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Hi, I've recently separated from my wife so need to rent somewhere short term. Is Barlick any good for MTB or fell running? It seems the only thing nearby is Weets hill, is that an out and back BW that is generally sloppy most of the year? I thought the Hope staff would've built some cheeky trials nearby.
If any local riders can 'drop some knowledge' that'd be great. Plus id love some local riding buddies for when I've moved
I currently live in Barrowford
There's certainly plenty of riding not too far away around Malham, Gisburn, Skipton etc so you won't be short of routes. Plenty of fell running to be done too. Earby/Carleton/Elslack moor is only a short distance from Barlik as well and can be linked to rides over Wycoller way if you want to ride from your door.
As for Wheets Hill, I've been up that way once as part of a loop and from what my pal says there's a fair bit to discover and explore.
Thanks, it's from the door riding I'm interested in. Know dales and Lancashire really well, just not familiar with Barlick and earby riding
Have messaged you.
Another Barl'ick local here - Earby / Pinhaw is better than Weets. You wouldn't want to ride either every week though as there's not much variety especially if it's been wet
Went for a ride today round kelbrook, elslack, cononley today. It was a lot of road riding and off road was very sloppy, particularly the Pennine BW into kelbrook but I just wanted some outdoor time.
Anyway, the BW descent from tow top into Lothersdale is a cracker. Wasn't expecting that. Here's a pic from the start of it:
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Used to live in Skipton until about a year ago. The best local riding for me was to be found around Malham / Hetton. Park your car on the road outside the Angel Inn in Hetton and then you're right next to a decent area for classic XC / trail riding. A lot of the riding is bridleway XC bogfest but the views are stunning and you can string together quite a few variations including Mastiles Lane (up or down), Arncliffe Cote (best done going down) and Weets Top.
You can get into the Dales fairly quickly from the door using the canal towpath up towards Gargrave or Bell Busk, if you want some variation.
Everything around there is pretty sloppy right now.
@fingerbang - yeah that one can catch you out!
Things were sloppy yesterday, and that was before the afternoon's rain.
Thanks for your comments, last time I rode near Hetton, I'd taken the BW on Flasby fell and remember an Xtreme bogfest
I'm also looking at rentals in Long Preston and settle as I'm WFH so just need to be near my son in clitheroe.
I'd be happy with access to settle loop, malham and that part of the dales, fo sho
Settle's great little town - good facilities, very good bike shop, nice cafes. Long Preston's alright, although the A65 running through the centre of it tends to kill the village feel.
I've managed to ride Flasby Fell just once without dabbing and that was at the end of the long dry spell this spring - a day or two of rain and there were sections you'd just come to a halt in the gloop. The line of the BW has been altered in the last couple of years, it's better now but still muddy down near the bottom.
For access to Clitheroe somewhere closer to the A59 would be better: Gargrave or Thornton in Craven. No idea of the rental situation in either.
I've lived in Carleton and Gargave (Bank Newton) both had good access to A59 and Dales / Skipton. Certainly Gargrave had riding from the doorstep and the canal was useful to get to rides a bit further away.
If you really want to ride out the door you’d be better off a bit closer to the trails. Could do worse than settle for sure though the rental market probably isn’t great.
I’ve managed to ride Flasby Fell just once without dabbing and that was at the end of the long dry spell this spring – a day or two of rain and there were sections you’d just come to a halt in the gloop.
I never ride the actual line of the bridleway. I don't know how you'd ride that without dabbing.
Martin - I'd say it's the current/new line as you descend towards Flasby, cuts away to the right of the old line that headed straight for the gate next to the wood. Pretty much as the line here - http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=395850&Y=456310&A=Y&Z=115 with the beck at the arrow being the boggiest bit.
Never managed a couple of bits of the old line.
There's also the cheeky line from the rocky top ridge thru the rhododendron tunnel to the no cycling and yet tarmacked farm track. Not done it since the trees came down, mind.
Up via Bog Lane, the glamour, makes a good addition to the Skipton Roman Rd/Barden Fell loop.
Martin – I’d say it’s the current/new line as you descend towards Flasby, cuts away to the right of the old line that headed straight for the gate next to the wood.
The usual line runs close to the LH wall as you descend to Flasby. Straightforward in the dry because you can bypass the difficult stream crossing halfway down. Pretty much unrideable right now! The marked BW line which heads for the next gate up involved a bit of pushing even during the drought earlier this year.
rhody tunnel is still a decent descent, even with the tunnel chopped down!
The new right hand line caught me out last time I was up there. Defo less boggy.