I'm prepared to ride cheekily
Is there a route over Shute Shelve Hill, Rose Wood or Hale Combe that will help to get me from Black Down or Cheddar over to Kingswood without riding on road?
I want to try the descent off Crook Peak down towards the M5 this weekend, as part of a Mendips route, although that seems to end in plenty of road work too.
And while I'm posting this, what do people think about riding Velvet Bottom to get to the top of Cheddar Gorge? I want to get onto the bridleway that runs along the top of the gorge to the south and try the rocky descent into Cheddar.
cheers
To go toward the M5 from blackdown, the path at the start of Lillypool Farm has a big sign with "No Mountain bike" on it...I went through the footpath further south to cross over the hills down to Kingswood and it's very good, except a bit steep at the start. Then instead of the direct BW down Crook Peak, I turn south down Compton Bishop, making the singletrack longer. It was technical, a bit like the descent over cheddar gorges, but narrower. Good fun. I'm sure you will enjoy it.
keeping it legal - go past Ashridge farm down into Cheddar - thats a fun descent (otherwise go and do the Cheddar Gorge descent), then * pick up the strawberry line to Kings Wood, bridleway along the top and drop down Crook Peak. you will end up riding some road, unless you use the permissive bridleway around Compton Bishop on the southern side of the hill to climb back up. there is a bridleway you can drop back down to cross (nr axbridge then).
I think velvet bottom isn't good when wet. Don't mind riding cheeky trails myself when on my own and its dry.
* or go up the Cheddar gorge road and down the bridleway while you are in cheddar.
Theres no legal way to get over shute shelve hill. Thereare two old droves, one of which joins with Lilypool farm (winscombe drove), the other, less used runs round the back of the quarry and comes down its side to the road (Callow drove).
Both are initially very steep coming up from the A38 and level off. Winscombe drove is heavily policed by the rather agressive locals - they really don't like horses or bikes at all. I've never been challenged on Callow Drove. After the initial climb past some farm access, its pretty secluded the whole way over.
TBH, I don't use it much, the riding on Crook Peak has been poor for the last 5-6 years when the grazing regime over there really ramped up. The cattle have badly damaged alot of the once very sweet singletrack.
Your other alternatives are to head into axbridge on the Strawberry line as SSurfer says, or head north through Winscombe/Winterhead and pick up a bridle way into shipham that starts opposite the star pub, in err... Star.
Edit - read that the wrong way round. Invert what I said and it all still stands.
Velvet Bottom - Clearly this is a site of historic importance, being the site of former Roman mineries.
However, it is the only viable link to the top of cheddar without having to use a bunch of tarmac. Use with caution early or late. Stick to the main trail. Its perfectly fine in the wet since its all granular mining spoil. Give respect to the three/four technical limestone drops. I know a good few local riders that have broken bones on them.
Well, I'm don't know what you mean by Strawberry line, A371? There is also a bit of Sustrans route to avoid that route. Is it what you are meaning?
Its a cyclepath that follows the line of the old railway that ran from Yatton, through Congresbury & Winscombe, Axbridge, Cheddar and I think it went all the way to Wookie.
yeah the strawberry line is the old railway line (that they used to transport strawberries I believe). It runs from Cheddar to Yatton.
I would ride on the road rather than ride/damage the velvet trail as it is a sensitive area.
Objectively, the ground in velvet bottom, at least the main drag, is just a gravelled surface. You'd need ALOT of traffic to 'damage' it. I've seen more vulnerable cycletrail surfaces. That said, the gruffy to either side IS easily damaged, and represents a substantial temptation to riders due to its technical interest.
Its about responsible use IMO.
Shame there's no rich picking to join these hills together, one of the reasons to head to the Quantocks instead. I will try the cheeky footpath down to Compton Martin though, then try and find a way back to Kingswood off the road.
Singletracksurfer - have you tried the footpath that leaves the Ashridge Farm to Cheedar descent at around the first gate? It's been cleared recently and the start is more obvious. Starts off down some wooden steps, takes a sharp right, singletrack then drops very steeply before leveling off in the mud pit just above Cheddar (where it joins the bridleway again). The farmer there is MTB friendly.
Those limestone drops in Velvet Bottom would be my main reason for riding there, they look pretty lethal in the wet though, extremely well polished.
Scienceofficer, going East to West, does Callow Drove improve once you've past the corner of the quarry, it's pretty much a muddy ditch until that point isnt it?
cheers
Ah yes, the FP off warrens hill has always been a cheeky little bit of fun. Not ridden it since its been cleared though.
After the quarry, Callow farm drove improves markedly. It does stay wet, because it rests in a natural depression across the top, but its not too bad. as it starts to drop off shute shelve, it gets steep and fast and turns into a stoney double track with gates.
ad: no haven't ridden the footpath there but will check it out when I'm next down there - thanks.
dont tell the farmer I sent you!