WET AND WILD RIDES

Whether we like it or not, water plays a huge role in our riding. Here are five routes that make a feature of the stuff – getting wet is purely optional

HIGH CUP NICK, PENNINES 33km (20.5 miles)

Don’t go chasing waterfalls may be sound advice but riding to the top of one is very much recommended. The North Pennines is a stunningly beautiful place, in its own unique way, and home to some fascinating water features – High Cup Nick being one. Looking like someone has taken an ice-cream scoop to the hillside, the long, deep valley is headed up by a waterfall providing a dramatic setting for a ride. This route takes you from waterfall to watershed, the invisible line that runs the length of the country with rain landing either side of the line ending up in the Irish Sea to the west or the North Sea to the east. GPS download bit.ly/HighCupNickRide

FIVE WATERS, LAKE DISTRICT 83.1km (51.7 miles)