Looking at my OS map there's a bridleway from 5 lane ends to Blackton.Is it rideable? Quagmires,indistinct,etc.
Also just before the top of Bollihope back into Hamsterley it shows a footpath but i'm sure its a track.Legal to ride ?
The bridleway over the moor is good especially in dry or frozen weather. It becomes a shooting track down to the road but still good fun. The section through the forest is largely lost in the trees and better routes are available.
The footpath from the Stanhope/Teesdale road, if that is the one you mean, is a vehicle track. If I remember correctly there may be a locked gate.
Both of the bridleway routes out of the forest on that side down to Blackton are fine as long as it’s dry - personally I prefer the northernmost one. If I’m doing that kind of loop out of Hamsterley I’ll usually follow the red route from The Grove as it runs up the wall side past both of the points where those bridleways exit on to the moor. If it’s dry I’d also consider the byway past 5 pikes and back into the forest via Doctors Gate.
