Wharncliff woods info

Rich25

Planning on popping down there 2mora. Could anyone provide some info for me please. Are the decent trails hard to find and what exactly is there? I know there is an xc route but that looks a bit tame. What are the downhills like? Cheers in advance

supersonic

Have a look at this page and the maps:

http://www.wharncliffe.info/

Downhill sections are short, but steep, and a couple very rocky with some decent drops.

Thing with Wharnclife is you can make up your own route, a lot of trails in a compact area. Don't miss the crag top single track for a swoopy technical XC blast. It is as hard or easy as you want it to be.

sniper68

There's some 5/6 foot drop offs on the easiest DH(the one we do)but you can ride around them.,On the No-Humanz DH its rumoured theres a 10 footer :shock: Full armour needed on No-Humanz.Theres also rumour of a 15 foot drop off,although i've never seen it(its off piste in Greno woods apparently).The XC trail s ok in the dry.All the DHs run between 2 fire-roads then its a push back up or a ride from the pylon on the bottom Fire-road.Only 1 DH is marked ,with a NO-ENTRY(walk up) sign to the right of the start.All the DHs run to the right of the marked up one,just look for gaps in the trees,some are taped to show the way down.
There's been a load of voluntary repairs/building but don't expect a trail centre.

supersonic

I've seen vids of a drop that looked like 15-20 ft in Wharny, but depends where you hit the landing slope, as was a sheer drop followed by a sloped run out.

sniper68

That might be it 8) Even the small ones look massive if you see the run-outs,i'm too old and don't have the Kahunas any more

UncleMonty

me and few mates went on Saturday for the first time, followed the red route for about mile before getting totaly lost, never saw any black markers, we spent most of our time on the fire roads which was a bit of a waste really, next time I'm just gunna go exploring

sniper68

UncleMonty wrote:

me and few mates went on Saturday for the first time, followed the red route for about mile before getting totaly lost, never saw any black markers, we spent most of our time on the fire roads which was a bit of a waste really, next time I'm just gunna go exploring

There are no black markers anymore!!They were all removed as the old black(XC) route is no more.The new XC route is marked,but is only about a mile long!the DHs and crags route aren't marked.Its best to go with someone who has some knowledge.I've been going in there years and still find new stuff.
If you go when its not busy you can ride past all the DHs without knowing.As i said before its not a trailcentre 8)

Rich25

UncleMonty wrote:

me and few mates went on Saturday for the first time, followed the red route for about mile before getting totaly lost, never saw any black markers, we spent most of our time on the fire roads which was a bit of a waste really, next time I'm just gunna go exploring

That's it mate there is nothing worse.I remem the first time I went to Chopwell and just rode around like a numpty until I found someone to ask.Hence I was after some local knowledge!

Johnny Napalm

I'm usually up there every weekend, as I don't live too far away. It's like Ibbo has stated, it's easy to miss a lot of the routes as they are not marked.

The DH are rideable without having to risk too much, but on the other hand, those DH sections are more than suitable for anyone with the balls to throw themselves down those sections at speed.

As Supersonic mentioned, the rocky Crags are always fun, and again, you can ride them at whatever pace you desire. One of my mates rides down there at a frightening speed, but it's a tough fall if you do happen to crash there...there's no give in those rocks!

Personally, I try to ride everything there, but I'm like Ibbo in the respect that I do it at my own pace, rather than Peaty-style. I'm too old and scared for that nowadays!

A word of warning though, a lot of the routes are extremely muddy, and I don't think that it's been dry all year. The ground gets saturated, and there is nowehere for the water to go.

UncleMonty

thanks for the info

we were in a rush, you know how it is, we'll give it another go and take our time, keep a look out for trails n stuff

Johnny Napalm

I was up there last night, and it was a lovely clear night. The ground was frozen (very little mud), and the frost made it look very seasonal.

I even saw a man on a wheeled sled, being pulled around the fire tracks by approx. 6 Huskie dogs. Not something I've ever seen before at night in the woods...or in the day, for that matter !

willy b

I went up there for only teh second time a coupl eof weeks agao, quite bad to say i have lived in Sheffield for about 1 and a bit years lol.

It was very fun, sooo muddy! some sections were quite a challenge to ride. Then came the DHs, they were seriously cool! Oer Christmas when i get my car back again i shall be going to play up there a lot more i think.

But agree, as people said, very easy to get loast, which i did!

supersonic

If get lost, aim upwards and for the radio mast(s). Then follow either the road or track back to the carpark!

I live about 2-3km from the start of the trail which is a 600ft climb straight out of my front door! Nice coming back though ;-)

Johnny Napalm

supersonic wrote:

I live about 2-3km from the start of the trail which is a 600ft climb straight out of my front door! Nice coming back though ;-)

It's the same for me too, Super. I love that climb up to Wharncliffe. It's quite a climb, but it's a great start to the ride. Do you go up through Springwood and Greno?

supersonic

Three routes I take, depending on which bit of Wharny I want to start at! Usually do the road route up Hallwood road, towards Wortley, up Bank Lane past the farm then start high up on the estate. Or go up Bracken hill, through Greno woods straight up to the big radio mast. Or the same as you if starting at the car park!

Johnny Napalm

I sometimes do the Bank Rd route too...like you say, depends on where you want to start.

supersonic

Usually I finish right at the North end, so drop out onto Finkle Street lane, cross the main road then sail down Howbrook Lane - had 50mph down there!

johnsav

50mph!? :shock:

i got nearly 40 once and poo'd myself

Johnny Napalm

I'm not sure what the fastest I've ever been is...never measured it.

supersonic

John, this is the road that runs next to Wharncliffe:



I've had close to 50 down this too, is crazy long and steep!

Jonny, you'll know it as Jawbone Hill ;-)

Johnny Napalm

Jawbone is fun!