Help plan my week up North - Please help

shaunlfc1

Howdy,

I am planning a week or so up North (live on Sussex coast) for a weeks riding. Basically I will be van camping and enjoying the freedom of going where I want when I want.

So far my list of rides include:(mainly sourced from a magazine)

I will be using a proper map, but also have Memory Map to help me plan so happy to download GPX/MMO's

Hebden Bridge
Pately Bridge (Knaresborough)
Rosedale, North York Moors
Gunnerside Gill, York Dales
Pen-y-ghent, York Dales

I love quality XC with big climbs and equally big descents. I consider myself an advanced Intermediate rider and enjoy adventurous, scenic big days out on the Stumpy. I'm not shy of a bit of hike a bike but prefer not to be doing it on everyride. I've ridden/walked Nan Bield so I know the rewards of a bit of hike a bike!

I've ridden the Lakes, Peaks, Dartmoor, Wales, Quantocks and want to experience Yorkshire and the national parks. During my week I might dip into the Lakes and Peaks but would prefer to ride new stuff in the dales, and north moors park.

My rough plan is to start at Hebden Bridge, then onto Pately Bridge and then over to the North Yorks Moor and probably sampling Dalby on my last day before heading home. Or in reverse!

But I am open to local knowledge ideas to get the most out of my week or so off. If you feel I should base myself in one place that has a plethora (great word) of rides then share this please. Or help create a tour of the north for me.

I look forward to your advice.

Thanks,

Shaun

lg18

Wow, that's a LOT of driving around between disparate areas in a week (from your list). My sincere advice would be to go to the Yorkshire Dales (OR the North York Moors) and stay there - even that is huge enough to not even scratch the surface - between Pen-y-Ghent, Malham/Settle/Mastiles Lane area, all those nearby dales e.g. Littondale, upper Wharfe etc etc etc, and then Wensleydale/Hawes/Cam Road area (and not forgetting the newly re-done Gisburn), and then the enormity of Swaledale - even that you will be wanting 3 weeks instead of 1!

North York Moors would require another 3 weeks. Rosedale is indeed superb - nice day out doing the whole circumnavigation from the southern end - some muddy sections on the SW part on the lower bridleway (upper one is sandy and dry in all weather) - the old tramway is wonderful - and lots of industrial history. So many more great rides in the North York Moors, and you'll hardly meet a soul...

This is a great website for the NYMs:
http://www.mtb-routes.co.uk/northyorkmoors

This is a great resource for Moors, Dales, Lakes etc too -
http://pedalnorth.com/content/bike-routes

cheers,
Lucy

homers_double

Any reason for Hebden? To be honest whilst there is a lot of open land there isn't a massive amount of riding as most of it is exposed moorland. (at least coming back towards littleborough it is!)

My preference would be to skip HB and instead drive to Gisburn, ride that. Then back in the van and find Lee and Cragg quarries in Rossendale on your way over to York, its pretty easy to do but involves a fair bit of driving.

shaunlfc1

Hi Lucy and HD,

Thanks for the links and advice. As you can appreciate I dont intend on trying to ride everything in 7-9 days. I dont mind a bit of driving. Based on my list above my biggest transfer is about 1.5 hours which to be honest is nothing. The list above is purely based on magazine rides I have collated over the past few months and it is apparent they are rather stretched out.

I have already ridden Lee and Cragg a couple of years ago and although good I like to ride new places at every oppurtunity.

Hebden Bridge has featured a lot in MBR this year and so its only on the list for that reason. But if you guys recommend basing myself somewhere else which limits the driving and has plenty more ride options then I will.

Thanks again for the advice.

Shaun

Luapsnnib

Hi Shaun
When are thinking of your trip as I'm a bit short of work at the mo so maybe I could join you for a day , if not and you haven't been before you must try Gisburn it's my second home at the moment , I'm thinking of trying peny Ghent later in the week if I go I'll let you know , I did a route from clapham last week which was good . Ther is a website mtb the dales which gives a few routes .

shaunlfc1

Hi,

I will be either travelling up Sunday 19th in the evening (fly back from a Stag do Sunday morning - and I doubt I make it all the way up north on the Sunday) or early Monday morning the 20th, and will be staying until the following Tuesday.

Could well be up for a meet up, always good to meet new people etc....

Shaun