EASY LOUGHRIGG, LAKE DISTRICT MEDIUM KINDER RESERVOIR, PEAK DISTRICT

ROUTE 10km (6 miles) ROUTE 25km (15.5 miles) 27/11/2015 11:51

WAY TO GO GETTING THERE GETTING THERE START (OS97/NY364059) Rydal Water Car Park The route starts from the Start at the Information Centre 01 Ride back out to the road and turn R. Follow this for 2km to a waymarked BW on Rydal Water Car Park (OS97/ in Hayfield (OS110/SK035869). the R (cattle grid) and now climb steeply past Brow Head Farm and on to Loughrigg NY364059), just a few miles Signposted Sett Valley Trail from the Fell. Continue SA to the top and stay on the main track, eventually following a wall on outside of Ambleside. The best A624 between Chapel-en-le-Frith your L. Keep SA where another BW forks L through a gate and continue to a X-roads. approach is via Kendal and and Glossop. Nearest rail access Windermere from junction 36 of is New Mills, a few kilometres from (NY347041) X-roads above Skelwith Bridge. Distance so far: 4.7km the M6. Rail isn’t a great option. the route. 02 Turn sharp R to follow a well-surfaced track around Loughrigg Tarn. Turn R onto BEST TIME TO GO BEST TIME TO GO the road and continue for 700m, past a turning on the L, to a waymarked BW on Superb mainly stony, year-round, Mostly good, well-drained tracks, but the R (Loughrigg Terrace and Rydal) and follow this down, passing above Grasmere trails that are generally low the moorland sections can get a little and then after a steep, switchback section, fork R onto a narrow track. Follow this enough and sheltered enough to sticky. Watch out for walkers, dogs, permissive BW to the cave and continue down a techy section, eventually re-joining ride in pretty much any weather. horses, pushchairs and just about the main track at a gate. Keep SA to finish. The Loughrigg Terrace trail anything else on the Sett Valley Trail. that runs above Grasmere and TOTAL DISTANCE: 10KM (6 MILES) TOTAL ASCENT: 355M (1,165FT) Rydal Water is very busy so best MAPS & GUIDEBOOKS avoided during peak hours at Memory Map V5 OS Landranger busier times of the year. (1:50,000) MAPS & GUIDEBOOKS WAY TO GO OS Landranger Series (1:50,000) 110 START (OS110/SK035869) Hayfield Information Centre Car Park Sheffield & Huddersfield Memory Map V5 OS Landranger 01 (1:50,000) Head out the far end of the car park and follow the Sett Valley Trail for 1.5km OS Explorer Series (1:25,000) OL1 to the road. Turn L to the main road and then turn R for 200m to a turning on the Peak District, Dark Peak Area OS Landranger (1:50,000) 97 L (Overhill Road). Take this and climb to a waymarked X-roads where you turn L Kendal & Morecambe Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) onto a wet track. Follow this through gates and climb steadily to a T-junction at a Dark Peak OS Outdoor Leisure Series wall corner. (1:25,000) 7 The English Lakes Dark Peak Mountain Biking by South East (SK832044) Junction on Chinley Churn. Distance so far: 5.3km Paul Evans and Jon Barton 02 (Vertebrate Publishing) Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) Turn L and follow the track alongside the wall. After a sharp R-hand bend, go Lakeland South East through a gate and bear R (effectively SA) to descend then climb to another gate. REFRESHMENTS Now descend steeply through Hills Farm down to the main A624. Turn L and then Lake District Mountain Bike Surprisingly, you’ll not find anything R, onto a broad track and follow this to a X-roads of tracks, where you keep SA on the route… Routes by Tom Hutton to a gate, and then SA again to traverse the hillside before dropping steeply to a (Out There Guides) junction in Coldwell Clough. FACILITIES REFRESHMENTS Plenty of facilities in Hayfield. (SK053860) Coldwell Clough. Distance so far: 9.1km Take sarnies, but it’s only short. 03 The Waltzing Weasel in Birch Vale is Turn R and keep SA at a gate to climb steeply beside the river. When the highly recommended. FACILITIES track swings R, keep SA, through a gate, and climb for 1km to a way-marked BW Plenty of pubs, cafes and on the L. Continue around the hillside, joining a broader track then following a wall B&B in the Waltzing Weasel, 01663 sandwich shops in Ambleside. to a gate. Keep SA across fields and down towards Kinder Reservoir. Turn L at the 743402, w-weasel.co.uk Youth Hostel at Elterwater, woods then R to drop over a road to the reservoir track. Turn R, then keep L of the B&B in the Navigation Inn at 0845 371 9017, yha.org.uk gates to climb steeply. Turn L to climb out onto White Brow. Buxworth, 01663 732072, navigationinn.co.uk For bike spares or even just good (SK049883) Kinder Estate. Distance so far: 14.1km 04 The nearest Youth Hostel is at Edale, route advice try Bike Treks at Keep L at the next junction and again at the top; then fork R at the top 0845 371 9514, yha.org.uk Ambleside, 015934 31505. (Glossop and Carr Meadow). Cross a bridge, drop to a ford, then continue for Ambleside TIC, 015394 32582. 1.5km, to the A62. Turn R for 1km then L for 1.2km, where you turn L opposite Glossop TIC, 01457 855920. Plainsteads Farm. Turn L again after 100m, then follow the lane R then L, then take OTHER OPTIONS a track on the L. At Blackshaw Farm, go through a gate on the R to keep SA, then OTHER OPTIONS We brought you an Easy from nearby Check out a superb, all-weather bear R to a good track and a gate. Climb then drop to a lane and turn R then L to Ladybower Reservoir in Aug 2015, Borrowdale loop we ran in drop to another lane. Turn L to the Sett Valley Trail and L to finish. Dec 2015 issue, or an easier and a Medium from the northern Peak in Feb 2015. Or check out the Medium grade, Grizedale circuit TOTAL DISTANCE: 25KM (15.5 MILES) TOTAL ASCENT: 950M (3,117FT) in Aug 2015. guidebook for stacks of great riding.

MEDIUM DYFI FOREST, MID- HARD TORRIDON, SCOTLAND ROUTE 23.6km (14.6 miles) ROUTE 46km (28 miles)

WAY TO GO READ GETTING THERE GETTING THERE START (OL23/SH755078) Railway Museum, Corris. CorrisThe ride is juststarts off from the A487,the Cissbury one StartThe description from the large starts car from park the on 01 Leave the car park heading towards Corris’s main street, Maes THE ofRing mid-Wales’s Car Park, just primary south trunk of theBlind North Lane side picnic of thearea/car Glen Torridonpark Yr Orsaf. Turn R onto the main street until you reach the X-roads at FEATURE! routes.Findon (OS198/TQ129077).From the north, or If Road,south ofjust Grizedale west of aForest bridge Visitor (OS24/ Slaters Arms. Turn R at the X-roads and descend steeply down the p68 northwesternyou’re approaching England, from head the NG957568).Centre (OS97/SD342912). There’s no easy It’s way on ato narrow street, cross the bridge over the Afon Dulas and continue along toA24, Chester turn L on into the a M53housing then estate reachminor Glenroad Torridonaround one but mile the drivesouth of Minffordd Street until the road meets the fire road for the second time. Take a hard L aboutvia Mold, half Ruthin a mile and after Bala the ondual westSatterthwaite from Kinlochewe Village and is spectacular. can also off the road and onto the broad fire-road climb. carriagewaythe A494. From ends. the Rail west, only gets Railbe reached users can from start the from A5092 the atstation Spark ashead close along as Worthing. the M54 through atBridge. Achnashellach. Rail gets you nowhere near. (SH773082) Moel Heulen. Distance so far: 4.45km Shrewsbury and follow the A5, 02 Climb for 20 minutes on fire road, staying R on the three following forks. At the BESTthen A458 TIME to Mallwyd, TO GO then loop BEST TIME TO GO Chalky trails that are at their best A low-level route so a good choice on fourth and final fork, stay R and turn R again at the hairpin. At the summit, take a R around either the A489 or A470 The trails will go in most conditions, when dry. It’s a busy area with a bad day. But one or two of the trails onto section eight of the Climachx Trail, following the red arrow. Ride section eight to Corris. Car or van is the best with just a few boggy sections that walkers and hackers, especially in will suffer in prolonged wet spells so until it finishes. Take a L onto the fire road until you reach the Climachx car park. means of transport. need careful use. But it’s a long ride the holiday season. best avoided then. It’s not a popular Follow the route markers and ride sections one to five. and it climbs high, so it’s best saved MAPSBEST TIME & GUIDEBOOKS TO GO forarea a sogood it’s day.unlikely In winter, to be busy.start early. (SH796081) Forest Road. Distance so far: 14.85km Proximity to the sea, plantation Note: This is a very rocky ride, take 03 Memory Map V5 OS Landranger MAPS & GUIDEBOOKS As the Climachx Trail rejoins the forest road, turn R, descending towards the L forest and the rocky terrain plenty of spare tubes or even beef up means(1:50,000) the DyfiRegion Forest 1 is a good yourMemory tyre Map choice. V5 OS Landranger hairpin turn. Stay L at the next junction and climb towards the derelict farmhouse at (1:50,000) Region 4 Esgair Llewelyn. Note the teepees in the fields. Pass through the farmyard and turn year-roundOS Landranger option. (1:50,000) 198 MAPS & GUIDEBOOKS L onto the old drovers’ path up the valley. As the hill tops out, rejoin the forest road, Brighton & Lewes OS Landranger (1:50,000) no. 97 MAPS & GUIDEBOOKS KendalMemory & Map Morecambe V5 OS Landranger pass through the gate and continue to another derelict farmhouse with a pond. MemoryOS Explorer Map Series V5 OS (1:25,000) Landranger (1:50,000) (1:50,000)121 Arundel & Pulborough, 122 OS Explorer Series (1:25,000) OL7 (SH786096) Derelict farmhouse. Distance so far: 18.78km Brighton & Hove TheOS Landranger English Lakes Series South (1:50,000) East 04 OS Landranger 124 Porthmadog 24 Raasay & Applecross; Turn L at the farmhouse and pass through the gate to the R of the sheep pen. Rough Ride Guide to the Harvey Superwalker (1:25,000) As the track turns R, follow the faint path off to the L across the pasture to the gated and Dollgellau (1:50,000) OS Explorer Series (1:25,000) 429 South East by Max Darkins GlenLakeland Carron South & N EastWest Monar (Note entrance to the woods. Pass through the gate and descend the woodland singletrack (roughrideguide.co.uk)OS Explorer 23 Cadair Idris and until you meet the next junction at the valley floor. Take the L hairpin down to the Llyn Tegid (1:25,000) Lakethe start District is missing Mountain on this Bike map). Routes by river and cross the bridge. Follow the path up onto the road, taking a L towards South East Mountain Biking WAY TO GO TomHarvey Hutton British (Out Mountain There Guides) Map . Turn L at the junction back towards Corris. REFRESHMENTSby Nick Cotton (Vertebrate START (OS24/NG957568) Car Park, Glen Torridon (1:40,000) Torridon and Fisherfield. 01 REFRESHMENTS Publishing)Andy and Adam’s Village Shop Turn L onto the road and continue for 5km to a track on the R just beyond Scotland Mountain Biking – The and Cafe in Corris offers probably The wonderful White Hart Inn at TOTAL DISTANCE: 23.6KM (14.6 MILES) TOTAL ASCENT: 843M (2,765FT) REFRESHMENTS Loch Clair. Cross the bridge and follow the shore to a fork where you keep L. Keep WildBouth Trails is just by 500m Phil McKane south of the route the best flat white for 50 miles. L at the next fork to climb into the forest and then, at a junction, turn R to drop (Vertebrate Publishing) andyandadam.co.ukNothing on the route but pubs at Burn Knott. in Findon again to Torran Cuillin. Cross the bridge and continue almost to Coulin, where you turn sharp L. Follow this to a fork by a bridge and bear R to keep the water to FACILITIESREFRESHMENTS FACILITIES Take lots of sarnies and a flask. DolgellauFACILITIES and offer your L. Food and drink it the White Hart Inn thePlenty best of options, pubs in Findonalthough our FACILITIESat Bouth (NG023531) Bridge over Easan Dorcha. Distance so far: 12.2km B&Bguide in Dave the Village and the House cafe owners 02 GreatLoch Torridon cafe and Inn bike near shop the in the Hotel,above Findon,do have 01903a holiday 873350 cottage Continue up to a bridge over the Easan Gael, where it becomes singletrack. Grizedalestart/finish. Visitor Centre Now climb steadily, eventually reaching Drochaid Coire Lair. Ignore two L turns villagehousefindon.co.ukgeared towards mountain bikers. B&BTorridon in the Hostel, White 0845 Hart, 29301229 7373. 861229 All info can be found on the ‘Bike and follow singletrack all the way down to a wood. Continue to a deer gate. Go Youth Hostel at Truleigh Hill, through, climb to a forest track and then turn R to a major junction where you turn Lochwhitehart-lakedistrict.co.uk Carron TIC, 01520 722357. 0845Corris’ 371 Facebook 9047 page until their website goes live. sharp L to drop to the station. Cross the line and drop to the road. Plenty of choice for food and drink in Worthing TIC, 01903 221066 HawksheadOTHER OPTIONS (NG005483) Achnashellach Lodge. Distance so far: 20.5km Check out the less epic Torridon loop OTHER OPTIONS 03 There’s a Youth Hostel is Hawkshead, LlandeglaOTHER OPTIONS is a fantastic option Follow this for 6km to a broad track on the R, immediately before the bridge around Ben Damph in the Nov 2014 0845 371 9321; yha.org.uk inWe poor brought weather. you aCoed cracking y Brenin at Coulags. Take this and fork L at the cattle grid to follow a rough track steadily Issue. Or pop over to Skye for a sweet isMedium just north around and Glattingwest of Corris.Beacon up. Cross the bridge and pass the bothy to continue to Loch Coire Fionnaraich. Hawksheadlittle Medium TIC, from 015394 the Jan 46525 2015 Issue. Nantin December yr Arian 2012. is just That west would of Now climb steeply to a junction and bear L to continue up to Bealach Na Lice. Aberystwyth.make a good companion Cadair Idris’s route, pony Bear R above the loch, and fork R at the end to follow singletrack down to Annat. OTHER OPTIONS Grizedale is the obvious option, pathor there’s and the plenty peak of at great its eastern trails Bear R onto the drive and then R onto the road to return to the car park. either the North Face Trail or some of endaround gives here one – grabof the a finestmap and views the natural stuff. We brought you a anywheremake it up if as the you sun go. is out. TOTAL DISTANCE: 46KM (28 MILES) TOTAL ASCENT: 1,210M (3,970FT)

fine Medium in March 2012. gatefold inside.ex.indd All Pages

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