After work spin close to M6

I’m needing the forums help with route guidance and ideas.

I’m working near Stoke on Thursday and will be driving back to Scotland up the M6 after (should be leaving at about 3pm). I’m thinking of taking my mountain bike and doing an evening ride, nothing too techie or long, just fun trails.

I’ve done this before (often coming from other sites though) and have ridden the following trail centres and routes but fancy something different, maybe something I’ve missed in the past?

– Winlatter
– Ae
– Mabie
– Route out the back of Tebay
services.
– Cannock Chase
– Hanchurch woods
– Grizedale
– Lee Quarry
– Trails near Sheffield (think they are where Steve Peat learnt his trade but can’t remember the name)

There’s probably a couple more that I can’t remember

Any suggestions?

If you’re willing to go as far as Sheffield how about Farmer John’s in Marple Bridge (the East Side of Stockport) ?

Farleton Knott at J36? You’ve seen it a million times as it’s right by the mway. Various routes over and around it.

Something out of Staveley or Grizedale ‘natural’.

Farmer johns is great but I would describe it more as a DH centre or bike park than trails and pretty techie.
Assuming you want to stay as close to the M6 and Stoke as possible then there is Thringstone Woods between Ashby De-La-Zouch and Loughborough or maybe Macc Forest? Not ridden either myself but know they’re popular areas. Or maybe around Buxton and that east side of the Peaks?

There was a mag article a few years back about a route out of tebay services, mibbe someone can point you in the right direction?.

Cross fell is 15 mins off the M6, as is Threlkeld – head up to Skiddaw hause, Lonscale fell and Latrigg?.

I wouldn’t mind finding out about the route out the back of Tebay services.

Anyone know what mag it was?

nothing too techie or long, just fun trails.

Go and ride Mabie if you’re OK with that much of a detour.

Especially if you’ve not ridden it before, it’s really good fun with loads of nice, flowy singletrack.

I wouldn’t mind finding out about the route out the back of Tebay services.

Anyone know what mag it was?

@Chipps should know?….

Issue 59 page 18

Thanks!

Thanks all.

I’ve ridden Mabie quite a few times although not for a while, the route at the back Tebay that was in Singletrack is the one I rode (I think it’s been a while), it was ok, nothing special.

The tails near Sheffield I rode was when I was working in Rotherham, I think they’re bit out of the way for my plans this week.

I’ve never ridden in the Peak district so maybe a route there that’s close to the M6, would be able to still be riding in daylight too. Where if I was aiming to ride in the lakes or Dumfrieshire I’d be racing the sun.

Any routes you can recommend?

Farlton Knot might be a goer, it’s close to the M6, right side of Manchester to miss the traffic but not too north so I should be riding in daylight.

Any Gpx’s or routes?

I can see some trails on trailforks so could just go and investigate.

Howgills, not time for the full loop but could do bowderdale out and back from the Kirkby Stephen road

Oooh off at Shap and a Mosedale, Haweswater loop maybe the old corpse road

Could do Garburn Pass and Kentmere loop from Staveley.

Askham fell at the top end of Ullswater, go from pooley bridge, 10 mins from M6 J40. Or threlkeld for skiddaw house/glendaraterra loop. 15 mins from M6 J40.

I’d save a Peaks trip for next time you’re in Rotherham . Or just work that angle. Maybe a new client wants a face to face based in Castleton? Sorry ‘client’

I’m currently working on some new client leads based in Whistler, they’re not very tech savvy though so looks like I’ll have to pop over

For nearly 20 yrs I’ve suffered this fate, bloody customers wanting me to go and visit and forcing me to spend more time on strava, google maps and here looking for suitable which bike? rides.

This situation (kinda) forced me to get a road bike 7 years ago. I’d gone to London for 3 days work and was stopping out east took my mtb to the Olympic park for a spin of the course only to find 2 years after the Olympics it still wasnt ready for public use…a full suss spin around Barking and Ilford was not really that much fun

Garburn pass looks good, https://lakesmtb.co.uk/routes/garburn-pass/ only a couple of hours north of the site I’ll be working at and only 15 miles so should be completed in a couple of hours. Weather looks decent too.

Dont use the trailforks app for farleton north trails. The Landowner has seen their arse with kids building big jumps and has clamped down on bikers. The Bridleways are still ok though.

Have you considered Gisburn ?

Blencathra clockwise if the weather is good.

Not sure if I’ve ever ridden Gisburn, if I did it would have been a number of years ago. Is that the one that is really quite small, steep, rocky and technical? If so then I’ve ridden there, it was a bit too short and steep for my liking if that’s the one I’m thinking of.

I live in Scotland hence do all my riding there, I really do struggle with access laws south of the border. But I don’t want to upset the locals so will stick (try anyway) to the bridleways.

I’ll have a look at your suggestions later on once the animals are in bed, thanks everyone for your suggestions, plenty of food for thought, enough maybe for my next couple of business trips.

Ian

Is that the one that is really quite small, steep, rocky and technical?

Well, it’s small. 🙂

Not sure it’s worth the diversion from the M6 (About 40 mins) compared with some of your other options.

Small, rocky and technical will probably be the other “burn” – stainburn.

What about rivington? Might even get binners to show you round (think he’s local to there (ish))!

I rode the Garburn Pass loop from Staveley, thanks for the recommendations

The weather was surprisingly sunny and warm. Enjoyed the ride, first proper Lake district ride for myself and I wasn’t disappointed. Lots of different terrain with some steep climbs and fast descents. Even managed to buy a pack of Porter from Hawkshead Brewery.

Quick, delete that last photo before Fix the Fells see it!

Nice one.

No pics of the beer?

8 bottles of this.

Had one last night after giving it a bit of time in the freezer, sacrilege I know, but that’s how I like it.