cut gate recommendation?

gaz047

hi, im doing cut gate in a few days (parking at mam tor) and was wondering whether i was best to descend the left (the one that passes just to the right of hingcliff hill) or righthand bridleway (heading ne) at the junction on mickledon edge ( towards langsett reservoir). ill be doing an out and back ride, so any recommendations on which of these to climb on the way back would also be greatly appreciated
cheers
gaz

sniper68

We always descend the left(SA)you could be doing 25mph+ when you get to the junction so the ride flows better then cut across past North America ruin and climb up the other BW.Either way is good,but going down past Highcliffe Hill is faster 8)
Be aware that the top of Margery Hill will be very boggyif there's been a few days of rain.We were up there the week before last and it was the driest i've seen it since 2005!!
We tend to start from Langsett because its only 10 mins from me plus you don't have the boring plod around the shore of Ladybower,unless we decide we need a cuppa

gaz047

hi ibbo, nice one for that mate much appreciated. im doing it monday so hopefully it won't p*ss it down too much before then! might just grab a cuppa on the way back!
thanks again
gaz

sniper68

Enjoy mate,wet or dry it really is a classic,it'll be quiet when on Cutgate/Mickledon being a week day 8) The climb from Slippery stones at the top of Ladybower/howden reservoir up Cranberry clough is a slog.
Once you ford a stream and get to the bottom of the climb you have 2 options,left and right(SA)take the right option as the left is steps They both end up at the same place a few hundred Yards up 8) see photo here:

LINK
Yes really is that steep

Mickledon edge here:
LINK
This is where the junction is,behind the sign on the left,which is why we go staight down 8)

gaz047

quality pics ibbo, that looks like a cheeky climb!! i plotted my route on memory map earlier and when looking at the profile thought thats one steep climb!! thanks for the tip for the climb up cranberry clough
i can see why you go straight at the junction on mickledon edge looks mint!!
can't wait till monday 8)
are those pics from your recent trip ?

sniper68

They were last year when it was boggy.Done it 5 times this year,twice in the snow,once wet and the last time dry as a bone and once as a night ride.Quality trail.

gaz047

cool. can't wait till tomorow, ill let you know how it goes

Cheshley

I have often looked at the Cut Gate trail in magazine articles and it's always included in a ride rated as 'hard', but what exactly is hard about it? I have ridden around Langsett a few times and have walked a way along Cut Gate to see what it was like and it just looked like a normal trail. Is it the length of the ride or is there something further along that I've not seen? I'm looking to take a couple of mates out on an all day ride, they are both complete novices and aren't embarrassed about pushing up the climb out of the top of Slippery Stones, so would this ride be too much for a novice???

(Sorry to hijack)

Ta

sniper68

Depends,personally i think it'd be ok,just go as fast/slow as you/they feel comfortable.The descent down to slippery stones is steepish and can be a bit sketchy at speed and if you miss the left hand turn and go down the steps its got "over the bars if inexperienced"written all over it The ruts from Margery hill to Cranberry Clough(after the flagstones) are dodgy in the wet.There's been a lot of repairs that've made some sections flow better.After a few days of heavy rain its just a bog and best avoided.
Personally i'd rate it as medium.Then again if you come off blasting down Mickledon edge at 25+mph and you go over the edge it is gonna hurt 8)
A lot has to do with the trail conditions,in the wet it can be a real slog.At night in snowy conditions its very interesting 8)In the dry its just fast and furious 8)
Give it a go.

gaz047

well ibbo i did cut gate today and had great run out. i started at edale and went via jaggers clough to crookstone bar then descended (not done this descent before :P loved it, good technical run) (sa) and then turning right at the a57. following the a57 i then turned left up to fairholmes and then crossed over to the east side of ladybower before heading north upto cut gate.
it looked steep in the photo and certainly didn't disapoint, hard work!!. the descent from mickledon edge down to langsett ruled 8) (good call going sa!).s the drop back to derwent was well worth the climb earlier with plenty to keep me on my toes.
from here i followed the bw/road round the west side of derwent/ladybower until i turned right up a bw to hagg farm (this is a mint descent btw, but today it was a climb before dropping back to the a57 via rowlee farm.
the wheels pointed up again through blackley clough (another good descent ) before turning right back at crookstone bar, descending pretty much all the way to edale .
thanks ibbo for your recommendataions mate 8) had a great day out
time - 4h 06m (moving time)
dist - 33.8m
ascent - 1532mtrs

no worries about the hijack cheshley (you forum terrorist ) definatley worth giving this one a shot, your mates can get off and go round any bits they don't fancy, theres still plenty of good riding to be had (and some great views too!)

sniper68

gaz047 wrote:

well ibbo i did cut gate today and had great run out. i started at edale and went via jaggers clough to crookstone bar then descended (not done this descent before :P loved it, good technical run) (sa) and then turning right at the a57

The rocky twisty on through the woods?Thats the Beast of Hope cross,Top descent.Then at the A57 if you'd gone straight up to hagg farm(tough rocky climb) it would have brought you to the top of the Rowlee farm track.Then you could have done this in reverse:-

from here i followed the bw/road round the west side of derwent/ladybower until i turned right up a bw to hagg farm (this is a mint descent btw, but today it was a climb

Which is Suicide Brake descent 8)
Always next time,Glad you enjoyed it mate.

elPedro666

This sounds like a great ride! Just moved to Manc so need to do some more riding around this way, think I might have to steal lots of bits of this ride, cheers!

gaz047

see what you mean mate, ill do that next time 8) that was a beast of a descent !
hi pedro, theres loads of cool riding to be had in the peak mate try these to help you get started
www.bikemaps.co.uk
or just get an os map (OL1 the peak district, the dark peak) and go explore

elPedro666

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=

This sounds promising for Thursday!

gaz047

nice one pedro, hope this weather holds out for you, although you'll have a blast anyway. if you've not ridden here before just take plenty of layers with you, as your pretty exposed up there (sunny yesterday but still chilly due to the wind.)
have a good un and let us know how you get on.....

elPedro666

I bought OL1 & went for an explore last week - the wind was awsome, I pedalled across the top of Rushup, slightly downhill, at 5mph, rubbish! Great descent after crossing onto the stony track (and into shelter) though. Cave Dale was a bit brutal too :oops:

Great day's riding - looking forward to having a really good poke around this Summer!

elPedro666

...and cheers for the link!

sniper68

elPedro666 wrote:

Cave Dale was a bit brutal too :oops:

Cavedale....my nemesis :roll: Really need to try it in the dry...at least i'll have a chance of cleaning it then 8)

elPedro666

I do hope you mean down...

When is it likely to be dry - it's a stream! Maybe that's just how it looked...

Might give it another try tomorrow if we end up that way, then if I clear it rigid with Vs you can clean my bike for a month

gaz047

can anyone give us a gr for cavedale, or a description of where it is, don't think i've done this descent before, just seen it on you tube, looks tricky 8)
pedro - know what you mean about the wind, had a head wind pretty much all the way to langsett the other day, bummer, but 8) with it behind me on the way back

cheers gaz

elPedro666

From the bottom, Cavedale runs up out of Castleton past Peveril Castle - I'll get a grid reference laater if I can...

elPedro666

Looks like about 149 825 on OL1 to me... It is named on the map just South of Castleton though.

sniper68

It runs in the gorge directly beneath Peveril Castle and comes out bang in the centre of Castleton.It starts at GR SK13535 81313,starts of as a track through a field and ends up as a real rockfest 8)

When is it likely to be dry - it's a stream! Maybe that's just how it looked...

In summer is dry as dry,its just a natural outlet for water after wet spells...and its bloody slippery when wet

gaz047

thanks fellas, will have to give it a bash next time i get chance (its not titled on memory map but is on the os map)

elPedro666

ibbo68 wrote:

...and its bloody slippery when wet

You're telling me... :shock:

sniper68

If the nettles after the gate don't get you the wet Limestone will One of the lads actually fell off at speed on the last little slab near the gate right at the bottom