[Closed] Swaledale Route Advice

Your first link isn't loading for me so ignoring that for now.

The MTB trails one is the basis of what I'd do. But after Gunnerside rather than drop down to Low Row, go to Blades then take the "footpath" (it's actually a farm track) that leads to here  http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=398932&Y=499522&A=Y&Z=120  follow the road back to where you joined it and take this BW  http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=399504&Y=500769&A=Y&Z=120 known as "Angry Man" down to Healaugh. Go back along the main road to cross the river and take the minor road on the south side to this BW  http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=401861&Y=498306&A=Y&Z=120 and climb up on to Harkerside. The BW alongside the river isn't as interesting now since it's been developed as part of The Swale Trail.

Once on Harkerside you've a couple of options. The technical one is The Pipeline descent  http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=402098&Y=497578&A=Y&Z=120 which is an exposed blast down a scree slope and old mining path. Alternatively continue over the top and down to here  http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=403290&Y=497225&A=Y&Z=120 and work your way across the moor - there's lots of tracks, I don't think I've ever followed the actual line of the marked BWs.

I know going into the Bike Centre and speaking to Stu is the usual suggestion but I like being prepared before I get there.

He does sell pretty cheap, waterproof, easy to follow route maps. I've just turned up a couple of times and picked one of those. Just get the right os map too and you're laughing.

Thanks @whitestone I'll have a proper look later tonight and try and plot a route using your suggestions. A local I know from my hols last year suggested Pipeline so that sounds good.

This is the brief overview from the Flattyres website of the route: Starting with a big climb out of Swaledale the route drops through Arkengarthdale before taking in the long and fast School Master Pasture descent, the fantastic quarry descent to Storthwaite Hall and then returning along the fun singletrack below Fremington Edge.

@richardkennerley that's the other option I guess, plus I have the OS map for the area.

OK, the quarry descent to Storthwaite Hall is the first descent on the MTB Trails route you linked to. I think the "School Master Pasture" descent is from Barf End to Gunnerside, can never remember what some of the lines are called.

There's lots of lines/paths on the moors and until you've done things a couple of times it's a bit tricky to figure out which one you should take to get to particular features. The Pipeline is a good example as the start is about 400m away from the main track and the line to get there isn't obvious until you've done it.

@whitestone thanks again, I'll look over the routes in the links and compare, I'd rather not be doing the same things more than once, unless they're really good of course!

As it happens, I rode Swaledale this morning...<smug>

I've never been that impressed with the Schoolmaster pasture descent - just rough doubletrack for the main part.

Also the singletrack back to Reeth from under the Storthwaite Hall descent will be one big mass of nettles if my experience from a couple of years back is the norm.

My standard route is

Up Fremington Edge from Reeth - tough climb

Turn left just through the top gate, follow the wall all the way to the start of the Storthwaite Hall descent - cheeky but dry as a bone at the moment.

After the descent, turn R and head to the pub, L up the main road towards Reeth, then pick up a shooting track west toward the next minor road. At the road, descend and cross the ford (slowly! Don't ask why I would particularly recommend this...) Then up and another shooting track up and over Great Pinseat. Down the valley to the first bridge, turn R and up again towards Gunnerside Gill.  Here I take either the FP which contours round and down into the Gill, which is flowy fun for the most part, or one of the nadgery descents down the hushes directly into the gill, then follow the BW on the east of the gill out to pick up the BW descent to Gunnerside village.

I took the Swale Trail back from there, nothing wrong with it, but expect smooth gravel rather than any tech interest.

That was just over 23 miles and 3,000 ft of ascent - about 3hrs 15 for me, back in time for school pickups...

Ah! Did a bit of searching and the Schoolmaster Pasture descent  http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=404987&Y=504292&A=Y&Z=120 is nowhere near where I thought it was 😉 Did it about ten years ago and it's that good I haven't been back!

Martin's FP from the top of Gunnerside Gill is pretty easy - it's not that hard a climb. The hushes are a different matter.

If the OP is on Strava then the nice descent to Gunnerside village is a segment called "Electric Gate". If you don't want to do The Swale Trail then head to Crackpot, road to Summer Lodge followed by a steep climb up a track to the upper road then pick up the BW that heads towards Apedale. At the first junction either turn L to traverse on vehicle track to Harkerside and the options I mentioned before or climb a bit more and blast down Apedale then at the cross-roads turn left over Greets Hill and down the BW on the other side.

At the road, descend and cross the ford (slowly! Don’t ask why I would particularly recommend this…)

I know why, It's actually now called 'Broken Thumb Ford' since my mate came off &wedged his thumb between some cobbles under the water! In fact we now use the bridge.

The Schoolmaster Pasture run from Booze used to be ok years ago but has been sanitised beyond enjoyment. If you do it watch out for a scumbag of a gamekeeper who thinks bikes shouldn't be allowed on it. He's such a scumbag I reported him to the police on a public order offence a few years ago.

Again thanks everyone.

@whitestone @martinhutch don't suppose either of you are on Strava so that I can pinch routes off of you?

I've mailed the gpx for the route I did yesterday to the address in your profile.

Viewing with interest, my favorite button dosent work

Bump.

have the same sort of plan for Saturday (and maybe for Monday).

Does anyone have any GPX's available to save a bit of time?