high at the junction with the footpath that follows shortly after, where the drystone wall
drops away slightly. The wall soon comes back up to meet the trail. Continue along the
trail through a couple of gates and descend to a junction at the river.
12. Climb the rocky track off to the left. This wider track continues traversing the hillside
and eventually turns right at a gate in the drystone wall. Don’t go through the gate but
continue straight on along the now grassy trail that soon becomes enclosed by drystone
walls. After a while, at a three-way junction, follow the track right. The track then turns
immediately left comes to a junction with lane (GR046993).
drops away slightly. The wall soon comes back up to meet the trail. Continue along the
trail through a couple of gates and descend to a junction at the river.
12. Climb the rocky track off to the left. This wider track continues traversing the hillside
and eventually turns right at a gate in the drystone wall. Don’t go through the gate but
continue straight on along the now grassy trail that soon becomes enclosed by drystone
walls. After a while, at a three-way junction, follow the track right. The track then turns
immediately left comes to a junction with lane (GR046993).
This mountain bike route of 22.5 miles is set in the North
East corner of the Yorkshire Dales. It starts from
Grinton Lodge YHA and circles Arkengarthdale. It
contains a great mixture of riding from wide gravel
tracks to fast and tight singletrack.
1. From Grinton Lodge YHA (GR048976) turn right and
follow the lane all the way down the hill to the junction
with the main road (B6270) in Grinton, by the Bridge
Inn. Go straight on and cross the bridge. Follow the
main road as it bears left, towards Reeth. Go left over
the thin stone bridge then right to climb into the middle
of Reeth. At the junction at the far corner of the village
square follow the main road left.
2. Climb out of Reeth and stay on the main road to
Healaugh, the next village. In the middle of the village,
where the road bears left, take the first junction on the
right (GR017990), one before the junction the
telephone box. Follow the thin lane between the houses
to a gate. Go through the gate and climb out of the
valley on the steep, winding lane. It is pretty evil but it
doesn't last too long. The gradient reduces significantly
and eventually comes to a junction by a house
(GR012995).
3. Go straight on and climb the wide rocky track with
the drystone wall on the left. At the next junction a short
distance later, where the main trail descends to the left,
take the rockier track that climbs away on the right.
Keep to this track and ride past some sheepfolds to the
East corner of the Yorkshire Dales. It starts from
Grinton Lodge YHA and circles Arkengarthdale. It
contains a great mixture of riding from wide gravel
tracks to fast and tight singletrack.
1. From Grinton Lodge YHA (GR048976) turn right and
follow the lane all the way down the hill to the junction
with the main road (B6270) in Grinton, by the Bridge
Inn. Go straight on and cross the bridge. Follow the
main road as it bears left, towards Reeth. Go left over
the thin stone bridge then right to climb into the middle
of Reeth. At the junction at the far corner of the village
square follow the main road left.
2. Climb out of Reeth and stay on the main road to
Healaugh, the next village. In the middle of the village,
where the road bears left, take the first junction on the
right (GR017990), one before the junction the
telephone box. Follow the thin lane between the houses
to a gate. Go through the gate and climb out of the
valley on the steep, winding lane. It is pretty evil but it
doesn't last too long. The gradient reduces significantly
and eventually comes to a junction by a house
(GR012995).
3. Go straight on and climb the wide rocky track with
the drystone wall on the left. At the next junction a short
distance later, where the main trail descends to the left,
take the rockier track that climbs away on the right.
Keep to this track and ride past some sheepfolds to the
section follow the trail
right for a rocky
descent to a junction.
Turn left and descend
a short way to a gate
(GR992009).
4. After the gate turn
right and climb the
lane to a junction at
the top (GR993015).
right for a rocky
descent to a junction.
Turn left and descend
a short way to a gate
(GR992009).
4. After the gate turn
right and climb the
lane to a junction at
the top (GR993015).
Turn hard left on to the wide and rocky track signposted as a BW. Follow the track immediately right then on to a much
longer left hander. At the next junction ignore the level track on the right and climb left towards the spoil heaps. The
track levels off at the spoil heaps and comes to a junction just after (GR987021). Turn right then follow the track 90deg
left for a straight, gradual climb to the next group of spoil heaps. At the spoil heaps, at a wide gravelled area, look for
longer left hander. At the next junction ignore the level track on the right and climb left towards the spoil heaps. The
track levels off at the spoil heaps and comes to a junction just after (GR987021). Turn right then follow the track 90deg
left for a straight, gradual climb to the next group of spoil heaps. At the spoil heaps, at a wide gravelled area, look for
the small cairn that marks a right
hand turn in the track. Almost
immediately after the right, turn
90deg left around the back of
the spoil heaps to ride a
crushed rock track along the
ridge of the hill.
hand turn in the track. Almost
immediately after the right, turn
90deg left around the back of
the spoil heaps to ride a
crushed rock track along the
ridge of the hill.
following four-way junction, just after the end of the wall on the left (GR005998). Take the grassy singletrack on the
right that follows the marker posts across the bottom of the sheepfold ahead on the right. Continue straight on for a
while, gradually climbing, until the trail eventually kicks up to the left, becoming loose and rocky. At the top of this short
right that follows the marker posts across the bottom of the sheepfold ahead on the right. Continue straight on for a
while, gradually climbing, until the trail eventually kicks up to the left, becoming loose and rocky. At the top of this short
5. At the end of the crushed rock track
turn right at the three-way junction
marked by a few cairns (GR974030).
Descend the loose rocky track down
through a few of corners. After a
sharp left hand bend the trail becomes
grassy and rutted, descending to a
junction (GR976035). Turn right and
follow the wide grassy track across the
side of the hill, being careful of the odd
muddy hole. The track eventually bears
turn right at the three-way junction
marked by a few cairns (GR974030).
Descend the loose rocky track down
through a few of corners. After a
sharp left hand bend the trail becomes
grassy and rutted, descending to a
junction (GR976035). Turn right and
follow the wide grassy track across the
side of the hill, being careful of the odd
muddy hole. The track eventually bears
left to a low, straight cutting in the ground. Stay high on left of cutting as water
drains through it and it is very soft. At the end of the cutting bear right to rejoin
the main track and descend to a wide, open area of earth workings. At the top
drains through it and it is very soft. At the end of the cutting bear right to rejoin
the main track and descend to a wide, open area of earth workings. At the top
of the gravelled area, where the main track crosses a line of stones and turns 90 deg left, head right towards the top of
area of gravel on the right. Bear left and ride through the gravel to the dirt track on the opposite side that leads to a
lane (GR990038).
6. Turn right and follow the lane down to a junction with a lane on the left, signed for Barnard Castle (GR998033).
Turn left and descend to the bottom of the valley. Continue along this lane and climb between the drystone walls. After
the drystone walls continue climbing to a wide and rocky BW on the right (GR004048). Turn right and follow this track
up through a couple of bends, then across the face of the hillside, to a three-way junction on the far end of the ridge
(GR009037).
area of gravel on the right. Bear left and ride through the gravel to the dirt track on the opposite side that leads to a
lane (GR990038).
6. Turn right and follow the lane down to a junction with a lane on the left, signed for Barnard Castle (GR998033).
Turn left and descend to the bottom of the valley. Continue along this lane and climb between the drystone walls. After
the drystone walls continue climbing to a wide and rocky BW on the right (GR004048). Turn right and follow this track
up through a couple of bends, then across the face of the hillside, to a three-way junction on the far end of the ridge
(GR009037).
7. Turn left and climb to the top the top of the hill. Not long after the crest the
trail splits. Follow the wide gravel track heading left into a gully. Wind down
through the gully and take the right hand track where it splits at the bottom.
Exit the gully and follow the main track left to climb past a hut on the right.
After the hut follow the track as it bears right to a four-way junction. Take the
track on the right, still wide and rocky, and descend a short way then follow it
trail splits. Follow the wide gravel track heading left into a gully. Wind down
through the gully and take the right hand track where it splits at the bottom.
Exit the gully and follow the main track left to climb past a hut on the right.
After the hut follow the track as it bears right to a four-way junction. Take the
track on the right, still wide and rocky, and descend a short way then follow it
left. Stay on the main track as it
undulates across the top of the hill and
eventually bears right for the long
descent to Schoolmaster Pasture. Just
before reaching the farm buildings go
right at a junction and around the
corner of the drystone wall. The track
bears right, steepens and becomes a
bit rockier as it passes the farm before
coming to a junction (GR061035).
undulates across the top of the hill and
eventually bears right for the long
descent to Schoolmaster Pasture. Just
before reaching the farm buildings go
right at a junction and around the
corner of the drystone wall. The track
bears right, steepens and becomes a
bit rockier as it passes the farm before
coming to a junction (GR061035).
8. Turn right onto the tarmac then left over the bridge for a short climb. Bear
right at the top and descend through Washfold, in the dip, before climbing to a
four-way tarmac junction (GR052026). Go straight on and climb past the
houses on the right and past the rocky track on the left at Hall Farm, in Hurst.
Continue straight up through the gates into the old earthworks. Go past the
tracks on the right and climb the main track through earthworks to an S-bend
right at the top and descend through Washfold, in the dip, before climbing to a
four-way tarmac junction (GR052026). Go straight on and climb past the
houses on the right and past the rocky track on the left at Hall Farm, in Hurst.
Continue straight up through the gates into the old earthworks. Go past the
tracks on the right and climb the main track through earthworks to an S-bend
at the top. There is a BW marked on the map just before this S-bend but there isn’t anything on the ground. Follow the
S-bend to the top of the hill then after the crest take the double track on the left through the heather. This comes out
at a gate (GR032021).
9. Go through the gate and follow the grassy singletrack straight on. This opens up and gets progressively faster as it
approaches the top of an old quarry. Follow the cairns through the gravel then, after skirting round the left of a small
spoil heap, bear right down a short rocky chute for a wide and fast gassy descent. Beware of the ditch halfway down,
too much speed and braking on grass could end in pain. After reaching a rocky track follow it left for an exposed
S-bend to the top of the hill then after the crest take the double track on the left through the heather. This comes out
at a gate (GR032021).
9. Go through the gate and follow the grassy singletrack straight on. This opens up and gets progressively faster as it
approaches the top of an old quarry. Follow the cairns through the gravel then, after skirting round the left of a small
spoil heap, bear right down a short rocky chute for a wide and fast gassy descent. Beware of the ditch halfway down,
too much speed and braking on grass could end in pain. After reaching a rocky track follow it left for an exposed
traverse across the top of the quarry.
At the far side of the quarry drop
through a tight, rocky right hand turn.
Ride across the bottom of the quarry
where the trail then turns to grass and
comes to a gate in the drystone wall
on the left. Go through the gate and
descend through a number of bends
on the increasingly rocky track that
comes out at a gate near Storthwaite
Hall at the bottom (GR018021).
At the far side of the quarry drop
through a tight, rocky right hand turn.
Ride across the bottom of the quarry
where the trail then turns to grass and
comes to a gate in the drystone wall
on the left. Go through the gate and
descend through a number of bends
on the increasingly rocky track that
comes out at a gate near Storthwaite
Hall at the bottom (GR018021).
10. After the gate turn left and descend to another gate on the right of a farm. Go
through the gate into a field and head towards the gap in the next drystone wall, ahead
and slightly left. After the gap continue straight on to the edge of the river and a gate in
the far corner of the field. After the gate climb the rocky track on the left to Heggs House
(GR025018). Follow the marked BW left up a short, steep climb to a gate above the
back of the house.
11. After the gate climb the grassy track left a short way to the next junction. Turn hard
right and climb the singletrack across the face of the hillside to a gate at the drystone
wall. Go through the gate for a sinuous section of singletrack dotted with rocks that
gradually descends across the face of the hillside. Be careful as there is a bit of
exposure on the right, a dropping to a drystone wall. At
the next junction (GR031010),with the track down to Castle
Farm go straight on, keeping the wall on the right. Stay
the next junction (GR031010),with the track down to Castle
Farm go straight on, keeping the wall on the right. Stay
then turn left at the next junction a short distance later, to follow the crenulated
wall. At the junction at the corner of the wall turn right to continue following the
wall to descend a steep thin lane to a junction at the bottom (GR046989).
Turn right to the junction with the B6270. Turn left and follow the main road
across the stone bridge to the junction at the Bridge Inn, where the main road
turns left (GR046984). Go straight on and climb the lane past the church then
past a junction with a lane on the right. After climbing out of Grinton the lane
eventually crosses a the cattle grid and comes to a junction with a lane on the
right (GR046978). Go left and finish to finish the climb, and the ride, by
returning to Grinton Lodge YHA.
wall. At the junction at the corner of the wall turn right to continue following the
wall to descend a steep thin lane to a junction at the bottom (GR046989).
Turn right to the junction with the B6270. Turn left and follow the main road
across the stone bridge to the junction at the Bridge Inn, where the main road
turns left (GR046984). Go straight on and climb the lane past the church then
past a junction with a lane on the right. After climbing out of Grinton the lane
eventually crosses a the cattle grid and comes to a junction with a lane on the
right (GR046978). Go left and finish to finish the climb, and the ride, by
returning to Grinton Lodge YHA.
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
In para 7. of this route guide there are not many Grid Refs given. This is because the trails used are on the OS
1:25000 not the OS 1:50000. I didn't use the Bridleways because I couldn't find them. The trails on the OS 1:25000
are wide gravel tracks so you shouldn't have any issues with navigation.
More pictures and a description of the Oneplanet Shop Ride I took on this route can be found in the Gallery.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Langthwaite and Reeth Moor
1:25000 not the OS 1:50000. I didn't use the Bridleways because I couldn't find them. The trails on the OS 1:25000
are wide gravel tracks so you shouldn't have any issues with navigation.
More pictures and a description of the Oneplanet Shop Ride I took on this route can be found in the Gallery.
This route crosses and can be combined with other routes from my site :
Langthwaite and Reeth Moor
13. Turn right and descend to the junction in
higher Fremington (GR047991). Go straight on