I'm thinking of doing a five to six day ride around the Lakes - starting and finishing in Windermere. It's based on the "Lakeland Loop" by Tim Woodcock and will take in Walna Scar Road, Black Sail Pass (descent to Wasdale!) and High Street.

Planning to stay at hostels so would prefer to do it before Oct 31st (when Skiddaw House closes)... Not finished the exact mapping yet but if anyone is interested in joining, let me know.. costs will be about 15 quid/day for yha accom + food (cheap if not booking meals at the hostels). Hoping to manage it for under £150

Neil.

Hoping to manage it for under £150

Use a tent

Nah, don't reckon I'll take backpacking kit Billy! Far too heavy!

I've messed around with the route a little and got a 5 day 'little' loop mapped avoiding Skiddaw group.  I'm looking at:

1. Ambleside to Patterdale via High St. and shore of Ullswater (37km 1300m)
2. Patterdale to Keswick via Old Coach Rd. (22km 600m)
3. Keswick to Buttermere via Allerdale ramble & Honister pass (23km 750m)
4. Buttermere to Boot via Scarth Gap, Black Sail Pass (20km 1000m)
5. Boot to Troutbeck via Walna Scar Rd, Claife Heights & ferry (37km 1400m)

Happily, I'll only have to buy dinner at Boot (Eskdale YHA) as will be able to carry supplies easily enough for the rest..

Unlikely to have the time to do it before mid-november. 

It's my first multi-day mtb, so no doubt stuff will go wrong! Any advice on carrying a backpack (about 30lbs) when mountain biking?   Is this a big no no?