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I'm teaching my girlfriend all about mountain bikes. Fitness isn't a problem, but I need to break her in very gently when it comes to technical trails. SHe lives in Durham, I live in Manchester, so I don't really know the area all that well, I've been to Kielder and Hamsterly and I know there are plenty of hills, but I don't know where to go for natural trails and I certainly don't know where the non-difficult stuff is?
I could do with some route ideas for next weekend, no problems travelling up to 90 minutes from Durham. Anyone able to help?
Thanks.
Old Railway lines around Durham have lots of nice hidden single track in the woods that's pretty much all cheeky that connect teh various routes up.
You can effectively do a circuit of Durham and at any point if you're tired drop back into Durham on a railway line.
get 'beyond hamsterley' loads of routes in there
I run on those railway lines a bit, looking for something a bit more out in the wilderness though.
Hexham Common/Edmundbyers?
From [url= http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=457225&y=503610&z=120&sv=457225,503610&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=738&ax=457225&ay=503610&lm=0 ]Clay bank car park[/url]
There's a carry/push up onto Urra Moor but one up there there's loads of flattish easy stuff
A ride around the old railway line for a beer at the Lion is pleasant
Nice one. I've found GPS tracks for all of the Beyond Hamsterly rides; can anyone advise one which are the least technical etc?
paulrockliffe - I'd be interested in the gps files if you could forward a link please?
Many thanks. I've also got some I could send you if you were interested - you might have them already mind?
EDIT: I can only seem to find two now up Alwinton way. Any good to you?
Actually, can't download the routes from track logs; this address http://www.tracklogs.co.uk/routes/trl/0513BeyondHamsterley1OxenLaw.trl
just takes me to a page that isn't a download page. Any ideas? Do I need to log in?
Nope, logging in doesn't help!
No idea about that.
mtbsharp is usually a good source although pretty limited for Durham.
Definately go for beyond hamsterly.
Teesdale and Weardale are a bit thin on bridleways. Hamsterly Forest - Eggleston worth a look in the dry. Best trails are guarded by gamekeepers with guns so its proper poaching. Baldersdale boggy a lot of the time. Hexamshire Common area and Edmundbyres area in the dry. You could always nip over the border into Swaledale - Reeth / Dales Bike Centre. Real wild riding over Cross Fell / Dun Fell.
Waldridge Fell and Beamish Woods are about the best within easy riding distance of Durham
Ride along the N side of the river, head for Chester Le Street
As Raouligan says and you can't go far wrong. Which part of Durham are you starting from ?
You could try and find the [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Hamsterley-mountain-around-County/dp/0955145406 ]Neil Gander Book[/url]. He used to post on here as Goosey but don't know if he's still around ?
Damned near gave myself a heart attack trying to keep up with him on the hill from Lanchester up to his house 8 or 9 years ago 😮