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Done it myself in both directions loads of times but this week I'll be leading a group who haven't done the route before.
I personally prefer to ride down the Ladder and at least in that direction I also get to ride down from Rushup edge to Roych Clough.
However I'm toying with the idea of getting them to push up the Ladder (which will not go down well with some of them) then taking the BW to Kinder Reservoir (which I haven't done before). Maybe the Snake Path if they're not suffering from heat exhaustion by then.
Is that a better option? I'll take a majority verdict.
Also - best food/ drink stop in Hayfield? Looks like Rosie's Tearoom is closed on the Tuesday we're there 🙁
Don't know the area but the evil streak in me says make them do it as a climb!
i would say go down jacobs ladder, maybe include campsite just because it's there? The descent down to the ashes isn't really worth the climb up Jacobs, and all the best descents are ridden down rather than up if you go down Jacobs rather than up it.
the descent down to Kinder reservoir is nothing special. Nice, but not that nice. Jacob's as a descent is FAR better, and you get to do Coldwell Clough / Elle Bank woods that way round too
I've only ever done down jacobs lader up from Hayfield. But that seemed to work for me.
Down Jacob's - you know you want to! Many witter on about the other way being better (crazy-legs for example), but I've never understood it, and having done it that way once wouldn't care to repeat it.
Having done it both ways, down Jacobs ladder is the best way! If your doing a loop round the PBW the decent down rushop edge and then into Hayfield is ace!
OK thanks. S*d all the magazine routes which seem to think that riding up the Ladder is some sort of ultimate challenge. Everyone I've seen up there has been pushing 😮
The only reason for pushing up jacobs ladder is to turn around at the top and ride straight down it! Don't do it. They won't thank you!!
which seem to think that riding up the Ladder is some sort of ultimate challenge
what a load of [b]arse[/b]! On the Oaken Clough side you do at least stand a chance of riding all the way up if you're fit and lucky enough, and Jacob's Ladder begs to be ridden down 🙂
DOWN!
Plus i always find the walkers encourage you! Although that may be bloodlust!!
The reality, if your group are not above average riders is that they'll push most of the way up to Edale Cross irrespective of the direction.
Above average ability ride up to Edale Cross, and down Jacobs, road though to get up to Rushup, unless you want to push up Chapel Gate.
Top riders, ride up Jacobs and all the other bits too.
The BW down to the res is bone dry atm, we rode up it this week. As a downhill it's mega fast if you've got the bottle.
Me I prefer the relatively short push up Jacobs, I can ride 99% of the rest.
Unless there are no walkers about Jacobs is a rubbish descent compared to the relatively quiet and wider other side.
The reality, if your group are not above average riders is that they'll push most of the way up to Edale Cross irrespective of the direction.
They might be southerners but they'll get from Coldwell Clough to Edale Cross easily enough. It'll be on a Tuesday so not too many red socks hopefully.
The plan is to park just short of the collapsed road near the caverns then ride up the footpath side of Rushup Edge i.e not the rubbish BW on the other side of the wall. After Jacobs Ladder its road to Mam Tor then Hollins Cross down to Castleton.
I'd go and do Cut Gate instead, either out and back or out via the Roych and a big loop back from Ladybower over to Langsett. It'll be absolutely primo at the moment, everything's bone dry, even the tank traps on the Roman Road and the stuff round from WLT are pretty much parched. The bridleway down to Kinder Res is good if you hammer it and the first bit of slightly riding singletrack below Kinder Low is ace, but again, you need to put the effort in.
What's wrong with the bridleway on Rushup Edge? The footpath's okay, but it's littered with stiles and everything's bone dry, okay, the initial climb's been sanitised, but everything else is bone dry. Anyway...
