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Where are your favourite county rides. Time to blow out the cobwebs.
The trails around Blanchland Common were in pretty good shape 2 weeks ago - should be even better now. I hope the good weather holds because we're due to ride from Alwinton and Rothbury.
Mmmm...
Is there a loop up at Blanchland taking in a little singletrack, there is a route in purdy's book, but only on green lanes as far as i know.
Edmunbyers and Blanchland, two cracking bits of singeltrack
[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6155/6182119629_6568dbf84b_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/66452821@N00/6182119629/ ]Edmunbyers & Blanchland[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/66452821@N00/ ]ritcheyp20[/url], on Flickr
Thanks for that, somewhere i have yet to explore, anyone else care to share a fave, even if it is just to jog my memory....looking for some inspiration.
Few more weeks and the ranges are open whilst the nesting birds get jiggy with it.
Stobbs Cross and Broadway on Hexham Common is good (although last time I was up there Broadway was a bit moto-X'd)
[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2074/1800601506_c48884e0fc.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ir_bandito/1800601506/ ]Moorland Singletrack[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/ir_bandito/ ]ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr
If you do the Blanchland loop, the cheeky trail at [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=396442&Y=550815&A=Y&Z=120 ]Shildon[/url] is good.
Also, the trail over [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=395074&Y=545455&A=Y&Z=120 ]Bolts Law[/url] is now bridleway.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6813751769_090a530386.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ir_bandito/6813751769/ ]P2030022[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/ir_bandito/ ]ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr
Nearer to Hexham, there's some fun stuff in Dukeshouse Wood, and also the cheeky (and legal) trail down the Dipton Burn to Diptn Mill is brilliant.
[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2283/1800598106_65e46997fe.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ir_bandito/1800598106/ ]Dipton Burn Descent[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/ir_bandito/ ]ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr
What riding are you after?
Dipton Burn Descent by ir_bandito, on Flickr
Ooo. I ran up there last week for the first time - it said it was a 'byway' but to where? Only way out the bottom is a footpath.
I'm really looking for trails with a technical bent if at all possible, bits of Thrunton come close to Nirvana when it is riding well. Having said that very happy just doing XC on the moors.
Is there a loop up at Blanchland taking in a little singletrack, there is a route in purdy's book, but only on green lanes as far as i know.
I think one section on the map above is green lane. The section that goes through Blanchland itself (in the center) is road. And most of the rest of it is singletrack (far left and far right on the map). It's a really enjoyable route, and should be decent with the current weather. But it depends what kinda thing you like. The single track is mildly technical in places.
Paul4stones, its a byway up to the field by the racecourse, them bridleway again.
Best way to ride it is follow the cheeky path down from Nubbick farm, then bridleway down to the bridge (1 of the best legal descents in the area), then follow cheeky trail to the Dipton Mill.
Had a really enjoyable day yesterday, doing P20's route, nice and dry, particularly enjoyed the trails across Blanchland moor, although not so happy when one of my cranks fell off on the climb back out to Edmundbyres. Any other recomendations.