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I'm thinking of taking a few mates up to Kettlewell in August and just wanted to check that there hasn't been any trail 'improvements' made... 😎
I was going to do a ride that climbs to Cam Head from Kettlewell then down in Starbotton via the walled track or the good weather option at Knuckle Bone Pasture.
Then along the road to Buckden, up Birks Fell and Firth Fell and down to Litton. Then down the road a but SE and back up via Old Cote Little Moor and down the bridleway to Kettlewell.
In the back of my head I think someone might have told me the last descent had been flattened, but I'm not sure (hoping not).
Is anyone please able to let me know one way or the other?
Cheers.
Big day out that, hadn't been flattened last summer but there is now a line on the left hand bank which avoids the worst of the boulder fields..
First half of your route was as normal 2 weeks ago. Doubt the drop into Littondale has been changed. But not been up that track in a while.
Good to know, thanks.
I've done that ride a couple of times, so I've got a pretty good appreciation of how much of an ask it is. I just didn't want to do one of those climbs and then roll down a recently tarmacked lane.
The first climb is doable in the saddle as is the third. Fitness depending. The middle one is a push-carry near the top. Old Cote Moor Top is epic once you're up there. Love it.
I ride those trails a fair bit and wasn't aware of any sanitisation. The BW from Cam Head to Knucklebone was riding ok a couple of weeks ago (checking out a new way down Buckden Pike via the leadmine fwiw).
Anyway, all I'd call the OP route a solid half day ride but no more than that if you keep going. But I like to shorten it to make a quicker hit by riding the core moor "ridge" from the top of the redmore climb, to the kettlewell descent. I'd not do it in the wet, but it rides surprisingly quickly and well, swooping down to the last kettlewell descent. (Where I take the grass line where I can.)
Bridleway to Starbotton from Old Cote (Fosse Wood) is the superior option, IMO. Not sure how it's riding at the moment though.
I may be in the minority, but I don't think the riding over Firth Fell from Redmire is worth the boggy push up. Maybe roll along the road and do Horse Head instead?