edinburgh - 'uddersfield

[octavius]

hi, I'm currently hatching a summer adventure from my cottage 12 miles south of edinburgh all the way to huddersfield. one of my best friends stay there so i thought, why not look at doing this?

a way through the southern uplands following forest tracks etc looks fairly straightforward (if dog legged). and it seems logical to join the pennine bridleway at some point further south. the plan is to try to be off road as much as possible and travel as light as possible as well.

sorry for this being rather generic question but anyone on here more familiar with the areas i would or should past through? any local knowledge to inform my route selection?

and whats a reasonable amount to expect to cover each day with a loaded rigid 29er?
(regular 7- 8 hour solo rider / ex xc racer / and previous beer belly owner)

[Ray Young]

There's plenty of forest tracks through Wauchope and Kielder forests but don't rely on bridleways marked on maps as in my experience, admittedly from many years ago, they often don't exist on the ground.
You could use The Sandstone Way from Bellingham to Hexham.
There is a disused railway line that runs from Hawick to Riccarton Junction then either south to Newcastleton or East to Kielder Reservoir. I have not done the Hawick to Riccarton Junction part but if you look at Where's the Path it appears to be almost fully intact.
The North Pennines have little in the way of rights of way for cyclists but what is marked on OS maps tends to exist.
The track from Dufton to Middleton in Teesdale is ace, it takes you right along the edge of High Cup Nick, well worth it.
From Middleton in Teesdale head south past the reservoirs, through Deep Dale, over Bowes Moor to Tan Hill Inn and then Keld.
After that your in the Yorkshire Dales which have lots of rights of way for cyclists.

Many years ago before the official PBW was built I did my own version which ran for 280 miles from Sheffield to Hexham so I am happy to help with gpx tracks or further route advice if you want it.

[octavius]

hi ray, exactly the type of info i was hoping for. never done any biking in england other than a day in the peaks last year (which was great) so I'm pretty clueless.

ill check out your suggestions and start drawing lines on maps and chin stroking...

thanks very much!

[Chew]

Distance wise I'd say plan on covering around 10km per hour, when you factor in opening gates, bit of pushing and the odd stop for a 5 min breather. So if you're comfortable riding for 7-8 hours a day I'd plan for 70k a day.

Route wise, from the Dales down theres a number of options:
On the west mainly following the Pennine Bridleway (a bit hit and miss) and then I can recommend a good finish down to Marsden
or you can come down the eastern side (Reeth, Nidderdale, Baildon, Brighouse). A bit more industrial in places but some great riding

Depends which part of Huddersfield you're aiming for?

[octavius]

thanks chew, very useful. my friend rather fittingly stays near the top of a big hill south of kirkburton. so ill probably end up pushing up his front door with my jelly legs and dangleberrries...

now i need to sit down and do some serious planning.

[Chew]

now i need to sit down and do some serious planning

Planning is half the fun

Once you have something feel free to send it over. I'm sure between me and Ray can sense check and amend where needed

[octavius]

ray and chew, ill be back after I've done a bit homework.

thanks again

[Ray Young]

Just out of interest, where will your Southern Uplands route bring you out at?

Also, to get to Dufton you can go over Cross Fell on good tracks from Garrigill (which is a few miles south of Alston) to Kirkland then head south on road. Greg's Hut bothy is on this stretch of off road.

[octavius]

absolutely nothing has been fixed at this point other than the beginning and end point beers. i'd broadly thought of keeping to the hills and pointing south. keeping it interesting and away from big cities.

approximately heading in the direction of kielder after starting out over the moor foots, innerleithen. just a quick scan at maps obviously links kielder to bellingham and then , as you say down to hexham.

bloody hell, this might actually be do-able.

very exciting.

[Ray Young]

absolutely nothing has been fixed at this point other than the beginning and end point beers.

[ianfitz]

theres aidan hardings EWE route which goes very close to huddersfield too if you needed a link between the mary townley loop/PBW. I've not ridden that section of it myself so can't recommend it but its available online.

may well use it in the next couple of weeks to either go or come back from cumbria so will report back.

[mtbmarkymark]

I used to live near Kirkburton
my advice for the last bit is to stay in the pennines until Marsden, upto Wessenden Head on the PBW, swing down to Metham, back road to Honley. Farnley Tyas and into Kirkburton.
Hope this helps

[octavius]

thanks everyone for all the advice so far, what a helpful bunch you all are.

all the info is very much appreciated. really need to get into the guts of the route now, ill post my plans up when I've got them a bit clearer.

and expect more questions on kit and bike set up as well. over 25 years mountain biking but not far from clueless as far as bikepacking goes. its right tight left loose eh?

[pistol pete]

Marsden is defo the best route in, some great single track to put a smile on your face from Wessendon Road down. If you need any pub recommendation let me know there is a fine choice :)