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I rode Settle to Otterburn (Langber Lane, Bookilber, Dacre Lane) on the weekend. I’ve ridden this many times, once on a POLARIS. I’d kind of assumed the route is a legit right of way for cycles but checking the map more closely I’m not so sure. Langber Lane is one of those ‘white roads’ with green blobs (think cycling OK?) then it turns into a footpath.
Googling suggests there was an attempt to upgrade the footpath section to a bridleway back in 2005 but I cannot find any evidence it was successful. The online map for North York’s CC still has the latter section as a footpath.
Anyone got definitive knowledge, or shall I contact NYCC to check? It’s a nice and very useful link mainly on good surface (bar the boggy mess in the middle!).
Ta
Clearly legal to Bookilber barn and not far thereafter according to the map. I've never seen the far end used in routes or events so would assume it's not authorised. I have also tried one of the footpaths down towards Long Preston to loop back over Hunter Bark in an attempt to make a small usable loop but that's also boggy as well as cheeky.
I've ridden that track loads of times and met people walking or working with no bother at all (apart from the boggy field).
Agree with the last post too - hard to make loops round there; it's a long way round to Stockdale Lane to the north, and to the south quite a few of the routes on the map don't really exist (notably crossing the Ribble). I can remember walking the track north from Hellifield years ago, but can't recall if it would go.
You're fine as far as the end of Bookilber Lane. EDIT I mean Langber Lane.
The rest of the way to Otterburn is cheeky, but, as above, I've never been challenged, and it doesn't pass through any farms.
I often use it as a way to link the foot of Stockdale with a route back towards Skipton, it's very fast, even more so in current conditions.
A few years ago, we helped "test ride" some loops off the Pennine Bridleway. At the time, there was a proposal to upgrade this cheeky path to a permissive bridleway.
However the route didn't make it into the guidebook, perhaps because the legalities never happened, or perhaps the overall route wasn't good enough (or both).
It's would have been more of a useful route than good riding. A fair way of it is actually tarmac And the field at the end of Langber Lane is probably a slop fest by now.
Yet another of those Dales bridleways that just stops in the middle of nowhere for no discernable reason.
As the others have said, the continuation down to Otterburn is a footpath but we've ridden it on several occasions. I can't recall ever seeing anyone on either Langber Lane or the FP, it doesn't seem particularly well used at all. There isn't even the trace of an optimum line across the boggy bit.
Oooooh, my Dad lives in Otterburn and I visit him a few times a year. I don't know any routes, don't suppose anyone has a trace they can share?
Hi,I am in the process of making a DMMO application to upgrade Dacre Lane to Langber Lane from a foot path to a bridleway. Thus making this route ‘legit’. I am gathering evidence from persons who have ridden this route by way of statement forms provided by NYCC. Statement forms are easy to complete. If you would like to help by providing a statement please let me know. This route has been used by cyclists since 1935. But come 2026 it could be lost. Thanks
I've ridden this, but not since the mid-80s (we lived in Airton at the time). I thought at the time it was legit (but clearly it wasn't, but as a teenager I probably didn't check too closely). I'd be happy to help with a DMMO application if I can.
Have PM'ed you.
Looking at Strava there are two segments along the line of the track each with around 300 recorded attempts. You could use that as part of the submission.
Will drop you a PM.
Ridden this many times heading back to Bell Busk & Gargrave over the last 30yrs. That 'field' must be a right bog fest at the moment!