I’ve just popped the kettle on, let’s see how this one escalates……
The drainage cuts that have been dug on the Derwent Edge side of WLT looked to be doing their job last Saturday, the ones closer to the top seemed to be doing a bit better than those further down, but that is probably because there is a bit more of a drop off of the side there, so the water runs off quicker and won’t silt them up so much. Credit where credit is due, some people are getting out there and trying to keep the trails in as good a nick as possible. The other side of WLT was holding up last Saturday as I rode right down the middle (no mincing off into the heather, I promise). The surface itself was still firm. I doubt it will be now, though.
The really boggy bit at cutthroat bridge was rideable by very moderately skilled types like me (not so many wheel swallowing bogs that there was only one possible permutation of line through the whole thing). Again I suspect that will not be case now.
The wet weather loop is a good alternative.
You could also do Ladybower avoiding most boggy bits if you avoid anything east of the reservoir, perhaps tacking a road and Jaggers Clough loop on instead of WLT.