From the Cumberland News I learn that the Forestry Commission’s new mountain biking coaching trail in Whinlatter Forest is due to open in a week’s time.

I’m afraid that my cycling these days is restricted to leisurely pedalling along the roads of England’s eastern flatlands but for those younger and fitter than myself, and committed to working hard at this sport, the new coaching facility near Keswick should be a tremendous asset.  For some it may also be a great introduction to the joys of the Lake District.

Apparently the trail will consist of serious training features way beyond basic humps and bumps.  The governing body for cycling sport in the UK, British Cycling, is likely to be using it for pre-Olympic training.  So let’s hope that this new Lake District resource will contribute to a good haul of Gold in 2012.

My time in the Lake District has been very limited so far this year but I did get three days there last week, the primary reason for the visit being to visit elderly relatives. In addition to an overnight in Workington I managed to spend two nights in one of the sleeping ‘pods’ of a large tent belonging to some friends on a camp site near Threlkeld and attended a few meetings at the Keswick Convention, an annual inter-denominational Christian event drawing thousands of people every year and that has been running for around 130 years since being started by a local vicar in the mid-1870s. It was also possible to fit in a couple of afternoon trips into areas easily accessible from Keswick.

Earlier in the week the weather had been wet (as is necessary to fill the rivers and lakes, so we shouldn’t complain too much about it) but my days there were quite pleasant. Friday afternoon took me with two friends past Bassenthwaite to Cockermouth where we enjoyed a late lunch at the Trout Hotel and followed this with a drive to see Loweswater, Crummock Water, Buttermere, Honister Pass, Borrowdale and Derwentwater. I love the northern lakes. They’re so much less congested with traffic and people than the honeypot areas of Windermere, Ambleside, etc, beautiful as those areas are.

The contrasting scenery of Loweswater and Buttermere, the different shaped valleys, the sudden transition from the steep scree-covered slopes of Honister to the greenery of Borrowdale, all these made for a great afternoon. As we drove along we talked of The Secret Valley and the Herries Chronicles, fictional accounts of this fascinating landscape. What a pity that having passed Lodore we didn’t have time to visit Watendlath and Ashness Bridge.