Trail centre for beginner 1-2 hours from West Yorks

mac_man

But... Not Gisburn Forest. (Been already)

My Mrs is just getting into mountain biking and I fancy a trip away from Calderdale this weekend. I'm looking for somewhere that'll be easy enough on her but will give me the opportunity to try something more technical should I fancy it.

Somewhere with some nice flowing singletrack would be great as I don't want to put her off.

Or should we not bother and just stay where we are... it's not as if we're short changed in Calderdale

trailspirit

Grizedale North Face Trail - can be wet ( it's in the Lakes - but it aint muddy even if it is wet - Mrs.mac man might have to push a few sections, but not many if she's half proficient, otherwise there are loads and loads and loads of forest roads she could ride while you do the North Face.
Best Tip - park at Moor Top and avoid the Car Park fees from the Grizedale Centre - the downhill singletrack from there to the Centre is probably the best newbie-ish friendly singletrack on the North Face. After you go through the Centre things get a bit more techy and physically demanding but Mrs.mac man could then stick to forest roads and meet you at convienient points where North Face crosses forest road.
Also, in the second half of North Face, there are some really long non-tech. forest road bits, that join the singletrack together - ideal to have a nice bit of the ride as a couple
North Face took me an hour and fifteen from Moor Top back to Moor Top - I'm not especially technically proficient ( 6/7 out of 10? ) but am quite fit - if that's any help as a guide? Cheers, and enjoy!!

mac_man

thanks trailspirit... sounds ideal.

surrpaul

Newmillerdam is supposed to be good. I've never been but I hear it's a country park, and realistically isnt that far from Calderdale. Here:

http://www.moredirt.co.uk/trail//Newmil ... rails/773/

I took a ride out to Stainburn near Otley/Harrogate on tuesday and thats definitely not for the faint hearted I.e don't take the missus!

bluechair84

The Pennine trail is my regular - especially the section near the Stanedge trail (A 640 down to Marsden). All of that Bridleway is fairly simple going but with the odd mile of technical stuff as the part mentioned.
I'm yet to take my other half on the techy stuff but we've done a loop around Bleakedgate Moor which is descent. Let me know if you want any more precise directions.

Rich25

bluechair84 wrote:

The Pennine trail is my regular - especially the section near the Stanedge trail (A 640 down to Marsden). All of that Bridleway is fairly simple going but with the odd mile of technical stuff as the part mentioned.
I'm yet to take my other half on the techy stuff but we've done a loop around Bleakedgate Moor which is descent. Let me know if you want any more precise directions.

That is quite local to me mate. I've tried coming off New Hey Road to Marsden but must have picked the wrong route as it was a bit pant. It was past Cupwith reservoir. Where is that Bleakedgate route?
cheers

bluechair84

If you carry on West from Cupwith Res it's the next bridleway past March Haigh Res, it's dead close to where you were. From there you see that there is a split in the bridleway both heading south / south East Take the one which goes down to Marsden, the other was Standedge. Use the A62 to climb back up to Standedge and go back North to the A640.

Or go North up to the J22 on the M62 you will see Windy Hill on the A672 there's a big carpark there (not listed on OS). You can go North on Pennine Way up to Dick Slack (the greatest name I've ever found on an OS map ) to the Roman Road. Go West down that, keep on the single track that gradually takes you back south and work your way back to the carpark at Windy Hill howevr you please.

And, you coul cross the A62, you can continue south on Standedge Way and do a loop around Wessenden Moor taking in Butterly Reservoir and Kirklees Way.

Beware, Standedge and Blackstones are boulder fields that are insanely tricky to navigate. Both the descents are fast and quite techy.

Might do this ride Sunday 12th if you're interested?

Rich25

cheers for that info mate much appreciated.working for next three weekends but ill post on here when free