| Route | Contributor | Last Updated | Where | Distance | Tags |
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| WMB143.Surrey Hills_Moderate | wmbsu | Dec 11th 2012, 02:34 | 26.1km |
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| Start/Finish Westcott, TQ 141/486 Total distance 26.2km (16.3 miles) Total ascent 613m Time 2-4 hours Maps OS Landranger (1:50K) No. 187 Dorking & Reigate Summary Explore the chalky beech tree trails through Ranmore Common, sandy pine forest tracks in Pitch and Holmbury Hill, before heading back down the valley. 1. From Nirvana Cycles go along Balchins Lane, keeping left, then go right on a bridleway to a cross tracks and turn right, over the railway, uphill. Keep ahead, joining a wider track, then left at a cross tracks, on the bridleway along the top, to a road. Turn right then left on the bridleway and follow this to forest track/cross tracks and go left. Continue on this wide track, eventually coming to stables. 2. Keep ahead, turning left at the end of the stables (or right to the mini death bowl, on the sharp corner of the road), on the bridleway, past the bins, downhill. Take care over the rooty section in the middle of the track near the road at the bottom. Go left before the road, then right, under the road and left. Turn right into Shere. 3. Turn right on Pathfields Road as you exit the village, keeping ahead on a bridleway into the woods. Keep left at two forks, uphill to a road then right at the junction, over the railway. Turn right on a bridleway immediately after and keep right, alongside the railway, to a lane by houses. Turn right. 4. Bear left, past houses, on sandy track, that becomes Tarmac. When this bears right keep ahead on bridleway. Stay left as you join a wide track, left at fork by house, and keep left at the next fork, to/across a road. Continue along the bridleway, joining a road and keep right into Peaslake village. NOTE: See the Classic route to extend the ride, to explore the trails on Holmbury Hill, such as Golden Birdies, Telegraph road and the T-trails on Pitch Hill. 5. Go left on the road by Peaslake village stores, follow this road to Burrows Cross. Turn right on a dead end road, just as the road bears left. Keep ahead on bridleway, into the trees and downhill. Go right at the bottom, to the A25. Go right on this then shortly left on a minor road. Go right on a bridleway following the NCN route signs along the valley bottom. Keep ahead, over a road, along the edge of Deerleap Wood, and continue on to retrace your tracks to Westcott. | |||||
| WMB139 Forest of Bowland, Lancs Classic Ride | wmbsu | Aug 22nd 2012, 09:09 | 27.4km |
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| Start/Finish Dunsop Bridge village, SD659501 Total distance 27.4km (17 miles) Total time 3-6 hours Maps OS Landranger 103 Blackburn & Burnley, Clitheroe & Skipton. Or Garmin GB Discoverer 1:50K Northern England & Midlands (GPS). Summary Superb natural riding with some steep climbs out of the valleys and long grassy descents. 1 Turn right out of the car park, over Dunsop Bridge, follow the road left at T-junction, turning right after 2km, signed Wild Boar park, just before Burholme bridge. Head uphill for 1.7km then go right on a (Tarmac) bridleway, uphill, keep right at fork. 2 Turn right off the Tarmac, off-road on the bridleway as the track bears left, following rough track through a gate into the trees. Follow the obvious trail, mostly downhill, until a climb out of the trees, through a gate and keep left, uphill through the grassy field. 3 Keep to the left of a red container and Mellor Knoll (hill on right) on no obvious trail, becoming grassy downhill, choosing your line down to the farm. Turn right to the road by the house, continue to the main road. Go left on this for 2.5km then right on a good bridleway (by a barn), uphill. 4 At field entrance bear left (no obvious track), uphill across the grassy field to/through a gate and continue (walk) to a fence along the top. Keep left, beside the fence, along a slightly more obvious track, to/through a gate. Keep ahead, bearing left, becoming downhill, hidden start to rocky, narrow singletrack with a big drop to the right. Take care. Follow faint grassy finish to Brennand farm. 5 Turn left on the good track, over a bridge to a junction and bear right (no access left), keeping right at immediate junction (ahead is steep bridleway). Keep left at fork after 100m (re-joining bridleway), continuing uphill, to/through a gate at the end of the track and keep right (wall on right), along no obvious trail, getting boggy and rough across a field for gradual but hard uphill section. 6 Go through the gate, cross small wooden bridge and follow slightly more obvious track to the left, uphill. Bear left at a wall, downhill, looking for a small gate, go through this, then head very steeply down a grassy hill to Whitendale (farm). Cross footbridge and keep ahead past the farm, through gates and bearing right, zig-zagging up a rocky uphill. 7 When it becomes more rideable look for faint right fork on the bridleway near the top (leaving the better track), following the occasional waymarkers and over a short boardwalk section, to the top. Go through a gate in a wall and bear right beside the wall on a grassy, shortly veering away to the left, away from wall, becoming a ridgetop trail on right side of valley, downhill. 8 The trail gets steeper and bumpier before turning to a nice worn singletrack. Go through gate at bottom and take very faint, rough track on left beside tree enclosure to a farm. Go through gates and then left on Tarmac. Go right on road for 2km then right on the (new) North Lancashire bridleway, follow the signs to the bottom (stream), then bear diagonally right uphill across the grassy field towards the barn. Join the good track by the barn, bearing right down to the farm and join the Tarmac leading back, downhill, to Dunsop Bridge. | |||||
| WMB138 Rhayader Classic route | wmbsu | Jul 24th 2012, 09:30 | 32.6km |
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| Start/Finish Clive Powell’s bike shop, SN969/679 Total distance 32.9km (20.4 miles) Total ascent 1300m Time 2.5-5 hours Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) No. 147 Elan Valley & Builth Wells. Or Garmin GB Discoverer 1:50K Southern England and Wales (GPS). Summary A very hilly ride with plenty of technical descents, lung busting climbs, amazing scenery and a stunning finish. 1 From Clive Powell’s bike shop, turn right out of the door, along the B4518, down and over the bridge out of town. Take the road on the right (just past the cycle path on the left), signposted Mountain Road, Aberystwyth, uphill for 4km to the top. Turn left onto a clear track that drops to a ford and small dam. 2 Cross the dam and bear sharp left to cross a boggy section and pick up a stony track, climbing steeply to the top, where a waymark directs you right. Continue on a grassy track that climbs past the trig point, and bear right at a fork. Continue down to a gate. Continue through fields, bearing left through a gate on the bridleway, past a house and stream, then uphill past a house (on your left). 3 Turn left on the bridleway, climbing steeply to/right at a fork, to/ahead at a crossroads on flatter ground. A track joins from the left, cross a boggy section (numerous options), joining the better stony track shortly. Ford a stream and keep left at a fork, following the main track downhill to a drive. 4 Bearing right, then left by/into the woods on a bridleway, fast singletrack descent. Turn right on the road at the bottom. Keep left at fork, past a cottage to a bridleway turning on the right through a gate. Climb uphill gently. 5 When the hills get steeper, just beyond a gate, cross a stream and turn right on very faint track (not left on more obvious track), up the steep valley (walk) with stream on your right. At the top, bear to left around a boggy section, then right, downhill on good singletrack, bearing left across a stream uphill, then steep drop downhill, with a technical rocky bit at the top. 6 Turn right on the road at the bottom, by the reservoir edge, then fork right on the NCN route to climb into the trees. Keep left at a fork, passing the dam, alongside the reservoir, passing Craig Goch dam (to your left). The track starts to climb steeply uphill, becoming faint but improving at the top. Drop down to a ford and back up to a road. 7 Turn left on the road for 1km to a wide track at the top. Continue on this taking in one small climb. Follow the red arrow markers (left then right), downhill all the way to a house and keep ahead, through a gate to a road. Turn right on this, then left at the T-junction, to the B4518 and turn left on this, over the bridge and back into Rhayader. | |||||
| WMB142.Yorkshire Dales_Classic | wmbsu | Nov 12th 2012, 10:37 | 33.5km |
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| Start/Finish Askrigg, SD950911 Total distance 33.6km (20.9 miles) Total ascent 986m (3200ft) Time 3-5 hours Maps OS Landranger No 98, Wensleydale & Upper Wharfedale, OS Explorer Map OL30, Yorkshire Dales: N & Cen areas Summary Big open spaces, with a mix of mine tracks, ancient highways and moorland singletrack. 1. From the car park off Leyburn Road, turn left and head east. Stay on the road as it swings left and climbs out of the village. At the top the road bears right and gently descends towards the hamlet of Woodhall. 2. At Woodhall (3km from start), turn left on bridleway through a farm and climb zig-zag track up hillside. At forked junction keep right and continue climbing to gate. Pass through gate, turn right and follow track uphill, crossing bridge after 300m. 400m after the bridge the surfaced track swings left towards the old mine workings – leave the track and continue along bridleway parallel to wall, climbing gently. 3. Cross over second track from mine workings and keep left at bridleway forks. Cross stream at the top of the climb, then descend for 3.5km on track to Castle Bolton. Continue past castle on Tarmac for 300m, passing church on the left and road turning to the right before turning left onto bridleway. Climb on loose, rocky, narrow trail, to reach open ground. Continue up grassy hillside – mapped bridleway swings right then left but is indistinct, the obvious trail runs parallel to wall. 4. Pass through gate at the top of the field to reach trail junction. Turn right and follow the wide track uphill before descending for 600m over bridge to crossroads. Turn left and climb Apedale for 3.5km on mainly good track. At the head of Apedale is a steep, rocky pitch – probably a push. 5. Follow bridleway through old mine workings, keeping left when another bridleway drops northwards down valley. Descend on wide but loose and twisty mine track for 1.6km to road. Turn right on road for 500m, cross bridge then turn left before cattle grid onto bridleway next to stream in gully. At the ruined buildings bear right through gate and descend to join wider track. Turn right then left through gate onto signed bridleway across field, descending steeply, mainly on grass, to join road by farm buildings. 6. Turn left and follow lane, carrying straight on at first junction then following the road to climb steeply to Crackpot. Continue on road as gradient eases beyond Crackpot along to Summer Lodge and the end of the Tarmac. At Summer Lodge, pass through gate and climb very steeply on loose, rocky track for 1km to rejoin road. 7. Go straight on up road and continue to climb. Cattle grid marks high point of the road. Descend for 800m then turn left onto signposted singletrack bridleway heading east across moorland towards ruined building on hilltop. After 300m fork left to traverse hillside on undulating, often indistinct and potentially soft singletrack – runs close to fence for much of its length. 8. Trail runs south past rock outcrops and then descends for 2km, initially on open grassland before joining wide track. Stay on track through gates to trail junction at SD975910 – note that track on ground deviates from bridleway on map, stay on obvious track. At junction turn right and climb gently to hamlet of Heugh. 9. Continue slightly north of west on track between dry stone walls to reach road. Turn left and descend steeply on road back to Askrigg. Turn left in village to return to start point. | |||||
| WMB138 Rhayader Moderate route | wmbsu | Jul 24th 2012, 09:34 | 34.1km |
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| Start/Finish Clive Powell’s bike shop, SN 969/679 or alternatively Elan Visitor centre SN 928/647 Total distance 35.3km (21.9 miles) Total ascent 1135m Time 2.5-5 hours Maps OS Landranger (1:50,000) No. 147 Elan Valley & Builth Wells. Or Garmin GB Discoverer 1:50K Southern England and Wales (GPS). Summary Through remote hillsides and submerged trails, down rocky descents and along the bottom and past the top of the dams. 1 From the bike shop, turn right on the B4518 road, out of town and left on Elan cycle path, then eventually turning left down to Elan Village/visitor centre. Cross the bridge and bear left through the village. Turn right at a fork as you start to climb. When you exit the trees and the gradient levels off, turn right at a fork for a big climb. Continue ahead at the top, off road. 2 Keep left on grassy descent, cross streams, following forest edge, and down to/past a farm by the reservoir, keeping left on the minor road (keep the river on your right), joining rocky track behind a barn of the next farm. Follow this all the way to the Claerwan Dam. Go right on the road here for 1km, then go left on a bridleway, steeply uphill. 3 Join a gravel road over the moor, pass a radio mast and enter the woods. Continue steeply downhill to a road by the reservoir. Turn left on the road, over the bridge and go right, then right again, through Elan village. Go up the hill again, keeping left at the fork this time. Continue on a bridleway, riding steeply uphill, over a cross tracks and then right at a junction. 4 Go left shortly on the Wye Valley Walk. Take the steep, rocky descent to a road and go right on this. Turn left at the bottom, beside the water and cross the wobbly bridge. Turn off left on a bridleway and keep ahead on this to the Elan cycle track. Turn right back to the B4518 road, then right again to Rhayader. | |||||
| WMB136.Dartmoor Classic ride | wmbsu | May 21st 2012, 11:32 | 34.4km |
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| Start/Finish Bennett’s Cross car park, SX 680/816 Total distance 34.7km (21.6 miles) Total ascent 1382m (4534 feet) Total time 3-6 hours Maps OS Landranger No.191 1:50K Okehampton and N Dartmoor, Harveys Dartmoor for Cyclists, Garmin GB Discoverer 1:25K Dartmoor and Exmoor (GPS) Summary Technically hard, with steep rocky trails and exposed moorland. 1. Pass stone cross and ride uphill on singletrack to road on left. Go over the hill, cross minor road, turn left on faint singletrack. Go through a gate, then downhill to join road. Go right at crossroads. 2. Turn left at Easdon, the trail becomes rough track. Go left on grassy climb before a gate. Turn right at the top (follow wall), bearing left on faint track (or left at a gate). Take the singletrack downhill and then right on the road, left at junction, then right on road to Manaton. 3. Turn left on bridleway in Manaton. Keep ahead then bear left at the fork – a rocky downhill (ignore the permissive bridleway). Cross the bridge, bear left at fork, follow the steep uphill and left to Foxworthy, then right by Hunters Barn. 4. At Peck Farm turn right, a steep uphill, to/through a gate at the top. Bear to the left across open grassy track. Continue along the top to a valley to the right, becoming technical, rocky downhill. 5. Go right at/before gate, past ‘Foxworthy’ bridleway. Keep right back over the bridge (you came over earlier). Follow permissive bridleway, uphill to Water, go left on the road, then right then left. At road fork, bear right for a steep climb, then right at byway at the top. 6. Continue downhill, then left through a gate. Climb uphill, before you reach very rocky downhill. Cross packhorse bridge for steep uphill to open moors. Hound Tor will be ahead of you. Go down then uphill, turning right past/alongside a wall, and take singletrack downhill to/left on the road. 7. Go right past Hound Tor car park, bear left at fork, uphill to Jay’s grave and left on bridleway. Cross the road for a grassy climb, then downhill past Grimspound, to/right on road, then uphill. 8. Go left on bridleway down to a farm and bear right, uphill, then take rocky downhill to a clearing. Turn right uphill on a wide track, continue on singletrack when wide track turns left, uphill back to the car park. | |||||
| WMB140.Lake District_Moderate Ride | wmbsu | Sep 20th 2012, 11:18 | 34.5km |
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| Start/Finish Braithwaite Police station bus stop, NY 23307 23683 Total distance 34.8km (21.6 miles) Total ascent 1405m (4610 feet) Time 3-5 hours Maps OS Explorer OL4 The Lake District: NW area and OS Explorer OL6 The Lake District: SW area, OS Landranger 90 Penrith & Keswick. Summary Something of a local classic, but with a bit of a twist – this loop has a bit of everything. 1. If using the Bike Bus, get off at the Braithwaite Police Station stop and head south west down Croft Terrace. At the end turn left then bear left. After 700m fork left to descend to bridge, then keep right at the next junction. At the T-junction next to a pub turn right to continue on road to climb to Little Town. 2. At the top of the road turn left onto bridleway for steep climb over Cat Bells (will require pushing/carrying). Carry straight on at the top to start a steep, technical descent, zigzagging near the top. Emerge on road at Manesty and turn right, following road around the southern tip of Derwent Water to join B5289. Turn left and follow road along lakeshore for 3.5km. 3. Turn sharp right up steep road, over Ashness Bridge and continue to Watendlath where the road ends. Turn right, cross the bridge and join bridleway climbing southwest. At the top stay on bridleway to descend on well-surfaced trail. After 500m fork left at bridleway junction. Rejoin B5289 at Rosthwaite, turn left and follow road to Seatoller. Ascend eastern side of Honister Pass. 4. After about 1km switch back right onto bridleway and traverse roughly northeast on obvious trail. Keep left at fork after 1km and follow bridleway past Castle Crag to Grange. Turn left on road and follow for 1.2km before turning left up steep bridleway at Manesty. 5. Fork right to join Allerdale Ramble running parallel to road up west side of Derwent Water. After 1.5km the trail dips to a road – don’t join the road – keep left to follow next stretch of trail. When the trail meets the road, turn left then immediately right. After 800m turn left at junction then next right and retrace your path to Braithwaite. | |||||
| WMB143.Surrey Hills_Classic | wmbsu | Dec 11th 2012, 02:32 | 34.8km |
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| Start/Finish: Westcott, TQ 141/486 Total distance 35.4km (22 miles) Total ascent 1060m Time 2.5-5 hours Maps OS Landranger 1:50,000 No 187 Dorking & Reigate Summary Explore the trails on all three of the famous hills, Pitch, Holmbury and Leith, plus have a quick delve into the natural trails of Ranmore Common. 1. From Nirvana Cycles continue along Balchins Lane, keeping left, then right on a bridleway to a cross tracks by a farm. Turn right, over the railway and climb uphill. Keep ahead, joining a wider track, then turn left at a cross tracks. Continue on the bridleway along the top to a road. Turn right on the road then left on the bridleway. Turn left onto a bridleway just before a cross tracks with forest track. Descend Hackhurst Downs. 2. After the railway and farm, turn left on the bridleway into the woods. Turn right at cross tracks to go over the A25, passing a farm. Turn right at the end of the road, you’re now in Sutton Abinger. Turn right just past a pub, to and then left on the B2126. Take the first right, Radnor Lane, past the YHA. Keep ahead on the bridleway, ignoring a track then bridleway on your left. Take the track just past this at a slight clearing. 3. Continue uphill before turning left over the (Radnor) road by the clearing/worksite. Join the well-worn singletrack of Golden Birdies aka Barry Knows Best. Join the road, right, into Peaslake. For a loop around Pitch Hill, (when looking at the Pedal & Spoke bike shop), take the steep Tarmac track up the right-hand side and keep ahead off-road. 4. Look for the trails/riders either side. Curly Wurly is on your right as you climb, the start of which is right at the cross tracks at the top, then off on a singletrack to your right just a short way along. Back down in Peaslake go right by Peaslake stores then left on Radnor Road. Continue uphill then left on dead end. Turn right on a bridleway. 5. Keep ahead at all the cross tracks, bear left at T-junction, to cross-tracks. Go hard right on bridleway, uphill, and second right at multiple cross tracks, to car park. Go left past the metal barriers, right at fork, to viewpoint and left on forest track. Parklife is on the right after about 150m, on a faint track into the undergrowth. Keep right at the fork, and follow this trail to a forest track at the end. 6. Go right, over a cross tracks then bear left on singletrack underneath the telegraph lines (Telegraph road), bearing right off it, near the end, on a sandy singletrack as the trail opens up. This trail (Mutiny) drops downhill and then bear left to the B2126 road, then left on Pasture Wood Road at Holmbury St Mary, then join the Greensand Way on right, off-road all the way to Leith Hill tower. 7. Head past the tower on the wide track, downhill, past the cricket ground, then look for a track on the left which leads you to the start of the Summer Lightening trail (signposted). If you miss it, it is also accessible from Wolverns Lane (the byway, from the pub), then left on the bridleway. Follow this trail, joining a wider track (byway), downhill and look out for a bridleway on the right (easy to miss at speed). Keep right at a drive, to the A25 road and go right on this back to Westcott. | |||||
| WMB140.Lake District_Classic Ride | wmbsu | Sep 20th 2012, 11:13 | 37.9km |
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| Start/Finish Rydal Church, NY365062 Total distance 38.7km (24 miles) Total ascent 1545m (5000ft) Time 5-7 hours Maps OS Explorer OL4 The Lake District: NW area and OS Explorer OL6 The Lake District: SW area, OS Landranger 90 Penrith & Keswick. Summary Spectacular point-to-point techfest with bonus hike-a-bikes. 1. If using the Bike Bus, get off at the Rydal Church bus stop north of Ambleside. From there, head south towards Ambleside on the A591 for 250m before turning right over a small humpback bridge and then immediately right again onto a lane and over a cattle grid. Continue to a car park, follow the track past the car park heading west. Climb on a stony track through woodland to a gate. 2. Fork right after the gate to descend to the shores of Rydal Water. Follow the bridleway alongside (and briefly in...) the lake and up Loughrigg Terrace to a road. Turn left, continue for 100m then fork right and descend past a Youth Hostel. Keep right on the lane to emerge on the B5343 at Walthwaite. Turn right and follow the road for 3km to New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. 3. Go up the drive and past the hotel to pick up bridleway heading initially northwest from behind the hotel before running alongside a wall, roughly parallel to road, to Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Continue on wider bridleway up Mickleden, climbing gradually alongside the river. The trail gradually steepens towards the head of valley. 4. At trail junction (NY261074) fork left and cross a bridge to climb steeply alongside Rossett Gill – intermittently rideable but with extensive pushing and carrying. The path zigzags through crags and outcrops towards a high point under Rossett Pike. 5. Follow the trail for a short descent to pass north of Angle Tarn before climbing again to Tongue Head and then to Esk Hause and the high point of the ride. On the map the trail goes straight on, on the ground it’s a very slight right and then left at the trail junction. 6. Descend on often technical and tricky trail northwest past Sprinkling Tarn to junction above Sty Head (NY219095). Turn right to head northeast, with Great Gable to your left and Seathwaite Fell to your right, along loose track. 7. Pass to west of Styhead Tarn and continue alongside Styhead Gill. Keep right, crossing to the south side of stream (avoid footpath that forks left) and tackle steep stone-pitched descent to Stockley Bridge. 8. After the bridge turn left and follow the track north to join Tarmac at Seathwaite. Continue on road to Seatoller, turn left through village (refreshments available) to ascend steep eastern side of Honister Pass. 9. After about 1km switch back right onto a bridleway and traverse roughly northeast on obvious trail. Keep left at fork after 1km and follow bridleway past Castle Crag to Grange. Turn left on road and follow for 1.2km before turning left up steep bridleway at Manesty. Fork right to join Allerdale Ramble running parallel to road up the west side of Derwent Water. 10. After 1.5km the trail dips to a road – don’t join the road – keep left to follow the next stretch of trail. When the trail meets the road, turn left and then immediately sharp right. After 800m turn right again. 11. Follow the road for 2km through Portinscale then turn right – road is signposted National Cycle Network route 71 (and dead end for cars). Continue to follow NCN signs over bridge and along track to junction with B5289. Turn right onto road (take care) and follow to Keswick town centre and the end of the ride. | |||||
| WMB141.Isle of Wight_Classic Ride | wmbsu | Oct 9th 2012, 11:20 | 38.3km |
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| Start/Finish Cheverton Farm, SZ 458/844 Total distance 38.6km (24 miles) Total ascent 1015m Time 3-6 hours Maps OS Landranger (1:50K) No.196 The Solent and Isle of Wight or Explorer (1:25K) OL29: Isle of Wight. Summary Classic Isle of Wight mountain bike ride, with wonderful views, hills, hidden trails and added bonus of the new Chevy Chase trail. 1. Follow the Chevy Chase trail away from the farmhouse, for a whole lap to return to the farm. Turn right on the road, then left on concrete track, uphill, bearing to the left of the radar mast, along the top. Look for a bridleway on the right after entering scattered trees. 2. Follow the bridleway downhill, keeping right, and turn left after a farm, to a road. Go right then left on bridleway, uphill, and keep ahead at cross tracks, becoming trail in tunnel of trees. At the road turn left (Froglands lane), bearing right down to B3323. Go right then left on Nodgham lane. Look for a sharp left onto the Tennyson Trail off here. 3. Keep ahead, uphill then downhill to a wide cross tracks and turn right, past barrier and immediately right at fork. Turn left off this track on singletrack after right bend. Go downhill, over road and back uphill, crossing straight over cross tracks. Bear left at the top, through a gate. 4. Bear right down to a gate and follow the sunken grassy track downhill to the left, through a gate and over the road. Keep right on the chalky doubletrack steeply uphill, becoming worn grassy track at the top. Follow the doubletrack through the golf course. Turn right at the fork near the bottom. 5. Bear left, downhill, then turn right on track before the clubhouse, and join Pilgrims Way bridleway, (heading east). Keep ahead contouring the hillside, then along the treeline. Keep right at T-junction, becoming better track to a road. 6. Go over the road, then right at fork just past the barrier, uphill, right at the top, through a gate to the cross tracks. Turn left this time, uphill, through gate at the top for a fast, open descent to Strawberry Lane car park at the bottom. 7. Go right on the road, then immediately left off it, on stony doubletrack uphill. Keep straight ahead, past viewpoint. Shortly past the lone barn rejoin the Chevy Chase trail (signposted) on the left. Ride the Devil’s Spine section again, and ride the alternative end to the trail you rode before, back to the finish. | |||||
| WMB144.The South Downs_Classic | wmbsu | Jan 14th, 11:54 | 39.9km |
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| Start/Finish Stanmer Park, TQ337/096 Total distance 40.2km (25 miles) Total ascent 1100m (3609ft) Time 3-5 hours Map OS Landranger 1:50K No.198 Brighton & Lewes Summary Explore the forgotten valleys of the Downs, the steep north escarpments and the twisty woodland singletrack of Stanmer Park. 1 Exit Stanmer Park and turn left, joining the cycle path past/over the university entrance, beside the A27. Take the slip road, go over roundabout on cycle path to Falmer. Turn right on road then right opposite Swan, over A27, join Park Street, keeping ahead, past the pond then ahead off-road when the road turns right. 2 Continue uphill, beside road, becoming a better track. Go through gate and head left away from the road. Bear right by a wood, then left through a gate and turn right on South Downs Way (SDW), to doubletrack and turn right, off the SDW. After 200m turn left through a gate, head downhill, through gate at the bottom and left, the track improves past old barns, to crosstracks by few trees. 3 Turn and keep right on bridleway, following a gradual climb, bearing right then left, to T-junction at the top. Turn left past radar mast and houses then keep left at a fork. Continue downhill to and then left on road. Follow the road right then bear off left at fork on farm track, then shortly bear right off this onto a smaller track. 4 Continue uphill to a farm track past farm building. Keep ahead, leaving the good track that bears right, on the SDW. Bear left and keep left/high along the top, with a drop to your right. Continue through a gate, then take a right at a fork, heading downhill. Continue to Kingston near Lewes. 5 Cross over the road, then cross field then over the A27, following Tarmac right, then left at end of Jubilee Park on a bridleway, between houses and railway. Turn right at end on road, cross the A277, keep right at fork to continue on bridleway before a sharp right between fields and houses then left at end of fields. Keep left uphill on the bridleway. 6 Continue uphill past stables, under power lines. As trees get closer on your right near the top, look for small bridleway entrance into trees down the slope on the left. Take the singletrack behind Blackcap Hill down to and then left on farm track. Go back uphill to the top and then right through a gate, uphill on SDW to the road by Ditchling Beacon. 7 Turn right on singletrack before the road heading downhill. Turn right on the road at the bottom (or left and left at crossroads to do the famous road climb). Go right at crossroads in Westmeston, becoming off-road, uphill and then head right at the top, back to Ditchling Road. Cross road, through car park, for 0.3km then take second bridleway on the left, downhill. 8 Go left at fork after 1km where the track narrows and fades, crossing Ditchling Road and turning right in trees. Follow the singletrack trail parallel to Ditchling Road, then take the A27 to Great Wood. There are lots of trails through these woods, but keep ahead to emerge back at the main entrance and car park to Stanmer Park. | |||||
| WMB145.Queen Elizabeth Country Park_Classic | wmbsu | Feb 4th, 02:54 | 43.2km |
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| Start/Finish Queen Elizabeth Country Park, SU719185 Total distance 43km (26.7 miles) Total ascent 1160m (3800 ft) Total time 3.5-5 hours Summary Plenty of hills, both up and down, in this big downland loop that mixes purpose-built trails and bridleways 1. From the Queen Elizabeth Country Park visitor centre head south, leaving the centre to your left, and follow the road as it swings left and begins to climb. At first switchback left, carry straight on past picnic area on forest track. Fork right when track splits, following South Downs Way signs. Descend to a car park and continue straight on, initially on Tarmac and then on track. 2. At Coulters Dean Farm (SU749195) turn left onto bridleway (leaving South Downs Way) and climb through woodland. After 1km turn left, following bridleway, to descend to track. Turn right, then next left to descend steeply on loose, flinty trail. At the bottom, continue straight on along valley bottom (may be muddy). After 500m turn left onto bridleway, climbing to edge of woods. Turn sharp left on track (straight on leads to private house). 3. After 800m turn left on track through hamlet of Eckensfield. Follow bridleway to track at SU771171. Turn left onto track between fields, through Hucksholt Farm to join road. Go straight on along road, and take the first fork right onto a smaller road. Keep left at the next fork, then turn left onto bridleway across grassland. Follow the trail parallel to a road, initially on open hillside then in woodland. 4. After descending briefly, turn left onto bridleway in narrow strip of trees between fields, descending eventually to road at SU768133. Turn right on road, then next left. After 500m turn right onto bridleway descending through trees. At trail junction, bear slightly left to descend more steeply to road. Cross road to join minor road opposite, climbing for 1km. Turn right onto track, then after 300m right again onto bridleway, descending steeply to road. 5. Cross road to join bridleway opposite, climbing across field to woods. Follow bridleway to descend to Stoughton (and pub). At Stoughton turn right then immediately left onto wide bridleway climbing very steeply southeast. As climb levels out, take bridleway to left across to Kingley Vale and Bow Hill. 6. Continue across hilltop, leaving ancient grave mounds to your right to re-enter woods. At trail junction after 1km either continue straight on along bridleway or turn left on bridleway then quickly right along trail to downhill course – both routes emerge at the same place. Turn right on track along the valley bottom, climbing along edge of woodland to join road at Chilgrove. 7. Turn left on road and continue for 800m before turning right onto bridleway, eventually emerging opposite Royal Oak pub. Turn left on road for 200m then turn right onto bridleway, climbing north to lane at SU812169. Follow lane for 1km past Telegraph House then fork left on bridleway, climbing then descending to join South Downs Way at Harting Down. 8. Turn left to follow trail to car park and road. Cross road to join a bridleway opposite, descending through woods to next road. Cross road again to bridleway opposite, following South Downs Way signs back to car park at eastern edge of Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Climb track from car park and either retrace earlier path back to the visitor centre or bear left to pick up final descent on the Red trail. | |||||
| WMB137 Cranborne Chase Dorset_Classic Route | wmbsu | Jun 28th 2012, 09:05 | 55.7km |
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| Start/Finish Shaftesbury ST 869233 Total distance 55.8km (34.7 miles) Total ascent 258m (4127ft) Time 4-6 hours Maps OS Landranger (1:50 000) 183 Yeovil & Frome, OS Landranger 184 Salisbury & The Plain, OS Explorer (1:25 000) 118 Shaftesbury & Cranborne Chase. Or Garmin GB Discoverer 1:50K Southern England & Wales (GPS) Summary A substantial ride on little-used trails with a mixture of open downland and wooded trails. 1 Start either from the small car park at the edge of the trading estate or on Wincombe Lane itself. Follow steps 1-4 of the Moderate route. 2 Turn right and follow the road for about 3km to Ludwell. Cross A30 and climb on Tarmac. Continue straight over at crossroads. After 2.5km take bridleway left opposite an airfield. At road turn right then fork left through a gate onto bridleway. Go through a gate, carry straight on then left at junction and descend to a gravel track. 3 Turn left and follow the track along the valley for 2km to a junction at the edge of woods. Turn left and climb. Carry straight on to descend to junction. Turn right then immediately left. Climb then descend, bearing left at corner of woods. After 1km turn left to meet road at Ashmore Farm. 4 Turn right, then right in Ashmore to head north, then first right again. At junction join bridleway directly opposite. Turn right on road then left on bridleway after 400m. Descend to Tollard Royal, turn left then left again onto wide track. At road go straight over to descend on bridleway through trees. At junction turn right and right again to climb back to ridge on Tarmac. 5 At junction turn left then fork left onto dirt track. After 300m turn left between fields and descend to road. Turn right. After 1.5km turn right up a lane. At junction turn right along ridge track. Rejoin the road after 2km. Continue on road for just under 2km until road swings right and descends. 6 Continue along track to Win Green Hill. Cross cattle grid, past car park and then right through gate into a field. Descend to left of fence to the road. Cross road to bridleway. 7 At road turn left then second right to meet A30 opposite church. Cross over to road opposite (slightly to right). Take second left and climb on lane then track. At top turn left then straight on at crossroads. Follow track back to start point. | |||||
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