IE, from Edmondbyers to Blanchland/Pennypie House/Embley Fell/Harwood Shield/Hangman Hill/Viewley/Slayley Forest & back to Edmundbyers/
Never done it for years, what's it like just now?
Depends what you mean by lately. Not for a few weeks but it was fine. Derwent reservoir is still right down so either there's a leak or it's not rained much this winter. Most of those paths tend to be quite well drained sandy stuff.
I was up there a few times in the snow a few weeks back, but not been up since.
The south-east section's usually ok, although the Broadway from Hangman Hill to King's Law is rough as a rough thing and rutted to hell towards the bottom from MXers going up it.
Rather than the western loop, I'd prefer to go up to Bolts Law and all the way down to Edmundbyers over Buckshott Fell.
I did up the Edmunbyers singletrack, down to Blanchland, round to Slayley (anticlockwise), back to Blanchland, cake, back up the hill and down Edmunbyers singletrack a few weeks ago and it was epic! It was the week after the snow melted and it was super gloopy! However, its been relatively dry and windy of late so should be ok. It hasnt really changed and it fantastic when it is dry, apart from the motorbikes over the winter have churned up the shooting track between Pennypie and Slayley.
Did Bolts Law in the tail end of the recent snow & it was wet but, other than the remnants of the snow, eminently rideable.
Then did the Carrier's Way route to Stobb Cross and back via Whitley Chapel a couple of weeks back and it was absolutely fine (albeit rather breezy....).
Get a little dry spell like we've had lately and it can be excellent at this time of year. In fact, you've made me want to go and take a look.