Sunday morning ride from Hawes, up the Roman road past Burtersett and across to Cam Top then back to Hawes via the Bridleway to Snaizholme (this has recently been resurfaced with hardcore in places, so its not as wet and muddy as it used to be), then down the wet grassy Bridleway towards (see the photo with my bike against the signpost) Gaudy Farm House.
MTBRoute Hawes-Cam-Gaudy zipped .gpx file of Route, distance approx 14 miles.
Just done a shortened version of the Wensleydale Loop that I did last year. Didn`t have the time or to be honest the fitness to do it again particularly not with the winds we are getting at the moment.
Anyway a good 50% of the ride is on the road. Distance approx 25 miles.
Route Description
(Hawes – Bolton Castle Loop zipped .gpx file)
Starting in Hawes rode towards Aysgarth and just before the climb up to the village there`s a foot bridge over the river, take that then head right on the road when you join it to Carperby. Just before the village turn right then first left and follw the single track road until the Bridleway sign and follw this through the fields, under the old railway bridge and then through a narrow path in some trees, this whole section can be very muddy and wet. Then back out onto the road and turn back left towards the unmissable Castle Bolton, up the steep hill.
Then round the back of the castle take the bridleway and follow it all the way to Askrigg, some superb views up Wensleydale. Then down to the road again and back to Hawes.
Tried a variation on one of my usual Routes the other day.
From Hawes to Burtersett and right up the Roman Road, keep going untill you hit the Cam Road and then take the Small gated track past Cam Farm and then down towards Ribble Head Viaduct, nice long speedy downhill great fun after all that climbing up the Roman Road.
Once you hit the main road turn right and then in about half a mile take the Single track road to Dent Head, bit of a pull up but then a pretty good path across to the Dent Head road, then if time is short as it was for me, take the main road back to Hawes, or after a quarter of a mile take the Bridleway up and then down Widdle. (Rough get off and walk section on the way down)
Anyway here are some pictures and a zipped gpx file of my route, distance approx 22 miles.
Hawes-RomanRoadDentHead gpx file
Heres some photos from a couple of recent rides, the first from a 10 mile loop from Hawes to Cotterdale and up through the forestry (Which is currently being cut down) back over Shunner Fell and a great descent down to Hardraw.
click here for a zipped .gpx file Hawes – Cotterdale Loop1.gpx zip
The second a loop from Hawes up the Roman Road above Burtersett then across to Cam Houses and then taking the Bridleway down past Snaizeholme, (Which is also being logged). past the 4x4s stuck on the large stone step and down the very muddy lane.
Click here for a zipped .gpx file Hawes-Snaizeholme-incomplete.gpx Zip
Had a bit of a quick MTB session today, set off sunny so shorts and t-shirt a bit of a risk, especially as everyone else I saw was all wrapped up. Still it was sunny. Quick ride up the roman road above Burtersett, past a group of bikers who were a bit more flash and bling than usual. Across Beggermans road and aimed for Cam and then down past the forestry near Snaizeholme and back to Hawes. I say forestry but most it gone now for logs and the whole track is now a rocky mess. It was at this point that I noticed white stuff in the wind, pollen maybe. No, it was snowing in May, on the tops in Yorkshire unbelievable!! and cold. Here are a few of images.
Thought I`d have a quick ride up the Roman Road above Burtersett on my Mountain Bike to see if there was any snow left and to come back over the top towards Semerwter. However, it ended up being a bit longer than anticiapted as the snow was too slippy/slushy to pedal through on the tops and/or for me to downhill by myself, so I deceided to take the longer way and took the road back down from Cam. Still thats a good steep hill and gets plenty of speed. The off-road tyres don`t half roar.
So basically from Hawes on the Road to Burtersett, then a right turn up the Roman Road (about a mile past Burtersett), its all up hill so a bit gruelling for about 3 to 4 of miles, then along the top on the track to the Road end on Cam and whizz back down to Hawes through Gayle.
