The Beast is the trail that runs down from the crossroads at Hope Cross on the top of the ridge down through the woods to the western end of Ladybower Reservoir. Its not an all out fast descent, or a twisty flowy singletrack. Its a wide gully, very, very rocky, some of which are huge. Its a skill to clean it all. Its way above my standard so I don’t particularly enjoy it, but I could see why people do.
Easy to link in to all the other Ladybower routes, to make a looop around the reservoir. If the Beast isn’t your thing then going straight on at Hope Cross rather than right leads to the Blackey Hey descent. Still rocky but not as technical, more open and faster (I think). Brings you out further along the A57