Lee Quarry / Pennine Bridleway / Crag Quarry Linking Route

ClimbBoy

Hi

Have read a few times that there is a route linking up Crag Quarry/ Pennine Bridleway to Lee Quarry and it was meant to be finished March 2010

Is it?

Also, where on the PB does it go from?

I often park up at Watergrove reservoir and head west twds Rooley Moor so would love the idea of going from there to LQ

Big congratulations to the trail builders/ designers at LQ

Went there yesterday and it's great

Going again tomorrow too

stumpyjon

I don't think they'll be working on the link for a good couple of months, might even be the Autumn. They've just finished in Lee Quarry and are due to start (if they haven't already) in Cragg Quarry.

AdrianW

They have been working on cragg quarry for a few weeks already, had a nose last weekend as I was passing on the PBW.

I ride over from littleborough via watergrove as well so at the moment cragg quarry is the easier of the two as you don't have to drop all the way down to climb up again like you do to LQ it'll be great once the link road is completed

homers_double

Sup fellow borough boy, I live up Shore, you probably ride past my house to get to watergrove.

Which is Cragg Quarry, the one over brown wardle way?

AdrianW

being a fellow Shore resident I probably do ride past your house unless I live higher up than you of course, anyway Cragg Quarry is much further over up Rooley Moor road here's the location

deadsetgav

Ah - I live up Shore too!

Went to Lee Quarry for the first time last week. Have been trying to suss out a viable there route passed Watergrove looking at google maps.

deadsetgav

*viable route there* even.

AdrianW

seems as though Shore is a popular place for bikers to live, just waiting for my next door but one neighbour to be along...

As far as the route goes I tend to go up the gravel track to Wardle, then the farm track that starts at the turning circle to the bottom of the concessionary bridlepath, up to the golf course,over and down through Healey Dell, through Prickshaw and up Rooley Moor road then at the moment left to Cragg or drop down to Stacksteads and back up to Lee Quarry

deadsetgav

How far is that then, and how long does it take?

AdrianW

It's probably around 10 miles, how long it takes depends on the wind and how good your legs are, an easier route is once you get to whitworth (going down the rake from the golf course) stick to the road up through facit and shawforth and down newline, but that takes away the cobbley pleasure of rooley moor road

homers_double

So where do you buggers live then? I'm not going to post house numbers etc on an open forum but I live about 20 yards away from the war memorial which was on the old mill site.

I also lived in the large white stone house overlooking the estate which was the former mill managers house.

Some of that is pretty much the reverse of my friday night route home, but cut up from the dell via healey stones, up to the golf club, bear right along the bridleway and down to Watergrove back up through the life for a life plantation (which in the coming years will make for excellent singltrack) and follow the bridleway to the farm. Then drop down behind my house.

homers_double

Also, what bikes do you ride, I might have seen you about.

deadsetgav

Without posting street/housenumber

I turn off Shore road just before the village shop... I've got a blue Cannondale F6 hardtail.

I've never ventured past Watergrove towards Healey, I always end up either going back up the rocky path back towards Calderbrook or head up Ramsden Rd and cut across the tops to Gordon Riggs.

I probably should get round to having a look that way.

homers_double

I rode up your street on Tuesday evening about 9.30 with full on night riding lights blazing.

Have you ever done the route past the Summit pub? Head up the bridleway and follow your nose ending up near the Moorcock, then up the side of what used to be the Nook and keep going and going and eventually you'll end up near the overflow at the lake. Thats not a bad little 10 miler from where we are.

deadsetgav

No - I've come down to Summit from Blackstone Edge past Higher Chelburn reservoir though - is that where you mean?

Did a nice little 10 mile run last night - up Blackstone Edge road to the Whitehouse, down the dirt road, then off B E Old Road up towards Whittaker golf course before dropping down onto the lake for a pint at the Wine Press!

homers_double

Probably, the one that runs alongside the animal sanctuary?

And thats the run I mean, spits you out at the overflow on the lake.

deadsetgav

I'm not sure then.

I do remember midway between the Summit pub and the Moorcock the route was really quite steep and rocky, and at one point I just avoided sailing over the handlebars, only to forcefully rest my bollocks on the frame, To add insult to injury, the back wheel came clean off and tapped me on the back of the head.

I haven't been down that route since, but I do now often check that the 'quick release' back wheel isn't quite that quick to release.

I'm still a noob at this you see!

homers_double

I'm sorry to say that I did laugh a little bit at that.

deadsetgav

So did I.... once the swelling had gone down.

AdrianW

I'm towards the bottom of Shore Road, mostly riding Scott Spark but I also sometimes head out on the road bike.
I use to mainly ride mid week during the day but as I've stumbled back into full time employment this week I'm going to have to start getting out in the evenings.

This is one of my fav local afternoon 3 lake loops

homers_double

That lInks pretty much all of the decent local trails.

deadsetgav

That looks a pretty decent ride.

Its about point 10 near the reservoir where I nearly swapped gender. I've ridden most of that at some point except the bits around 18 / 19.

Must have a look down there.

AdrianW

well that was a great weekend of local riding, even seem to have some strange tan lines, maybe we should make an effort for a Shore road day out

deadsetgav

Yeah.

Weather was kind to us. I got lost up a hill at the back of Watergrove...

homers_double

I got loast in a sea of pollyfilla, paint and sandpaper.

Bad times.

Got out last night though. 10 miler in the dark, SWEEEET!

deadsetgav

How does the whole 'dark riding' thing work?

Can you see much with the lights or do you just like the danger?

homers_double

My LED's chuck out around 1700 lumens and from my house can light up a road (going up to the farms behind the estate) about 150m away, so yes you can see. Obviously not as well in the day and you field of vision is somewhat restricted to the pool your lights throw out.

Night riding is just one more way of doing it I suppose.

deadsetgav

Less walkers / joggers to bump into I guess...

homers_double

Yes, but the eyes are all out to get you!

deadsetgav

Haha - thats got to be a bit spooky, does it help keep your speed up?

AdrianW

I was almost decapitated by a late night dog walker on my ride tonight, those long dog leads can be dangerous when owners don't pay attention, but of course it was all my fault...