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My bike is currently being rebuilt and my excitement is building. Not ridden since 2015 when Cannock was my localish riding. Now living in Congleton so Macclesfield Forest is only 15 mins away along with other parts of the White Peak.
My girlfriend got me a Dark Peak routes guide for Xmas, so would like to get a book with some White Peak stuff in. I can use a map and compass fairly well, have the OS White Peak map and know the area reasonably well from hiking.
Also, any other sources of information for routes etc would be much appreciated.
Obviously the models in the v-grpahics book mean it's far and way the best one our there (yes Mrs NBT and I feature in there including the Holllinsclough and Macc Forest routes) 🙂
(or at least we did in the first edition, nmot sure about re-issues)
Would recommend the White Peak book from Vertebrate Publishing as being a good place to start.
Yeah VP books I think.
"Now living in Congleton". Have you joined Congleton MTB yet?
Definitely that Vertebrate Publishing book - quite a few of my pictures in it and my wife on the cover!
For some reason I have two of the White Peak books by Vertebrate publishing. You can have my spare for postage if you like.
God I love this place sometimes! Awesome that we've got some 'readers wifes' features in there 😂
My gf got me the Vertebrate Dark Peak, so makes sense to get White Peak one!
@thepodge I'm not sure either of us can start a private message chain as we're both free members. Let me try, I'll definitely sort you some beverage and postage money and take it off your hands though 👍
@geomickb didn't even know such a thing existed! I'll have a look into it....I'm often happier with my own company when out hiking or riding tbh.
Well I've just sent you a message so we'll see if you get it I suppose.
Just worth supporting. They have gained legal access to Bosley Cloud (which has been ridden illegally for years) and permission to build trails there. For £20 a year (which will get spent on stone to help make make the trails better in winter) you can ride there.
tlr
Definitely that Vertebrate Publishing book – quite a few of my pictures in it and my wife on the cover!
Hi-five, fellow VG model. Did Andy Heading do your photos too? I recently rediscovered the CD of images he sent us, hving thought I'd lost it. You're probalby on there.
Ah right cool. I walk up Bosley Cloud most days with the dog....will definitely be riding it so I'll chuck them some coin.
@thepodge I'll check my messages now.
I live in Stoke, there is a very large mountain bike community in this area. Message me if you want gpx or info on V local trails to Congo.
The white peak VB book gpxs are all online.
https://www.v-publishing.co.uk/books/wpmbdownloads/
Its a few years old now so some of it might be out of date. Warning: Despite what the book says don't bother with the Hollinsclough descents. Or ignore my warning and come back and tell me what your ride was like. 🙂
Ah will do jekkyl....I lived in Stoke for most of my life, finally escaped to Congleton in 2016!
I've got all the peak district guides, you welcome to borrow them for a couple of months to have a look through. I live your side of Macc on the Congleton Road.
Very generous offer, I've just sent @thepodge some postage money for his spare White Peak guide so I'll see how I get on with that.
How much riding is there in Macc Forest? Is it a bit like Cannock Chase with loads of 'cheeky trails' or is it all bridleway stuff?
Hi-five, fellow VG model. Did Andy Heading do your photos too? I recently rediscovered the CD of images he sent us, hving thought I’d lost it. You’re probalby on there.
Cheers @NBT - I've got the old editions too so you will be in there somewhere by the sounds of it.
No, I meant I took the photos, including the cover shot - I did a bit of photo work for VP on a few of their climbing and riding guidebooks over the years. I think there are some shots of me in some of them though too.
Not sure about Macc Forest at the moment. It has been extremely busy with all types of users in 2020. Yes there is some cheek, probably best thing to do is look on Strava heatmaps. There is some conflict/discussion with United Utilities at the moment so you may decide to leave the cheeky stuff for now.
I just do the permitted loop but start at Cat and Fiddle, ride down Danebower Hollow and Cumberland Clough.
Weird that Macc Forest is in the White Peak book - I mean it definitely isn't limestone!
Have they also stuck Roaches/3 Shires/etc in there?
@Alexsimon I'd imagine so given that all 3 are in the White Peak! Says so on the OS map anyway!
@Tom-B
I don't think that's true. I think the OS maps group the South West Peak in with the White Peak for convenience, but I'm not sure it's actually labelled as being in the White Peak.
Here are two maps that show Hollinsclough being the furthest western edge of the White Peak.
If the images aren't embedding due to my server not having https, here are direct links
Here's the South West Peak map. It makes a lot more sense as it follows the gritstone down to the Roaches.
Source for all these is:
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/category/587130
Haha the labelling of Manchester as a conurbation on there will go down a treat I'm sure!
Edit. Just looked properly at your maps.....I guess that the mtb books just follow the os maps/general consensus.
@Tom-B To be honest, I live in the South West Peak and have hardly ever heard or used the term, but we definitely don't call it the White Peak either. Just The Peak.
Yeah that's how I'd refer to it! Never heard the term 'South West Peak'. I do sort of think in terms of White Peak and Dark Peak....but that's just so I know which OS map I need!
Anyway - Sorry to derail your thread 🙂
Although I guess the book question was answered.
No worries at all, always good to chat with other local riders! Can't wait until September when lockdown is over and everywhere has dried up after this rain so that I can finally do some riding.
This might be worth a look in addition to the VP White Peak book:
https://www.bikemaps.co.uk/peak-district-mtb/macclesfield-forest-mountain-biking.htm
Does anyone know if VP offer a similar GPX download for the Dark Peak book? I have both books and the link above was the first time I was aware you could download the routes from them...
Just be careful with the bikemaps maps, they are getting a bit dated now (although they are brilliant). There is at least one route near Gradbach that the landowners do not let people ride any more. There socks are very good.
All the VP route GPXs can be found on Viewranger.