and follow signs for routes 5a, b and c. The route climbs steadily up through the forest. Passing open ground on the right, the trail heads towards the thrilling descent of Greenside. There is a short cut to the right back to the C200 for those wishing to avoid the fearsome off-road section down Serpent Brae to The Forks. Greenside and Serpent Brae can be difficult to traverse and is dangerous in bad weather. From The Forks you can exit back onto the C200 and to Leaplish via Lewisburn Picnic Place or you can continue on the main trail to Loop b.
Additional route info.
Surface grade:
50% forest road, 37% tarmac road, 7% off-road and 6% surfaced cycle track
Height gained & lost:
Medium
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Loop b: Lewisburn - Bakethin:
Distance: 6 miles/9.5 km
'from Bakethin Raptor Viewpoint it is 4 miles to Leaplish and 2 miles to Kielder Castle'
Average Ride Time: 1.5 Hours
Overall Grade: Moderate
Starting from Lewisburn Picnic Place follow the Cross Border cycle route past The Forks and up the Akenshaw Burn. (Just after the second bridge there is a steep uphill short cut on the right for those wishing to take it, which cuts two miles off the loop). Just before Akenshaw itself the trail leaves the Cross Border route and loops back to the right. After following an undulating section with the Akenshaw Burn down to the right, the trail begins the ascent to Ferny Knowe. Here Loop c is met. Loop b turns right and descends towards Kielder Water. A left turn takes you down to a rough grass ride for a short distance before reaching Bakethin Raptor Viewpoint. From here you can follow the main C200 road back to Lewisburn or Leaplish.
Additional route info:
Surface grade:
95% forest road, 5% off-road
Height gained & lost: Low
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5.The Swinburne Selection:
To the west of Kielder Water there are a whole host of route options in this trail complex. Routes can be ridden from several different start points - Leaplish waterside park, Kielder Castle Forest Park Centre and Lewisburn Picnic Place. There are three main loops within the whole trail, giving a large number of route options for you to choose from, depending on your own requirements.
Additional route info:
The Swinburne Selection - Loops a, b and c
Overall grade:
Demanding
Surface grade:
75% forest road, 12% tarmac, 11% off-road, 2% surfaced cycle track
Height gained & lost:
High
Surface grade:
80% forest road & path, 20% tarmac
Height gained & lost grade:
Medium
"The three loops are described in one direction, but all can be ridden both ways"
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