Route Ref:  YD23

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If you want a route away from the 'crowds' this could be the one. The grassy single track is clear evidence that from The Stang to the Newsham road is clear evidence of infrequent traffic. The views are good expecially when you get over to Morsdale Road and the 'Kexwith' is a little gem. This is one of those routes to avaoid on a misty day. Even with clear visibility there are a few places where you will need to apply some navigation skills. Having said that the whole route is still ridable but only just in a couple of places.

Starting at the small car park NZ 023081 head down the road for 200m and turm right into the first forest track on the right. This will lead to the BW running NW to SW through the forest to Black Hill Gate. Now the hard work begins. Go throough the gate and start climbing on some narrow, grassy single track. There is enough of this track to follow but it begins to get a bit tricky above Cross Gill. You will need to navigate towards Osmaril Gill (not sure about the spelling as there is a crease on the map)but do not go down it. Keep the Gill on your left and turn southerly. If you meander about a little you should be able to pick up the track again which is now a more distinct double track. This track leads to a gate i teh wall and then continues as a better fram track to a place on the map named Frankinshaw Well. You need to bear right here through another gate keeping the field wall on your left to come out onto the Newsham road.

Turn right and follow the road to the next BW 500m on the right. Folow this SW the side of Holgate Moor. The going gets a bit rough and the track becomes a little indistinct but keep a straight line and you will hit a hard farm track leading down the first bit of downhill to a little gem of a spot called Kexwith. Cross the ford and keep left picking up the track to join the Morsedale Road track. Turn right and follow this track west past St Andrew's Cross. The track does not follow the line of the bridleway but seems to have been taken over by the shooting track. Keep left at the junction and follow as far as the gully. Turn right up the gully and keep to the track dropping down to a junction with another wide firm track below the mine workings. Turn right (north)folow all the way to the tarmac road. Don't be tempted to try the BW along Dry Gill Edge - its not worth the effort.

Turn right for the road climb all the way to Stang Top or Hope Moor. Here you can continue on the road for an easy downhill finish or take the BW over Hope Moor and into the forest. This section of the BW is hard going and is mostly single track but over long grass and crosses soft peat bits even after a period of dry weather. I won't try to explain the route through the forest but you can try your own. There looks to be a few interesting opportunities for some steep single track downhills.

15.5 Miles, 24.94 Kms, 2020 Feet, 663 Metres, N/A Gates, 80% Off Road