14. Descend the thin track through the heather to a wide gravel track. Turn
left and follow the track along the line of the hill to a stone building
(GR027967). Continue along the track as it turns right twice then bears left to
descend to a four-way junction (GR028974). Turn right down a rutted grassy
track. This becomes rocky just before dropping through a few bends to a ford.
After the ford climb left through a gate. Follow the wide track until it ends at a
lane (GR044974). Turn left and descend the lane to the marked BW on the
right. Turn right and follow this track back to Grinton Lodge YHA to finish the
ride.
This is an oddly shaped figure of eight mountain bike route of 28.5miles that takes in a lot of Swaledale, using
Gunnerside as the cross over point. There's a good mixture of rocky trails through the valley and over the moors with
some great descents and some long climbs, which includes Gunnerside Gill and Apedale. Although a long, hard ride
Gunnerside has some good mid-ride refuelling options.
1. Leave Grinton Lodge YHA (GR048976) and cross the road onto the BW opposite. At the other end of the BW turn
left and climb the lane. At the next junction, on a left hand bend, take the wide dirt track on the right (GR044974). This
track soon flattens out and goes through a couple of shallow bends. On a left hand bend, just before the main track
descends to a gate and a ford, take the thin grassy track on the right and descend to a rocky stream crossing
(GR039972). After the stream climb the track and go straight ahead over the crest to descend a short way to a gate.
Gunnerside as the cross over point. There's a good mixture of rocky trails through the valley and over the moors with
some great descents and some long climbs, which includes Gunnerside Gill and Apedale. Although a long, hard ride
Gunnerside has some good mid-ride refuelling options.
1. Leave Grinton Lodge YHA (GR048976) and cross the road onto the BW opposite. At the other end of the BW turn
left and climb the lane. At the next junction, on a left hand bend, take the wide dirt track on the right (GR044974). This
track soon flattens out and goes through a couple of shallow bends. On a left hand bend, just before the main track
descends to a gate and a ford, take the thin grassy track on the right and descend to a rocky stream crossing
(GR039972). After the stream climb the track and go straight ahead over the crest to descend a short way to a gate.
2. After the gate take the thin track ahead and left to descend the grassy singletrack
parallel to the fence on the left. This finishes at a wide grassy track. Turn left and go
through the gate to follow the thin track along the line of the drystone wall on the right.
The trail flattens off and contours the hillside. Where the drystone wall drops away to the
right keep going straight on, staying high on the now rocky trail. The drystone wall
comes back up to meet the trail and at the end of this wall turn right at the vague junction
to drop diagonally to a rocky hard pack trail that descends to a gate. Go through the
gate and descend left to a loose and rocky right hand bend. At this point go straight on
along the grassy, rutted double track and descend to a gate at a lane (GR029982).
3. Turn left on the lane and descend all the way down to a junction with a lane going
over a stone bridge. Go straight on keeping the river on the right. At the next group of
houses, where the lane kicks up to the left, turn right on the dirt track that continues
following the river (GR003982). Follow the double track all the way to the farm at the far
end. Go straight on through the farm and past the waterfall. Follow the lane to the next
junction and turn right to cross the bridge and climb to a junction with the B6270
(GR977976). Turn left and follow the main road 1 ¾ miles to Gunnerside. After crossing
Gunnerside Beck in the centre of Gunnerside go straight on at the junction, where the
main road turns left. Climb past the houses of Dyke Heads on the left to the junction with
a wide rocky track on the right, next to Dyke Heads farm (GR941983).
4. Turn right and climb the track up the left hand side of Gunnerside Gill. About two
thirds of the way up the track bears left and descends through a gate before turning right
over a stream and climbing to a junction on the following left hand bend (GR935006).
Take the track on the right and climb the grassy double track that soon bears right and
flattens off, it can be a bit boggy here. The track soon bears left for a fast rocky descent
the ends at some derelict buildings on the junction of two streams (GR936017).
junction and turn right to cross the bridge and climb to a junction with the B6270
(GR977976). Turn left and follow the main road 1 ¾ miles to Gunnerside. After crossing
Gunnerside Beck in the centre of Gunnerside go straight on at the junction, where the
main road turns left. Climb past the houses of Dyke Heads on the left to the junction with
a wide rocky track on the right, next to Dyke Heads farm (GR941983).
4. Turn right and climb the track up the left hand side of Gunnerside Gill. About two
thirds of the way up the track bears left and descends through a gate before turning right
over a stream and climbing to a junction on the following left hand bend (GR935006).
Take the track on the right and climb the grassy double track that soon bears right and
flattens off, it can be a bit boggy here. The track soon bears left for a fast rocky descent
the ends at some derelict buildings on the junction of two streams (GR936017).
5. Go through the water of Blind Gill then, on the
other side of the stream, turn right and go across the small stone bridge over
Blakethwaite Gill. Go around the left hand side of the derelict building and past
the steep track that climbs out of the valley on the left. Follow the rock strewn
track beside the stream on the right. The trail soon becomes singletrack and
bears left, climbing to a signposted crossroad below a rock filled gulley
(GR940012).
Blakethwaite Gill. Go around the left hand side of the derelict building and past
the steep track that climbs out of the valley on the left. Follow the rock strewn
track beside the stream on the right. The trail soon becomes singletrack and
bears left, climbing to a signposted crossroad below a rock filled gulley
(GR940012).
6. Turn right and follow the rocky trail that
descends down the valley past the derelict
buildings. After a stream crossing turn left at the following forked junction, marked
by a big cairn, to climb the grassy trail. This track is mostly climbable with one
short section that definitely needs pushing. Continue straight on where a track
comes in from the left near the old kiln. After this the trail flattens off and comes to
a junction (GR942003). Follow the wider, grassy track that leads to a gate in the
middle of the drystone wall ahead.
by a big cairn, to climb the grassy trail. This track is mostly climbable with one
short section that definitely needs pushing. Continue straight on where a track
comes in from the left near the old kiln. After this the trail flattens off and comes to
a junction (GR942003). Follow the wider, grassy track that leads to a gate in the
middle of the drystone wall ahead.
7. After the gate descend the fast grassy track that
ends with a couple of rutted bends leading to a
farm. Climb to a junction (GR947944) then turn left
to go around the back of the buildings. The track
then climbs left to a gate. After the gate follow the
wide track as it bears generally left before coming to
ends with a couple of rutted bends leading to a
farm. Climb to a junction (GR947944) then turn left
to go around the back of the buildings. The track
then climbs left to a gate. After the gate follow the
wide track as it bears generally left before coming to
a short, steep climb just before a junction (GR956988). Continue straight on at this
junction and follow the line of the drystone wall, keeping it on the right. Go past the
grassy trails climbing off to the left to stay by the drystone wall on the now rutted and
muddy track.
junction and follow the line of the drystone wall, keeping it on the right. Go past the
grassy trails climbing off to the left to stay by the drystone wall on the now rutted and
muddy track.
8. Where the double track turns right, just after a small stream
crossing, go straight on up a small bank (GR960986). Go
straight across the next track at the top of the bank and ride into
the grass ahead. The track is very vague here (see picture on
the right). While facing the hillock straight in front a very vague grassy sheep trail should be
found heading off at about 11 o’clock. Ride in this direction to the top of the low ridge. Bear
found heading off at about 11 o’clock. Ride in this direction to the top of the low ridge. Bear
right and ride along the ridge heading just to the right of the summit of the hillock. A defined trail soon appears and
traverses over a rocky outcrop, just high of the drystone wall on the right. On the other side of the rocks the trail drops
into a field for a grassy sheep trail that ends at a gate in the drystone wall on the right (GR967985).
traverses over a rocky outcrop, just high of the drystone wall on the right. On the other side of the rocks the trail drops
into a field for a grassy sheep trail that ends at a gate in the drystone wall on the right (GR967985).
9. Go through the gate and take the muddy, rutted double track that starts roughly 10m
away, directly opposite the gate. After descending initially to the right the trail bears left.
It then turns right again and drops to a wide gassy junction. Turn right and follow a wide
grassy track over sections of bedrock on the plateau above Swaledale, on the left. Go
through the next gate and turn immediately left to drop off the ridge (GR963983).
Descend the track across the face of the hill. The fast grassy descent comes to a few
rocks and ditches by some houses. Go straight on and continue past the houses. The
trail becomes rockier the lower it gets, especially at the tight left hand bend at a small
stream crossing. Go left at junction with the lane at the bottom (GR953982), then
through the electric gate and right into Gunnerside.
10. Cross the beck in Gunnerside then at the junction follow the
B6270 left. Cross the River Swale and climb to the next junction
then turn left (GR949977). Stay on the lane to ride through a
10. Cross the beck in Gunnerside then at the junction follow the
B6270 left. Cross the River Swale and climb to the next junction
then turn left (GR949977). Stay on the lane to ride through a
farm before eventually climbing to a three-way junction at Crackpot (GR973966). Turn right
and climb for a while before a gentle descent to Summer Lodge. Go straight on through the
and climb for a while before a gentle descent to Summer Lodge. Go straight on through the
gate at Summer Lodge for an evilly steep gravel climb. The
first part is definitely the worst. This flattens off before the
bearing left on the final, steep but rideable haul to the junction
at the top (GR964948).
11. At the junction turn left and descend the lane. After
passing the drystone wall on the left the road descends
steeply. The road then flattens off and comes to a staggard
four-way junction above the farm house on the left. Take the
wide rocky track sign posted to Bolton Abbey (GR983964).
Climb past the junction with a track on the right and bear left to
first part is definitely the worst. This flattens off before the
bearing left on the final, steep but rideable haul to the junction
at the top (GR964948).
11. At the junction turn left and descend the lane. After
passing the drystone wall on the left the road descends
steeply. The road then flattens off and comes to a staggard
four-way junction above the farm house on the left. Take the
wide rocky track sign posted to Bolton Abbey (GR983964).
Climb past the junction with a track on the right and bear left to
continue the ascent through the old
mine works. At the next junction, with
a track on the left, keep climbing
straight on up the loose rocks. The
track eventually levels off and comes
to a square kink to at the top.
12. After the kink follow the main trail
right for a 3km descent into Apedale.
It starts on gravel then drops steeply
on loose rocks through some old mine
works before continuing on a long
section of fast flat hardpack. Be
careful on the steep top sections as
it's easy to carry too much speed into
a couple of corners. Follow the main
track down the dale to a wide dirt track
crossroad (GR030942).
13. Turn left and climb the wide rocky
track through a right hand bend. Go
right at the junction near the top to the
cairns at the summit of Greets Hill
(GR028956). Go through the gate on
the right for a tricky, rocky track that
follows the fence on the left. The trail
then steepens for a blast down
through the right hand side of some
old mine workings. At the end of the
trail turn left on the road. Descend to
the following right hand bend then
head left off the road down the
signposted singletrack BW across the
moor (GR040967).
mine works. At the next junction, with
a track on the left, keep climbing
straight on up the loose rocks. The
track eventually levels off and comes
to a square kink to at the top.
12. After the kink follow the main trail
right for a 3km descent into Apedale.
It starts on gravel then drops steeply
on loose rocks through some old mine
works before continuing on a long
section of fast flat hardpack. Be
careful on the steep top sections as
it's easy to carry too much speed into
a couple of corners. Follow the main
track down the dale to a wide dirt track
crossroad (GR030942).
13. Turn left and climb the wide rocky
track through a right hand bend. Go
right at the junction near the top to the
cairns at the summit of Greets Hill
(GR028956). Go through the gate on
the right for a tricky, rocky track that
follows the fence on the left. The trail
then steepens for a blast down
through the right hand side of some
old mine workings. At the end of the
trail turn left on the road. Descend to
the following right hand bend then
head left off the road down the
signposted singletrack BW across the
moor (GR040967).
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
Since I last rode this route the 'Dales Bike Centre' opened in Fremington. I have been told it offers accommodation, a
cafe, bike workshop with some spares, a bike wash, secure bike storage, a drying room and laundry. I will definitely
give them a call next time I visit Swaledale.
A description of the ride I took on this route can be found in the Gallery.
|
