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Heard of a few people being told to turn back while riding the tracks on Grassington Moor recently & a load of 'No Cycling' signs going up. A shame as it's a great ride and very popular.
I've ridden up there for years and always got away with it. Admitadley the game keepers are well within their rights to tell you not to ride on the gravelled 4x4 tracks as going by the CRoW act cycling is not allowed on open access land. My contingency plan has always been to plead ignorance, get off and push untill back on a bridleway.
Just wondering if anybody else has had any issues up there recently? I'm 99% certain that they can't stop you pushing your bike. Apparently the miserable buggers are even claiming that's not allowed?!
IIRC you are supposed to carry the bike, but it's essentially unenforceable
Talk to the local BHF Access group about potential claims for a bridleway,
I assume this is one of the tracks. We were walking over to Mossdale and we did see a group of mtbers. Keepers seem to be in evidence midweek but can't say I've noticed any at the weekend (not to say they are not around).
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There has been speculation in the Craven Herald about speeding cyclists - usual stuff to stop us riding the tracks.
Yes that's it. It's actually bridleway either side of it if ridding up from Hebden to Conistone. Just that awkward bit between when I'm always on the lookout for angry game keepers. Like I said I've not had a run in yet but just want to be certain of what to say!
wow ive just checked on the OS and its not a bridleway is it?, i always thought it was. I have ridden that a bit over the years, even followed game keepers clearing it on a digger during the easter snow (2013? 2014?) and they never said anything. change of owner?
No change of owner as far as I'm aware. They have always kicked off about us ridding, just cropped up recently again. Maybe it's as it's grouse season and they don't want the riff raff mixing with the gentry. A mate spoke to the National Park about it a few years back. Was told it was illegal to ride but they had better things to do than prosecute you! Still, not very nice when you get an aggressive gamekeeper telling you to get off his land!
Damn, I've ridden up there a few times and never even thought about access rights. It's mostly double track and clearly well used. Are they worried about cyclists damaging their gravel or something?
Damn, I've ridden up there a few times and never even thought about access rights. It's mostly double track and clearly well used. Are they worried about cyclists damaging their gravel or something?
theres the concrete too they have to think about. dont forget the concrete.
this has to be a good claim for historic use and upgrade with the ROW office surely?
If that is the the track down to Beaver Dam, in the 1960's the gate was always locked.A friend of mine worked the spoil heaps up there. Beaver Barium was the company.
Only bridleway is between Hebden & Yarnbury. I believe (guess) the track in the pic I posted above was built by the Duke of Devonshire employees & isn't an old miner's track. Possibly to shorten the distance into Mossdale & onto Conistone Moor. Likely the thinking goes these are private roads!
There is a similar track on east side of Buckden Pike that goes round to Knoutberry marked 'Private Road'. You cross it going down to Walden Head from Starbotton.
Both YDNP & Nidderdale AONB rangers have tried for years to get the land owner to allow bikes between Sandy Gate (Mossdale) & Middlesmoor but to no avail.
Yep, Hebden to Yarnbury then starts again at the bottom of Black Edge & down to Conistone. The private road/track thing is irrelevant I'd have thought as it's open access land. You can legally walk them (or the land either side) but not ride on them.
Agree, walking isn't the issue under Open Access. However riding a bike doesn't have the same 'rights' & the keepers know it.
I'll give these chaps a call tomorrow [url= http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/living-and-working/how-we-can-help/ranger-service/meet-the-rangers/phil-richards-wharfedale ]linky[/url] and ask if I was to carry/push my bike to avoid damaging the nice gamekeepers concrete track would I avoid being sent to prison/shot at...
We were up there a few weeks ago. There was a sign in Mossdale where the track leaves the BW but I didn't see one at the other end. There's actually two tracks from Yarnbury in to the mining area so it's likely that there's a sign at the gates on each of these.
On the above occasion there were a couple of guys in a 4x4 near the highest point of the track who just waved back at me and smiled so possible they had nothing to do with the estate.
I seem to remember when CRoW came in that the landowner was warning of people falling in to the old workings and that the area shouldn't be opened up.
This is the Strava segment https://www.strava.com/segments/7615106 - the fastest rider averaged the heady speed of 22.2Kmh with a max speed of 42kmh
I use this route quite a bit in winter, good tracks that youd be hard pressed to damage! I did notice the new signs recently but chose to ignore then, not many folk up there on a wet winter night ! I suppose the best thing if confronted would be to be polite and reasonable but if they are insistent just turn around, no point in making things worse. Then just go back later 😉
We use that as a poor weather ride, I've always assumed it's probably naughty, but what the hell, I'm not doing any damage and the worst they can do is turn you round.
There has been speculation in the Craven Herald about speeding cyclists - usual stuff to stop us riding the tracks.
Didn't see that - you got a link?
I blame the idiot who has the KOM on the lead mines descent... 😀
It's a nice high level track, and I've never been challenged on there (on a weekday). The gates have always been locked with no cycling signs, as far as I can remember.
Both YDNP & Nidderdale AONB rangers have tried for years to get the land owner to allow bikes between Sandy Gate (Mossdale) & Middlesmoor but to no avail.
There's nothing there now past Sandy Gate, not even a trace of a FP on the ground until you hit the shooting tracks further over.
I've been in contact with Phil the YDNP ranger who is aware of the situation.
He has discussed the cycling issue with the Agent who acts on behalf of the landowner and they have become increasingly concerned of the amount of bikes using shooting tracks (not just the Yarnbury to Mossdale one) but others on both Conistone and Grassington Moor. In the past there has been a toleration of ‘low key’ biking which has been generally ignored by the Estate staff.
There is an understanding that Conistone Moor & the sporting rights relating to Grassington Moor are on the open market which [u]may[/u] have a bearing on the no cycling signs going up.
With a new landowner there comes the possibility of perhaps negotiating some kind of agreement in terms of biking access on the Moor & will pursue at every opportunity says Phil.
I've only been across a few times, the gate at the top of Scott Gate Lane/Bycliffe Road where you drop in to Mossdale http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=400723&Y=468956&A=Y&Z=115 has never been locked; the gate halfway along the track to Yarnbury http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=401728&Y=468816&A=Y&Z=115 was locked once; the gate here http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=402239&Y=466742&A=Y&Z=115 was locked on the same occasion (if you look at the 1:50K map the public access status stops at this gate); this gate http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=402451&Y=466324&A=Y&Z=115 (the public footpath stops here as well) I've never seen locked.
Pennine - That's interesting. I tried calling him today myself (hadn't seen your post) but he was out if the office. Explains the extra signs & possible less turning a blind eye.
Whitestone- Think I've only ever seen the gate locked once. The one ant the end if the bridleway with the stone style heading up from Hebden is always locked though.
Think I'll just keep riding it as usual. Sod them, what's the worst that can happen. I'll just push/carry the bike until I'm out of sight!