This mountain bike route is a variation
of the Macc Forest Classic. At 18.5
miles it is only one mile longer than the
Classic route but the extra trails give
the route a real kick. Some trials skills
are needed at times with a few tough
rocky challenges to try and clean. Even
with the variations it still retains all the
good bits from the Classic.
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
of the Macc Forest Classic. At 18.5
miles it is only one mile longer than the
Classic route but the extra trails give
the route a real kick. Some trials skills
are needed at times with a few tough
rocky challenges to try and clean. Even
with the variations it still retains all the
good bits from the Classic.
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).
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).
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
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
descending along the right hand side of the valley to the bridge at Three Shire Heads (GR009685).
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
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). Turn left and descend to
a bridge over the stream at the bottom. After the bridge continue along the road and climb, past the two lanes on the
right, to where it straightens out along the left hand side of a gulley.
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). Turn left and descend to
a bridge over the stream at the bottom. After the bridge continue along the road and climb, past the two lanes on the
right, to where it straightens out along the left hand side of a gulley.
6. Turn left at the junction on the left, by the house,
opposite a footpath on the right dropping into the
gulley (GR007663). Continue along this lane for a
gradual climb that eventually comes to a couple of
tight bends. Ride past the signposted BW climbing
away on the right, to the BW descending on the left,
just after a left hand bend before the climb kicks
up steeply (GR018669). Descend on the steep
concrete track to a farm then follow the
singletrack ahead and left that follows the stream
up steeply (GR018669). Descend on the steep
concrete track to a farm then follow the
singletrack ahead and left that follows the stream
on the left. This is a short but hard, rocky descent that bears right down to a stream
crossing at a waterfall. After crossing the stream turn right for a very hard boulder
strewn climb that requires some good trials skills to clean. The bottom half was just a bit
much for me, although if I was having one of my good riding days and the conditions
were dry I might just be able to clean it, possibly. There is an easier option at the top of
the bank to the left of this trail. I managed to clean the second half of the rocky section
of the climb but it did take me quite a few attempts. After the rocks continue straight on,
through a gate, and up the final rutted and muddy section of this climb, to a lane
(GR016674).
7. Turn left then follow the lane right around the line of the hill to a junction. Stay right
crossing at a waterfall. After crossing the stream turn right for a very hard boulder
strewn climb that requires some good trials skills to clean. The bottom half was just a bit
much for me, although if I was having one of my good riding days and the conditions
were dry I might just be able to clean it, possibly. There is an easier option at the top of
the bank to the left of this trail. I managed to clean the second half of the rocky section
of the climb but it did take me quite a few attempts. After the rocks continue straight on,
through a gate, and up the final rutted and muddy section of this climb, to a lane
(GR016674).
7. Turn left then follow the lane right around the line of the hill to a junction. Stay right
and continue along the lane. The lane soon gives way to a rocky track and
comes to another junction. Go right, between the drystone walls, for a long
gradual descent back to the bridge at Three Shire Heads (GR009685). It’s got
a number of tricky rock sections to keep things interesting all the way to the
bridge at bottom. Turn left over the bridge then right to climb the previously
descended trail. Starting with a tricky rocky climb follow the trail on the left
hand side of the stream. Through the gate climb up the right hand side of the
field then, near the gate at the top corner, turn left. Continue climbing, and
after a short distance, turn right to follow the rocky track along the line of the
fence on the right to the gates by the farm. Go through both the gates then
turn left for a short, steep tarmac climb back to the A54 (GR005694).
comes to another junction. Go right, between the drystone walls, for a long
gradual descent back to the bridge at Three Shire Heads (GR009685). It’s got
a number of tricky rock sections to keep things interesting all the way to the
bridge at bottom. Turn left over the bridge then right to climb the previously
descended trail. Starting with a tricky rocky climb follow the trail on the left
hand side of the stream. Through the gate climb up the right hand side of the
field then, near the gate at the top corner, turn left. Continue climbing, and
after a short distance, turn right to follow the rocky track along the line of the
fence on the right to the gates by the farm. Go through both the gates then
turn left for a short, steep tarmac climb back to the A54 (GR005694).
8. Turn left and follow the main road to the end of the barrier on the left. At
the end of the barrier, go across the road and go through the gate on the right
(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).
9. 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).
10. 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 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
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).
10. 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 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.
11. 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.
This route crosses and can be combined with my Macc Forest Classic route.
the other users.
11. 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.
This route crosses and can be combined with my Macc Forest Classic route.
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
