[fatkid2000]

Off to the Lakes in March for a wedding & a few days away. Want to get some riding in and be near to Ambleside for the wedding - anyone know of any good B&Bs or self catering places with facilities to lock the bike up / store it. The wife is coming and due to her current state will need a place with creature comforts such as a good bed.

Thanks in advance

[Norton Sharley]

Have you tried ringing Biketreks?

[tlr]

We stayed at http://www.eldergrove.co.uk/ the first time I did the Whitton. Pretty nice rooms.

Can't remember what we did with thebikes, but we must have had them with us!

[fatkid2000]

Have you tried ringing Biketreks?

Good call Norton - biketreks have a link on their site to some B&Bs. I'll report back on where we've booked when I'm back next week.
http://affiliates.thedms.co.uk/a5030091/default.aspx

Any guide book recommendations? Cheers.

[Graeme78]

Cumbria house in Keswick is supposed to be good.
http://www.cumbriahouse.co.uk/index.htm

[Norton Sharley]

Any guide book recommendations? Cheers.

Vertebrate Graphics produce the only 'proper' mtb guide to the Lakes - http://www.v-outdoor.co.uk/products/mountain-biking/lake-district-mountain-biking---essential-trails.php

I'd lend you my copy but I leave it up in the Lakes.   Biketreks flog maps of routes at ludicrous prices too.

If you're staying near Ambleside I suggest two routes I think you'd like;
1.  Ride down the west side of Windermere on a bridleway about 1/2 mile inland from the Lake from High Wray to Far Sawrey and then over a selection of obvious bridleways to Grisedale.  Ride the North Face circuit then back up the way you've come but ride beside the Lake.  All easy going but pleasant enough. 
2.  Ride the Langdale circuit in the book around Loughrigg, Langdale, Hodge Close, Iron Fell then loop back towards Ambleside via the Drunken Duck pub!  Much more technical but far more fun.  If you want more details PM me Dave.

[fatkid2000]

Sorry Norton - found your post when I got back.

Well we stayed here.
http://www.bedbreakfastlakedistrict.com/

Bit pricey - but we got a good discount due to staying for most of the week. They had a huge garage and were more than happy to store bike etc and let me use their cleaner stuff to clean the bike before coming home. Riding was straight out the front gate which was good.

The B&B people had also bought all the bike-treks routes / maps so lent me an OS and the guide books.
The chaps at bike-treks were really helpful and gave some good route pointers - both legal and not so.
Did a version of the Loughrigg / Iron fell circuit  & couple of other routes.