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To reveal photos click on the title on the left or on each heading, click on the thumbnail to enlarge. |
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I (the ed's little helper) will leave the write up to my boss the ed as he knows where we all went.....if you're lucky he might tell you about being told off for going through a grumpy old chaps garden.....
This ride is a quality ride and and well worth doing, we were lucky to have the weather on our side.
over to you Boss!!! Cheers Dazza (you are doing a good job honestly!)...........Not a bad turn out this week, seven of us with Craig & his son George joining us. George turning up with his brand new bike a Trek ex-fuel8 which had a few of us green with envy. This wasn't the only new bike, Paul turned up with his new build on a Massy frame (good job done Paul) we may get Paul to write a piece for the site all about building the bike. The following route as been taken/borrowed from a very informative website www.mtbthedales.org.uk.
Turn right out of the car-park and look for the wooden finger-post sign after 150m directing you left and along the Pennine Way. It’s uphill from here for about 4km to the highest point on the ride on Foxup Moor. This track has predominantly a firm stone base but with plenty of loose stuff on top in places. Gates at regular intervals give an opportunity for a short rest or to take in the scenery. The first 3½ km is a series of short rises and false horizons so be prepared to keep going. A short section of about 30m towards the top of the stony climb will test your technical climbing skills before the track flattens out and ends at a gate leading out onto Horton Moor. The Pennine way footpath goes off to the right for those walkers heading up onto Pen-Y-Ghent itself, but the ride goes into a single-track section through the moorland reeds. Straight in front is Hull Pot about 250m away, which is worth a look. It’s the spectacular entrance to a pothole and has Hull Pot Beck cascading into it.
Please note that the well-trodden track by the beck is actually the wrong route – the route you need is over the wall to the right. The track is now out onto moorland, which can be difficult to ride with lots of soft ground and reed beds to negotiate. It brings you sweeping north-east with the base of Pen-Y-Ghent close to your right, if not you’re on the wrong track! Careful navigation is needed through here with few points of reference around.
The track starts to improve as you reach a gate leading off onto single-track with a sandstone base and is much better to ride. By now you’ve reached the start of Foxup Moor on Pen-Y-Ghent side leading to Plover Hill. Here you have spectacular views to your left over green moorland with (on a good day) Ingleborough in the distance behind you. Keep on single-track to the highest point on the ride on Foxup Moor under Plover Hill. A few stream crossings will have tested your technical skills with alternative stone bridges for those not up to the task. And there’s more to come! The route is undulating over moorland for a while before reaching a metal gate. This is the start of the downhill to Foxup and the next 4.5km will test the technical skills of any rider. Soft moorland, mud, and rushes lie ahead along with deep ruts, tricky stream crossings and slippery rocks protruding through the surface. Enjoy but take care. The views around are worth taking in if you can keep the sweat out of your eyes. As the bridleway ends the permissive path that runs for the 1.5km towards Foxup starts and leads to a very steep tricky descent towards the hamlet in the valley below. Under-wheel conditions will play a big part in the decision taken whether to ride or walk at this point. The steepest section heads down towards a gate as you pick up the bridleway again. Having gone through the gate an option presents itself depending on the weather, the time you allowed for the ride and how tired you feel.
Short-cut - Turning right up hill for a short distance to High Bergh will lead to an easier route along the contours of the hillside to Hesleden Bergh where it meets the metalled road. A pleasant and easy ride from here on the opposite side of the steep valley to the main route will meet the main route track near Dawson Close. Dropping steeply into Foxup Farm turn right onto the ‘C’ road to Halton Gill. Around 4km on road with a downhill bias gives a chance to stretch the legs for a little while before turning back on the route back to Horton on the south side of Pen-Y-Ghent.
CAUTION!!! Make sure you don't miss the bridleway to your right before entering Litton because there is another bridleway with a signpost that points you down into somebody's garden and although we were studying our map he wasn't really the friendliest chap I have met. (I wish I’d been on a horse I’d have ploughed his lawn & if you're reading get your grass cut your letting the friendly people of Litton down) This must be the shortest bridleway in the world (where’s Norris & Ross McWhirter when you need them).
Go right at a junction at New over the river Skirfare before reaching Litton - unless you want to visit the pub! Immediately over the bridge turn right up a gated track and start to climb up the steepest section on the whole route. A 2km climb levels out onto a good track that runs along the edge of the valley where Pen-Y-Ghent Gill leads into Hesleden Beck. A small stream leading off Cow Close produces a spectacular rift in the hillside that the track skirts the top of. An undulating route takes you off the hillside to join the metalled road near Dawsons Close. Bridge Turn left and ride for 2km on the quiet road with a great view of Pen-Y-Ghent to your right until you come to a cattle-grid just after a parking area with an ‘honesty box’ on the left.
Turn right and drop down on the hard-packed stone track to Dale Head (for a short while you are riding on the Pennine Way again). Keep right at the farm and through the gate on a solid-based track, similar to riding up a stream bed in wet weather. Turn left at a track junction by Churn Milk Hole, another of the innumerable potholes in this area. At this point, straight in front is the sharp end of Pen-Y-Ghent and the footpath leading to it. The stony track takes you to the start of the 4½km downhill section to Helwith Bridge. The first 3½km is difficult riding due to the track being both heavily rutted and covered with very slippery mud in damp conditions. Selecting a good line to ride for any distance is difficult and great care needs to be taken particularly if there are walkers or trials motorbikes on the route. The final 1km gives a chance to let the brakes off on a wide hard packed stony surface. Be careful on the last 100m, which is loose and drops steeply to the busy main road.
Turn right onto the road for the final 3km stretch.
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Four of us this week, Ash & myself (Des) from the Mudpackers & two lads from Team Penguin, Sean & Stu. We set off from Linton with the weather being cloudy but dry, this didn’t last long because it chucked it down for the majority of the ride. A short ride on a minor road brought us to Threshfield where we picked up Malham Moor Lane and the first stiff climb of the day on a very rocky path where we passed the mine workings on Threshfield Moor, when we came to the road (Skirethorn Lane) we went straight across and crossed over Green Haw Hill, this brought us to the bottom of Mastiles Lane (Kilnsey end) where we turned left to be faced with the hardest climb of the ride up Mastiles Lane (lung buster). When we reached Mastiles Gate we turned left towards Bordley, we had a run in with a very angry looking Bull on this section we had to take a detour around the perimeter of the field because none of us fancied passing it on the lane. At Bordley we took the bridalway towards Malham passing Lee Gate before turning left up to The Weets (another steep climb). There are a couple of of bridalways leading off The Weets, we picked the one to Hetton on this occasion, crossing across Hetton Common and past Winterburn Reservoir then a small steep climb up to Moor lane where we turned right down into Hetton. We turned left onto a minor road towards Cracoe, just as we entered Cracoe we turned left passing under the railway line and passing New Laithe, again a slutchy steep climb up Linton Moor before a fast rocky descent back to Linton, where we rode straight into the river to wash off to the amusement of everybody watching and feeding the ducks. After a wash and change of clothing lunch was had in the Fountaine Inn where we had freshly run over duck (only joking). Stu due to being Knackered gave us a pathetic attempt to eat his burger & chips.
The ride is about 18.5 miles long with around 16 miles being off road, stiff climbs, good descents, plenty to test your technical ability and in our opinion a very good all round ride. Due to the amount of off road leave youself around 3-4 hours for the ride. |
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This is a great little training ride, I chose this ride as i like to get lost and make the mileage up, I have called this ride, Touring the Dales with Des, as we pass villages like Bell Busk and Gargarve and we come very close to Malham and Airton. 7 of us did the 11/15/18 mile ride, Dazza, myself, Paul,Ash and his mate Sean and of course screw and Dave the legend as is.....who is becoming a mountain biker, he has stopped wearing his wifes clothes and bought some real cycling stuff...go for it Dave. Matt (des's little lad) joined us at the end and showed his war wounds, nasty stuff, but he is on the mend. Article written by Dazza (Eds little Helper).
Des's version sticking to the facts. Yes seven of us this week, Dazza chose the route due to a few of us having things to do in the afternoon. The ride is what i would call a training route, that could be done on a day when the weather isnt too good, because there is no great height on the route so youre never exposed. Setting off from Barlick with a gentle ride on the canal to East Marton join the A59 in a NW direction for about 0.25 miles before joining a bridal way that takes you past Ingthorpe Grange & onto Stainton Hall, where we picked another bridalway up that took us past Stainton Cotes and onto Coniston Cold. Head back to Gargrave on the A65 for about 200 yards then turn left on the minor road to Bell Busk, (where yes Dazza you can see the Dales from here) Turn right onto a bridalway towards Craig Laithe & follow the rocky bridalway back to Gargrave, cross the A65 again this time towards Broughton & turn right at the Masons Arms, we headed to Bank Newton where we turned left up past Newton farm back to East Marton where we picked the canal up again back too Barlick. 18 miles long(yes 18 Dazza) & just over a couple of hours. |
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There was only 4 of us this morning for this new ride hand picked from the crash master himself....Paul. We just wanted a steady, local ride and this is what the doctor ordered. Dazza, Paul, Mick and Screw all set off from the Grouse Inn near Oakworth. The ride took us through little hamlets which i never knew exsisted. We had tales from Mick about the his latest downhill stunts and he has a new protégé......Rory. Sadly Rory has turned to the dark side, sounds like both are doing well. Screw's bike had to be fixed again.....Another thing i didnt realise on this ride is that in the wood you go through is a little monument for 5 Canadian airmen that were killed in 1944, their plane crashed into the hillside. This is a good quality ride, not long just a good ride. Lunch was at the Grouse Inn, now this is a place to visit. |
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Hello Mudpackers my name is Wendy and we was all at Mark's 40th birthday party last night and i must say how proud i was that 3 of the mudpackers turned up and the leader was mick...the lad is back and after drinking Sambuca....unlike Dazza who had to be put to bed like a baby and never showed up for the ride. You had a good day for it lads.....keep up the good work, i may join you one day!!!
Here is a bit about the ride
Cross the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and climb gently northwest from Gargrave on an easy track through a gentle landscape of pasture and woodland. Pass through largely agricultural land as far as Airton,
drop to cross the River Aire then face the major climb of the day, 250m on a mixture of tarmac (to Calton), stone track, faint grassy track, then improved track to reach Weets Top. A short, fast descent leads to Mastiles Lane, part of an ancient east— west drovers’ route. Follow this briefly before turning off southeast, with the route linking the farmsteads at Bordley and Lainger House. Climb on tarmac after the bizarrely located telephone box then enjoy
a long, ever-improving off-road downhill to Hetton. Lanes lead back to Gargrave. |
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Only four of us today, and what a day we had. Paul had a horror smash which has left him battered and bruised, he is ok but a bit sore. We was joined by Graham who came over from Halifax....who managed to get 4 punchures. I am more concenred about Dave.....he has this habit of wearing womens clothes.....we have the photos to prove it, and one thinks you might be a cross dresser...sorry dave.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dressing. |
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Settle, Malham Cove & Gorbeck 26th April 2008
Six of us this week Des, Paul, Ash, Screw, Dave & Scott (no Mick again) enjoyed this 13.5 miles in warmer weather than we have had of late. Several problems were encountered today, 1st of which was a puncture for Des before he had even left home, then the derailear on Screws bike fell to pieces fortunately we were able to repair it, then the chain snapped on Ash’s bike again repairable. Plenty of technical climbs especially going up Stockdale lane & fast descents like the one down to Malham Cove make this a must for riders who enjoy being in the Dales with all its views. We had lunch in the Talbot in Settle for a much deserved pint & also caught the 2nd half of the football.
Directions:-
Follow the B6480 south from the centre of Settle towards the railway station and Skipton. Go past the Falcon Manor Hotel then 800m after passing under the railway bridge turn L onto a broad stone track immediately before a low stone house and opposite a tall wooden Settle town sign.
Cross a bridge over the railway and climb steadily. Go through Lodge Farm, turn L then shortly at a fork bear R uphill between stone walls. Fine views back down to Settle. Keep climbing on ‘cobble effect’ trail. At a T-junction with a major stone track turn L gently downhill then shortly turn first R sharply back on yourself signposted Bridleway, Settle Loop.
At the T-junction with the road turn R then take the first lane to the L signposted Bridleway and follow tarmac for 2.3km. At a fork of tracks at the end of the tarmac lane (with Stockdale Farm down to the right), bear L through a gate onto a narrower stone track alongside the wall. The stone track turns to grass then becomes rocky for the summit before turning back to grass.
Go through a gate with tall slate slabs as supports. Continue towards Cove Road, ignoring a bridleway to the left to Langscar Gate. Long descent on grass then grassand stone. Go through the gate and turn L uphill on the road.
After 1km and just before the cattle grid turn L uphill through a gate onto a faint grassy track. After 300m at a fork of grassy tracks bear R alongside the wall. Soon join a new stone track for the next 6km. Great views of Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough.
Descend. At the road turn L and immediately L again through a gate onto a track signposted Bridleway to Settle. Mainly grassy descent through gates then a steep stone downhill. Join tarmac and turn L to descend down to the square in the centre of Settle.
The above directions and map below were taken from ‘Yorkshire Dales Mountain Biking The South Dales’
For more details go to www.v-graphics.co.uk
Well worth purchasing!
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19th April 2008
A good turn out (as you can see from the photo’s) with eleven of us making the journey into North Wales. (No Mick again) We had a new addition to the squad with Scott joining us, riding his dads full suspension bike which demoted Dave to his hard-tail which ended up giving him a sore a**e at the end. It was also good to see the Yorkshire lads Darryl, Nigel & Nick plus we were also joined by two blasts from the past Rory & Nigel (Team Umpalumpa).
A long steady climb from the Visitors centre started us off, (a good warm up because the weather was cool) which brought us to the first of the black route options, a series of large ‘tabletops’ with smaller ones on the red route, then off we went on the single track with ‘steep descents’, ‘drop-offs’, ‘singles’ & ‘doubles’ with ‘switch-backs’ & ‘berms’. We stopped for a ‘photo’ & not one of us didn’t have a big smile on our faces. Around half way round we came to a raised piece of ‘north shore’ that is called ‘Drop Shore’ that as a steep descent off it, which if you haven’t ridden it before can catch you out, as it did with one unsuspecting female who fell off & used her face as a brake, (ouch) fortunately for her face her breasts took a lot of the impact, a lot can be said for having a nice ‘pair’!! But to be fair to her, after dusting herself down and stopping her lip bleeding she got back on her bike & carried on, but not before Ash showed everybody how it should be done on one wheel. (Check out the video on you-tube)
The ride including all the black route sections is 13 miles. (Not too short & not too far) After a quick change we went into the visitor centre for a butty (long wait because it was busy) and a look around the shop where you can also hire bikes.
Was it worth the 200 miles round trip? Well we certainly thought so, & we will probably visit again later in the year. (A date when Screw can go)
For further information on Llandegla go to www.coedllandegla.com |
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This is a local route. Excellent ride, apart from me looking like i am having a heart attack. Lunch was at the Punch Bowl at Earby. The food was excellent. The ride was plagued with break-downs. Punchures galore, break failures....all good stuff. Part 2 was done on the 12th April, I felt loads better and Nick was testing his new Scott bike out. A good easy ride was done by Dave, Des, Dazza and Nick.
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12.5 miles
A good turn out this week, 7 of us Des, Paul, Darren, Ash, Screw, Dave and our very own ‘Ice Queen’ Mark (who hasn’t been with us for a while after working on the ‘Dancing on Ice’ set) We set off from Kilnsey with a short steep climb at the starting point of the old drovers trail from Kilnsey to Malham, better known as Mastiles Lane (sends shivers down Dazza’s spine every time we mention it) after about 0.5 of a mile we turned left onto a bridleway which took us across open moor land over Green Haw Hill, to Skirethorn Lane we crossed the road onto Malham moor lane down to a very boggy Boss Moor. From her we dropped down to Winterburn Resevoir before a long energy sapping (against the wind) climb up onto Weets Top. (time for a mars bar) Feeling refreshed we dropped off Weets turning right when we reached the road passing Lee Gate on our way back to Mastiles Lane again turning right in the direction of Kilnsey. Now with the wind on our backs the few climbs that took us to the top of Kilnsey Moor didn’t seem too bad (‘did they Mark??') ‘I must admit though that the person responsible for the signs must have only had 2 miles to Kilnsey signs because we passed one, then 0.5 of a mile further on we passed another’ exactly the same'. Time for the fun to begin, a 1.75 mile rocky & fast descent all the way back to the Tennant Arms in Kilnsey for a much deserved pint. (or a little bit of a walk for Ash who got a puncture about 0.5 of a mile from the end, & couldn’t be bothered to fix it) |
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12 miles
Four of us this week, Des, Paul, Screw & Dave set off from Linton on what turned out to be a very enjoyable ride, with the weather being very kind to us after a very iffy forecast. Several bridalways took us to Hetton via Cracoe where we picked up Moor Lane, Our very own Mudwarrior (Dave who loves the mud) set the pace as we reached Boss Moor, (he really has picked up his bike legs) with Screw following effortlessly behind, Paul & I bringing up the rear. (we know our place) From the junction with Malham Moor lane it was a brilliant rocky descent down to Threshfield & back to Linton via another bridalway. Lunch was had in the Fountaine Inn (very good as well) & a well deserved pint. |
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18 miles Medium
Five of us this week, Des, Paul, Ash, Dave & Screw set off from Embsay, picking up the bridalway towards Flasby, The bridalway takes you through Flasby Estate past the shooting lodges a very picteresque area within the woods, as the bridalway turned to open fields it was a contest to see who could get the muddiest, a contest won by Screw who was wet through. Another technical area as we returned to the woods which consisted of peat bogs and rocks was negotiated by Screw with no brakes, we decided to fix his brakes when we got to the bottom because although he was entertaining us it wasn't really safe. At Flasby we followed the road down through Hetton & onto Rylstone where we picked up the bridalway over Barden Moor, a very stiff steep climb on rocky shale. Dave said "he was sure he'd burst a lung" After the climb the trail as been produced using sandy grit across the top of the moor. (very energy sapping, it found Ash out who was very tired after his bottle of Kopparberg on Friday night, YES A FULL BOTTLE!!) Eventually we reached the downhill YAHOO! Paul was off followed by Dave & Screw, very fast track which is rocky in places, Des was hanging back keeping an eye on the tired Ash. We again reached the road where we had two options either the clean direct route down the road back to Embsay or the muddy bridalway with more bogs, we chose the latter living up to our name. At the bottom of the hill & back on the road to Embsay, Ash treated us to a few more wheelies just to show us he did have a bit left. After a quick clean-up we went to the Cavandish Pub where we had some good grub & a good pint.
Sorry no pics this week
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15 miles
We were over in Pauls neck of the woods this week to do the Bingley Bash, to say it is near to a built up area it is a very picturesque ride, that takes you you through Bingley st ives with good views down the Aire valley towards the Yorkshire Dales. We encounterd all types of terrain to keep us busy, & we stopped off in a quarry so Ash & Screw could hone their skills. (check out the pics of Ash on his backside) Again the weather was kind to us after another poor forecast so all in all we had another good ride, finished off with a pint & a steak in the Sun Inn at Cottingley (how cheap is it for a steak here??) |
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Saturday the 15th Dec.This was an excellent ride on this cold, frosty morning. This made a massive difference from the previous couple of weeks where the weather was atrocious. This morning's ride was Darren, Des, Rory, Nigel (who had returned from breaking his ribs) and Simon who had come all the way from Blackburn......Currently missing was Mick.......has the founder retired??? |
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The Worsthorne loop is a hard ride, a lot of hills and 6 of us set off on yet another wet and windy day. The ride was made harder by the wind. Everyone was knackered at the end and myself and Mick suffered from cramp as we came out of Wycollar. Tuff ride but well worth it. Screw thought he was on holiday by riding in his swimming shorts.... Dazza is off to slimming world, fat club and weight watchers as he was at the back again!!!
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Six of us took ourselves around Clapham, excellent ride, it was only 11.5 miles, the Wind was howling but it stayed fine. Mick was missing again.....he is getting like Rory!!! Ash turned up in his best HOPE shorts....and i believe he has the top to match....Unlike Mick. |
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This ride is the Gargrave to Mastiles then on to Hetton. We was joined by a new comer call Baz, very experienced fell runner and this was his first time on a mountain bike ride, looks like he had a good day. The weather was amazing.....Spring is here!!! |
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