 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Anything around here ? Seen a few routes on strava over to Dunsop Bridge. Going to be staying in Chipping and looking for something up on the hills. Any problems with cheek up there ?
Cheers all.
The Bowland fells are all huntin' shootin' and fishin' land and well patrolled by bailiffs and game keepers. There is a BW that links the Trough of Bowland with the Brennand valley then Whitendale then goes over to Slaidburn, which is a good ride with a bit of pushing and a tricky little descent off a steep hillside. Apart from that the open fells are unrideable being mostly heather and peat hags. One good outing would be Slaidburn to High Bentham via Cross o' Greet by road then back by the superb Roman road from Wray over Salter Fell.
If you want a wider choice of riding, head east into the Dales.
PS: Most of those weak traces you can see on Strave Earth are hang-gliders.
Almost a private army of gamekeepers around there so cheek isn't advised (especially anywhere north of Dunsop Bridge on the Trough Road).
Bridleways and forest cheek generally tolerated on the East end of Longridge Fell.
If you like climbing then from Chipping I'd go bridleway Leagram Hall - Park Gate - Lickhurst.
Then BW Dinkling Green and over Mellor Knoll.
Left up the Trough road 1-2km and then right BW up Rams Clough and Whin Fell. Grassy climb but mostly rideable. Very first part of descent to Brennand Farm is quite dangerous as you cross the top of a big drop / cliff edge....
If you trudge over Middle Knoll to Whitendale then the last bit is VERY steep.
Dunsop Fell is a big push up from that side. Just about all rideable going the opposite way.
Sensible escape from Brennand / Whitendale is back down the valley road to Dunsop Bridge.
If you do go right over then there is a concessionary BW back to Dunsop Bridge from GR 686517
Cheers Mick,
I was thinking Chipping, Parlick, Paddy's, Fair Snape, Fiendsdale Head, then the path down Langden Brook, Then the BW back.
Am I likely to get shot up on Parlick / Fair Snape ?
A route I've ridden, many years ago. I "think" it was in one of the mags...
Start in Dunsop Bridge
Down the road to the track just before Dinkling Green Farm leading to High Fence Wood
Head north through the trees to Hareden
Up the road to Rams Clough
Over and then down Whin Fell (nice if you like gnarly) to Brennand Farm
Over to Whitendale
Over Burn Fell and back to Dunsop Bridge
Yeah, the estate north of the Trough is one of the least progressive (putting it mildly) ones around.
Not done the BW from Rams Clough over Whin Fell down to Brennand Farm but have done the loop from Dunsop Bridge up to Brennand Farm then round the back of Middle Knoll to Whitendale and up on to Dunsop Fell and down to Burn Side.
I did it on a fat bike at the end of last summer as things have a reputation for being a bit soft underwheel. The section in the back of Middle Knoll (where there's a tarn on the map) is pretty boggy and getting through some of the gates without wellies requires a bit of athleticism! As @mick_r says the drop down to Whitendale gets very steep in the last couple of hundred metres. The climb out isn't too bad - I rode most of it except for a couple of rocky steps near the top of the moor. The ride on the top is typical moorland track. The descent down to Burn Side is great fun and pretty fast.
This is near the top of the climb out from Whitendale - you can see the route behind Middle Knoll in the background.
If you avoid attention at Fell Foot Farm (Parlick) then guess you'll survive to Fair Snape. You might get apprehended in the Langden Valley 🙂
Main hq is around Marshaw area so you are the back side of "their" hill.
Cheers Mick. Just what I was after.