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What's the bridleway across Foxup Moor like these days? Rode it once in the early 90s and vowed never to return, it'd been so badly chewed up by MXers and 4x4s. Has it recovered?
Same question for the green lane contouring round from Deepdale to Barbondale, on the hill South/above Dent?
Foxup Moor is nowhere near as bad as it used to be, there's a bit around here http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=383010&Y=475107&A=Y&Z=115 that can be boggy in short sections, maybe five metres at a time. The next "field" towards Swarth Gill Gate is trail centre style surface. After that, heading towards Foxup, it's pretty well all rideable.
The Deepdale to Barbondale track is Occupation Road. Eeeeeek! Four parts, from the west: easy track to where the BW drops down to Dent; next section is increasingly rougher but generally OK until you get to the BW that drops to High Nun House. A short bouldery section up a climb to a gate; from that gate to about here http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=370777&Y=482117&A=Y&Z=115&ax=370777&ay=482117 is horrible - black pools of water with oil/diesel surface slicks, sharp edged rocks embedded in mud, deep vehicle ruts. From there to the road is fine.
Let's just say I've done the whole of Occy Road once. I have no intention of going back.
That was my experience of Occupation Road. Think I'll pass. Foxup Moor sounds like it could be a go-er now, though, thanks.
I do remember I dunno, 20 or so years ago when the green lanes round there and over Cam Fell were completely chewed up, but they're fine now for the xbike. Foxup Moor bridleway was exactly as whitestone says a couple of years ago when I rode it last (three or four times for some reason), good and improved riding, nice as part of a loop with the bridleways that hop over to Yockenthwaite and back via Hubberhome for a loop of Penyghent.
Walked some of Occupation Rd a year or so ago and there was plenty of evidence of mtb traffic. Might give it a go.
@johnx2 - about eight or nine years ago the national park closed quite a few "green lanes" to motorised traffic, Mastiles Lane was one, can't remember the others. Some like the Roman Road up from Bainbridge are still open to 4x4s but they are meant to have a licence to travel along it. Ah found it - 2008 apparently: https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/living-and-working/other-services/press-office/news/archive/national-park-welcomes-restrictions-on-green-lanes and YDNP TROs
Strava shows just 14 to have ridden the rough bit of Occy Road, obviously not all who ride it will be on Strava but shows just how unpopular it is, Bowderdale's had 112 for example.
I ride less popular than that! Ask anyone...
It was after seeing how well Mastiles Lane has recovered following the TROs that I started thinking the unthinkable. Rode through to Foxup W-E early this morning following a late bivi above Hull Pot last night - amazing how much better it is than my memories of Somme-style devastation, actually better than your description suggested. I'll head back soon-ish to try it E-W, think it might work better that way. I might even go back to the Occupation Road (if I fortify myself with a stiff drink first)!
I think it's better E-W - most of it is very slightly downhill after the initial push.
Don't bother with Occy Road. It's still utterly shit.
Mastiles is a perfect illustration of the value of TROs in the Dales. It's got some lovely riding now.
I was trying to be brief 😏 It's pretty good old-skool XC riding, I've only ever done it W-E partly because of the drop near the Foxup end would be very tricky as a climb.
I rode part of Mastiles this morning (Street Gate to where you turn off for Lee Gate farm and Weets Top), last week's rains have done a little damage around Goredale Beck. There's been a bit of a clean out of the track up to Weets Top as well, the first 100m or so is now covered in gravel from higher up but it's actually made the steep bit easier.
last week’s rains have done a little damage around Goredale Beck.
Saw that, didn't seem too bad. You'll be pleased to hear that your predictions about the longevity of the 'improvements' to the Barden Moor BW look set to come true. Starting to wash out near the old stream crossing, permapuddles forming before that. Looks an absolute dog's dinner with bits of tatty membrane sticking out here and there, and no doubt will be totally wrecked this winter.
I returned through Settle via Mastiles Lane and Stockdale Lane, both running well.
Shame you weren't around this morning to have a laugh at this ****:
https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/17825174.landrover-driver-gets-stuck-moors-settle/
What tyres for being an idiot?
I rode past it yesterday morning heading back from a bivy by Thieves' Moss. I saw what I thought were two tents but one looked a bit "funny" from the track below. It was only when I got past and up to the top gate I saw what it was. I'd been looking "down" on the sun roof. Very roughly it was here: http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=386997&Y=465357&A=Y&Z=115
Just read the Craven Herald piece and they make it out that it was stuck this morning so it looks like the driver and his mate spent all day yesterday trying to get it out!
Excellent! ONE LIFE - LIVE IT!
That must've been a damp night, Bob.
Wednesday night wasn't too bad, cloudy and gusty wind. Just a lot of condensation when we work up. The tarps needed a bit of drying out on the washing line when I got home!
I misread that (on account of the LR idiot's lies to the authorities) - thought you were out last night.