[Closed] Cut Gate Route?

It's a great route, it's worth checking out Keeper of the Peak on Twitter for conditions - it can be less fun when it's wet.

Pretty sure there was a thread recently, but basically I would start from Langsett - do the first bit either way round (I prefer clockwise, other folk may disagree), head over the top, do an extra loop around Ladybower if you have the legs for it, then back the way you came and either way around to finish.

There's no reason not to start at the Ladybower end if it's more convenient, but get there early for a good parking spot whichever way you go.

Out and back is best.
We live on the west side, so we do it from there. With a loop on the east side around North America.
The road up to Slippery Stones is closed on summer weekends, so Fairhomes is as close as you can drive.

Even though it's not a long ride, it's very physical, so do Cut Gate first and then work out if you want to do extra afterwards (plenty around Ladybower).

but get there early for a good parking spot whichever way you go.

Or just ride a bit further and not worry about getting into Fairholmes.

Or just ride a bit further and not worry about getting into Fairholmes.

From where? On a bank holiday weekend everywhere is gonna be pretty busy.

It’s a great ride - take a bit of extra food and drink.

From what I've heard it is still pretty boggy across the top and there is rain forecast for today, I'd been planning to avoid it til we get another dry spell.

Ah that's a shame, I was considering it for Monday. I'm a bit out the loop though, not been out for ages. Maybe Stanage instead...

Cutgate was bone dry 2 weeks ago so should be ok still . I go from ladybower to langset. Best to get the hard bit out the way first and the polkadot cafe on main road at langsett serves good food

Been a lot of rain since two weeks ago, this was from keeper of the peak on Sunday (doesn't sound too bad to be fair)......

@KoftheP thought id risk it for a biscuit and try cutgate today. First section is running water up to mickledon edge which is 👌🏻 choose your path carefully around the "bog of doom" some puddles are deeper than they look.

12:49 PM - 28 Apr 2019

I was just about to post that!

Reckon I'll see what reports are like on Sunday and make a decision then. It's been ages since I've been out so I'm not too fussed what route I end up on.

We were up on Cutgate early Easter Saturday so as to get parked at the Langsett end which is close to us. Was as dry as I've ever seen it and as usual a great ride out and back.
We had some rain over the weekend which may well have altered the conditions

Bog of doom last week

[img] [/img]

Cheers Tracey, I guess it depend how much rain there's been over your way. Fingers crossed...

From where? On a bank holiday weekend everywhere is gonna be pretty busy

A57, or if full, further up Snake or up Moscar way. Or down towards Yorkshire Bridge. Then onto Bamford.

Or for the visionaries go at 3pm when everybody's off home, parking is a doddle, the trails are tons quieter and it's still light for another 6 hours.

It was very dry and had one days rain and my garden is still dry. Was going to try and fit it in again this weekend but Steel City DH is Saturday and on airport duty Monday for Abigale and the next round of the EWS.
I try not to work Fridays but going to South Wales to pick up some bike stuff, so dont think I will get up to report back.

Pretty sure all of those get full quickly on a bank holiday weekend, and - personally - I'd sooner get up a little bit earlier and avoid riding down a busy main road.

And riding at 3pm would be lovely, but doesn't really work for me.

Each to their own and all that, but if the OP isn't a Peak regular then it's worth knowing that whilst there is plenty of parking by Ladybower and at Langsett it does fill up quickly, no?

**edit** Thanks Tracey - and best of luck to Abigale in SC, I've not been for a while (I used to marshall) but I remember cheering for her last time I was there.

To a degree the best start depends on where you’re coming from. I’m from Leeds area so always start at Langsett as it’s an easy drive off the M1.
Getting to Ladybower involves going through centre of Sheffield and adds a good 30min to the journey

The vaaaaaast majority of Cut Gate is weather resistant unless we've had prolonged rain which we haven't and aren't expecting. So you might get a bit of muck on your shoes and wheels at the bog of doom but (providing you don't go for the lateral erosion swerve) it's well worth heading up there. Do it.

Each to their own and all that, but if the OP isn’t a Peak regular then it’s worth knowing that whilst there is plenty of parking by Ladybower and at Langsett it does fill up quickly, no?

Deffo worth knowing but equally worth considering additional / alternate routes into the Ladybower area (there are many). You can get from Yorkshire Bridge (or Moscar) to Fairholmes over the top or along the flat on just BW and bike path - no main roads required.

Went on Sunday. Was running water but the bog of doom wasn't actually doom-y - rode through the middle of it all and no sunken front wheels.

Large numbers of walkers going around the outside to avoid it.

I'd say go for it. Keep right on your way up from langsett - we were fine there.

Deffo worth knowing but equally worth considering additional / alternate routes into the Ladybower area (there are many). You can get from Yorkshire Bridge (or Moscar) to Fairholmes over the top or along the flat on just BW and bike path – no main roads required.

Fair point (just looked at a map and realised Moscar isn't as far east as I thought it was).

There's a car park just up the road from Langsett as well, that one's usually fairly quiet too and means you can miss out the stuff around the reservoir if you're not fussed.

If anyone's out on Monday I might see you there!

At the north end there's always parking on the minor road north of the Flouch roundabout and back routes into Cut Gate through the woods that 100% avoid the main road. There's a sign that says 'no parking' but it's a public road and no double yellows so it's probably aimed at preventing lorry drivers from parking up there. And there's no risk of spanking your roof mounted bikes on the nearby car park barrier.

We'd be coming from Northants way, (bit flat around here), so have no idea on starting point really, appreciate all the above, I'll check some of the suggestions out. Only ride we've done in the Peaks is the Ladybower loop starting at the Ladybower Inn.

I'd be tempted to head up to Langsett from there, saves you having to battle through to Ladybower. It'll be further, but I'd wager probably quicker.

As above, out of the two options, on a Bank Holiday, Langsett would be my choice if coming up the M1, off at Junction 35A and then a short run on the bypass to Langsett Barn.
Wagon and Horses pub afterwards for food is always a good option

Loads of road parking if you cross over the dam at Langsett and park just there or just past upper midhope where the road turns sharp left..

Cheers guys, looks like we'll head to Langsett, would anybody know where I could get a GPX file of the route from there, will be navigating via my Garmin watch, although one of the lads is ex forces so happy to read a map?

Did cutgate and ladybower loop on good Friday really dry uptop it’s not rained that much in Holme valley just north in the last week or two so should still be good, that said it’s been whacking it down since 3pm today

Ps when heading down the final bit of cutgate north to south on the tight righthand switch back look out for a 1 1/2 foot high wood pole about 30-40 metres head, That’s the left onto bridleway for the last bit of the descent, my last two rides I’ve missed it and gone down the footpath which is a little gnarley :0)

Hmm, if there's been the rain over there that there has here I might be tempted to do something else this weekend!

Well we braved it yesterday, and it was riding really well. A few inconsequential puddles as you'd expect, and some boggy patches but not enough to spoil the fun. Bog of doom was comfortably rideable with hardpack under the puddle, the other one close to it was much worse.

This might not be new news (I've not been riding much recently) but there's been some work done on the slabs and the hairpin where the bridleway peels off near the bottom, as well as on the section down to Slippery Stones. All nicely done I'd say, the pitching on the flat section in particular has made a huge difference.

I was up there yesterday too and thought the exact opposite to be honest, although the bog of doom was shallow, there were puddles all over the place once you got on top of the moor, some fairly deep forcing you to go WIDE around large sections (as many have been doing).

This makes it hard to get any sort of flow up in either direction and it's spreading out the trail and inreasing the erosion, I reckon it needs a few more weeks of dry weather to get back to good conditions again.

I rode it for the first time on Sunday and whilst the bog of doom was recognisably somewhere that could be horrific, it wasn't awful. I had a dig around the mend our mountains page and couldn't see what activity was planned to fix it. Anyone have any news?