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In between getting the camper loaded for today's drive out to the EWS in Austria we managed to get in an early ride over Cutgate yesterday. It was warm and sticky on the climbs but well worth it. Probably the only time up there where I've seen more bikers than walkers. It was the first time I've ever seen MXs up on the top, all ten of them revving it up.
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Got out on Saturday, the day before the weather turned nice again up here 🙁 Managed to visit a few new squares on the map though, which is always fun.
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Howgill Loop for me. Tougher than I expected. Will have to go and ride it again before mud returns.
Last year a mate and I planned a two day 160 mile circuit of Leicestershire with an overnight pub/B&B stop that never actually happened.
About a month ago – in the pub, obviously – we decided to have a crack at it in one day on the weekend of the longest day. So that’s tomorrow then. 158 miles, 7000 feet of climbing, leaving at 06:00, aiming to be back in the village pub by 22:00.
How did you get on, and any chance of a .gpx of the route?
Thursday was Tarw Du at CYB
Friday we did Penmachno (both loops)
Saturday - back to CYB for Dragon's Back with a Minor Taur chaser
Sunday - Cannock Chase Monkey & FTD on the way home
Fantastic weather
Up at 5.20am yesterday and out the door at 6. Had to curtail ride a bit compared to planned due to being needed at home but still managed about 50km with 1000m of climbing and home by just gone nine. One of the most relaxing rides I've had in ages, nice and cruisy, everywhere was pretty quiet, lovely light in the woods. Pleased I got out early too as I was feeling the heat climbing in the open at about 0730!
First off dipped into some local woods:
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Bit of cheeky coastal path..
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Some quiet lanes and open moor:
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then back into some more woods..
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Just got a couple of hours in the woods chasing my eldest...it was ace!
I'm intolerant to sunlight, so even loading up on sunscreen it's have been daft for me to ride in the day yesterday. I waited until 2000 and got an hour in round Saddleworth on the road bike. I'm going to do the same tonight, I reckon.
More crossing chemtrails from ferrals post which are similar to mine. Do you think they're responsible for all the nice weather? Makes you think.
More crossing chemtrails from ferrals post which are similar to mine.
Nah, just a couple of pilots playing noughts and crosses 🙂
Spent the weekend in Aviemore riding Burnside, Laggan & Feshie. No contrails from the gliders that were out....
The other side of the hill from yetiman...
I spent three days chasing four DofE groups around - two silver, two gold - on some of the hottest days I have ever had on Scottish hills. Geldie was pure melting hot on Sunday, Corrour was magnificent and the pine woods around Marr Lodge felt like the south of France to day.
A good few miles on foot or bike - nice to camp in one spot (white bridge) and be able to just zip around as needed.
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1786/41197179180_bdab8e000e_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1786/41197179180_bdab8e000e_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/25Lsj5L ]Spot the DofE group...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/42957935672_20ef5953e9_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/42957935672_20ef5953e9_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/28s3DDj ]Dunblane BB Gold & Silver DofE[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1815/41197185510_4407c6300a_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1815/41197185510_4407c6300a_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/25LskXU ]Dunblane BB Gold & Silver DofE[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1805/42105819175_6f6464b577_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1805/42105819175_6f6464b577_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/279Kk6z ]Dunblane BB Gold & Silver DofE[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1794/29135430058_e9e1a34ec8_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1794/29135430058_e9e1a34ec8_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/LoAGi1 ]Dunblane BB Gold & Silver DofE[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
Had probably my best MTB ride ever. Late Saturday from Abergavenny to Pen Trumau in the Black mountains, wild camp, then on to Llangors mtb route, Allt yr Esgair, then the Gap Road, then trundle to Crickhowell to meet the family. 60 miles all in, 7000ft of climbing, stunning weather and landscape. Loved every minute.
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/28148753657_d281389a7a_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/28148753657_d281389a7a_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/JTpHLV ]Late twilight in the hills[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/turkey_plucker/ ]Matthew Walker[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1766/42115691695_c7e1b27470_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1766/42115691695_c7e1b27470_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/27aBVRr ]Early morning Black mountains[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/turkey_plucker/ ]Matthew Walker[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1766/42967656452_5f45093982_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1766/42967656452_5f45093982_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/28sUthY ]Nice spot near Pen Trumau[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/turkey_plucker/ ]Matthew Walker[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1827/29145464518_6936ab9a82_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1827/29145464518_6936ab9a82_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Lpu8bW ]View of Llangors lake[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/turkey_plucker/ ]Matthew Walker[/url], on Flickr
NBT and I rode for 22 miles in the White Peak. 5 dales ride. The single track sections were bliss. Even the rideable uppy bits were enjoyable.
Dust I tell you, brilliant.
Naughty girl that I am didn't drink enough and ran out of water at the end. Have taken until now to recover.
Seriously riders, if you can get out to the White Peak atm, take this opportunity with the dry trails. It's brilliant.
OK, some shots from the weekend
Heading down to Newby Head from the Cam High Road
Getting the bivy sorted - Wild Boar Fell behind
Moon's up!
The Water Cut
In front of Cautely Spout
Heading towards Sedbergh
Heading up on to Great Wold (Whernside)
That's a nice route, Bob. Surprised you didn't get woken up by a load of 4x4s, if that's where I think it is.
Was thinking of doing Bowderdale this week. Is that the main BW return to Sedbergh, and how overgrown is it really?
We were about halfway between Hell Gill and The Water Cut. The track is being "repaired" - basically filling in the two wheel slots with hardcore, you can see this in the shot of the bivy. A bit loose at the moment but it will bed in quite quickly. I didn't think 4x4s were allowed on there, might be wrong, I didn't look for a restriction sign.
The BW between Cautley and Sedbergh is fine, the bracken isn't too high, the shot is looking across the path so you can't see it. We didn't do the bit between Adamthwaite and Cautley as we didn't fancy doing that bit of road climb for not a lot of gain so just headed down the main road to Cautley and crossed via the footbridge.
Yep, that bit's open to 4x4s. Was quite funny to spin past a load of them on the grass at a princely 4mph last time I was up there as they were stuck crawling through the deep ruts. They didn't look happy.
I presume you started from Ribblehead-ish - what was the total mileage and ascent over the two days?
No started from home so to Gargrave - Bell Busk - Airton - Calton - Weets Top - Mastiles - Malham Tarn - Helwith Bridge - Horton - picked up PBW at Calf Holes and followed it to the end, down to Cautley - Sedbergh - Dent - Ribblehead - Selside - Sulber Nick - Wharfe - Feizor - Settle - Otterburn - Bell Busk - Gargrave and home.
85km with 1800m of ascent on the first day, 98km with 1800m of ascent on Sunday
Good effort.