This mountain bike route, of just over
17 miles, climbs through Macc Forest
to the Cat and Fiddle pub then loops
back through Three Shire Heads on
the return. The ride is a good taster
for rocky Peak District riding, with
some great descents. There are a
few road sections to allow you to take
in the great scenery as well.
1. Start from the Ridgegate
Reservoir just outside Langley
(GR953715). Ride back towards the
junction at the Leather’s Smithy pub.
Turn right and climb the lane to the
gate on the left for the start of the
Macc Forest concessional BW, a
wide gravel track climbing off into
trees (GR959717). Follow the trail
up as it bears slightly left and go
straight on past the gate on the
right. At the next junction take the
right fork and continue climbing. The
17 miles, climbs through Macc Forest
to the Cat and Fiddle pub then loops
back through Three Shire Heads on
the return. The ride is a good taster
for rocky Peak District riding, with
some great descents. There are a
few road sections to allow you to take
in the great scenery as well.
1. Start from the Ridgegate
Reservoir just outside Langley
(GR953715). Ride back towards the
junction at the Leather’s Smithy pub.
Turn right and climb the lane to the
gate on the left for the start of the
Macc Forest concessional BW, a
wide gravel track climbing off into
trees (GR959717). Follow the trail
up as it bears slightly left and go
straight on past the gate on the
right. At the next junction take the
right fork and continue climbing. The
track eventually comes to a junction at a stone building. Take the second track on the right that climbs steeply away
from the junction, the first on the right being a footpath. At the edge of the forest go through the gate and turn right on
the lane for a short but steep climb (GR961727).
from the junction, the first on the right being a footpath. At the edge of the forest go through the gate and turn right on
the lane for a short but steep climb (GR961727).
2. Just after the lane flattens off turn right at the junction and follow the trail
along the edge of the forest. This trail starts with a loose, rocky climb but it isn’
t too steep and doesn’t last too long. After reaching the crest it’s time to enjoy
the fast, rocky descent to the tarmac crossroad at the houses (GR974921). At
the crossroad turn left, ride past the chapel, then take the double track that
climbs off to the right. The track very soon bears left and descends to a right
hand bend where the ground turns from grassy double track to loose gravel
with little steps. At the junction with the lane at the bottom turn left. Go left at
the next junction and climb a short way to the junction by the Stanley Arms
(GR980724).
3. Turn right for a long, constant climb to the junction with the A537. Turn
right and follow the main road all the way to the top at the Cat and Fiddle pub
(GR001719). At the left hand bend by the pub, turn right for the start of the
Danebower Hollow BW, on the outside of the bend. This starts with a long,
straight but gentle climb that leads on to a fast descent down to a gate at the
A54. Turn right and follow the road to a junction with a lane on the left just
before the main road kicks up and turns right (GR005694).
4. Turn left on the lane and follow it
down towards the farm. On a tight left
hand bend just before the farm go right through the gate. Go through the next
gate just after, then turn left and descend the rocky track beside the fence.
Turn 90° left in the next field and descend along the edge of the field to a
gate. Before the gate turn right and follow the muddy track along the wall on
the left. It is a good idea to ride just high and right of the track as it is usually
very boggy. I know from experience after hitting the track at speed and getting
ejected over the bars when my front wheel sunk and stopped instantly. This
section doesn’t last long and transforms after a gate, into a rocky, gritstone trail
gate just after, then turn left and descend the rocky track beside the fence.
Turn 90° left in the next field and descend along the edge of the field to a
gate. Before the gate turn right and follow the muddy track along the wall on
the left. It is a good idea to ride just high and right of the track as it is usually
very boggy. I know from experience after hitting the track at speed and getting
ejected over the bars when my front wheel sunk and stopped instantly. This
section doesn’t last long and transforms after a gate, into a rocky, gritstone trail
descending along the right hand side of the valley to the
bridge at Three Shire Heads (GR009685).
5. Go straight on past the bridge for a challenging, rocky
climb that follows the line of the hill off to the right. It’s
doable but definitely hard work. Through the gate at the
end and turn left to descend on the lane. Go through a
number of gates and over a bridge, past a farm, then on
to a gate at a junction with a road (GR996665). Go
straight on down the short descent then climb to the small
group of houses that make up the village of Burntcliff Top
at the crest of the climb (GR991663).
6. Once at the crest of the climb turn right and climb the
broken track. Do not descend on the road out of the
bridge at Three Shire Heads (GR009685).
5. Go straight on past the bridge for a challenging, rocky
climb that follows the line of the hill off to the right. It’s
doable but definitely hard work. Through the gate at the
end and turn left to descend on the lane. Go through a
number of gates and over a bridge, past a farm, then on
to a gate at a junction with a road (GR996665). Go
straight on down the short descent then climb to the small
group of houses that make up the village of Burntcliff Top
at the crest of the climb (GR991663).
6. Once at the crest of the climb turn right and climb the
broken track. Do not descend on the road out of the
village. Climb a short way, between the drystone walls, to two gates. Go through the gate
straight ahead for a long gradual climb on rocky double track. Keep to the rocky track till it
ends with a short descent, that goes through a tight left hander, before coming out onto the
A54 (GR984677). Turn right and climb the main road for about 1.5miles. Near the top of this
climb follow the main road 90° left at a junction with a lane on the right then bear right through
a dip for a final kick to the top of the climb.
straight ahead for a long gradual climb on rocky double track. Keep to the rocky track till it
ends with a short descent, that goes through a tight left hander, before coming out onto the
A54 (GR984677). Turn right and climb the main road for about 1.5miles. Near the top of this
climb follow the main road 90° left at a junction with a lane on the right then bear right through
a dip for a final kick to the top of the climb.
7. At the top of the climb, by the start of the road barrier on the right, turn left through a gate
(GR003692). Follow the rocky track as it descends into the valley. This is a fantastic track
that gets looser and rockier as it descends. A good point to regroup is a flat left hand bend
just before a gate, about half of the way down, that leads on to the rockiest part of the descent.
After riding the big rock sections go through a gate near the bottom, then across a stream and
on to the gate at the road (GR988697).
(GR003692). Follow the rocky track as it descends into the valley. This is a fantastic track
that gets looser and rockier as it descends. A good point to regroup is a flat left hand bend
just before a gate, about half of the way down, that leads on to the rockiest part of the descent.
After riding the big rock sections go through a gate near the bottom, then across a stream and
on to the gate at the road (GR988697).
8. Turn right onto the road, then go left at the
road junction and drop a short way to the
junction with a lane at the bottom. Turn right
and follow the lane as it repeatedly crosses a
stream along the bottom of the valley. After
1mile, at a crossroad, turn left up a steep lane
between the drystone walls, signposted to Macc
Forest which can be seen on the crest of the hill
(GR982713).
9. At the junction at the top of the hill turn left
road junction and drop a short way to the
junction with a lane at the bottom. Turn right
and follow the lane as it repeatedly crosses a
stream along the bottom of the valley. After
1mile, at a crossroad, turn left up a steep lane
between the drystone walls, signposted to Macc
Forest which can be seen on the crest of the hill
(GR982713).
9. At the junction at the top of the hill turn left
through the gate onto the concessional BW that follows the edge of the forest
(GR978714). This wide gravel track bears right and descends into the trees then climbs
through a long left / right ‘S’bend. The trail then descends to the bottom of a longer
climb. After this climb descend a short way to a junction. Turn left up a steep switchback
(GR978714). This wide gravel track bears right and descends into the trees then climbs
through a long left / right ‘S’bend. The trail then descends to the bottom of a longer
climb. After this climb descend a short way to a junction. Turn left up a steep switchback
climb. At the top of this is the start of
the final descent. Follow the main trail
all the way to the bottom for a fast,
loose blast through the trees on
sweeping bends. This is a
concessional track that is used by
walkers and horse riders so cover the
brakes and be prepared to slow down,
giving way to the other users.
10. At the bottom of the track go
the final descent. Follow the main trail
all the way to the bottom for a fast,
loose blast through the trees on
sweeping bends. This is a
concessional track that is used by
walkers and horse riders so cover the
brakes and be prepared to slow down,
giving way to the other users.
10. At the bottom of the track go
through the gate and turn right (GR959710). Follow the lane around the
reservoir and descend left through a dip for a short climb to a junction. Turn
left and ride along road, with Ridgegate Reservoir on the left, back to the
Leathers Smithy to complete this route.
reservoir and descend left through a dip for a short climb to a junction. Turn
left and ride along road, with Ridgegate Reservoir on the left, back to the
Leathers Smithy to complete this route.
I used this route for one of my Llandegla Shop Rides. Pictures and a description of the ride can be found in the
Gallery.
This route crosses and can be combined with my Macc Forest Hard route.
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