Great Asby Scar

Singletrack across the limestone grassland.

 

Greg’s hut

Mountain bothy below the summit of Cross Fell.

 

Cross Fell

From Kirkland we climb up the western slope of Cross Fell to reach the exposed plateau of England’s highest moorland where, on a clear day, we see the serrated edges of the Lake Districts highest peaks.

 

Dufton Pike

The classic descent from High Cup Nick takes us past Dufton Pike, its conical shape a result of its hard layer of volcanic rock.

 

Hadrian’s Wall

We pass through this World Heritage Site at Steel Rigg, Northumberland. Just below the wall is Twice Brewed which has a Youth Hostel and a very good Inn.

 

Howgills

We take tracks along the eastern flank of the Howgills and so cross Cautley Beck which flows from Cautley Spout, an impressive series of rock pools, rapids and waterfalls.

 
 
 

High Cup Nick

A glacier created this huge chasm and gifted us a unique landscape framed by dolerite rock columns.

To get to High Cup Nick there is 10km of remote moorland singletrack to navigate with the beck a useful guide and two wooden bridges as well as wooden boards used to span the waters and boggy areas!

 

Lambley Viaduct

Lambley Viaduct is a 850 foot long viaduct that forms an impressive sight over the the South Tyne and is a key part of a 10km traffic free route south from Lambley to Alston on a former railway line.

 

Ribblehead Viaduct

The iconic stone arches - 24 massive curving pillars of stone - are one of the highlights of the ride as we pass under the Settle to Carlisle railway.

The Pennine Journey zine features an article about the three shanty towns that the workers lived in during the long hard years of its construction between 1869 - 1874.

 

Salter Fell Road

We cross the Bowland Fells on a Roman track that in the 14th Century was used to transport salt from the marshes at Morecambe Bay into Lancashire. The track is also known as Hornby Road and straddles the border between Lancashire and North Yorkshire.

 

Scar House

We descend Dead Mans Hill on gravel tracks that go on for miles along Scar House Reservoir in Upper Nidderdale.

 

Swaledale

Fabulous gravel track along the River Swale, the last wild river in the Yorkshire Dales.

 

Tan Hill Inn

Descent from the Tan Hill Inn.

 

Upper Calder Valley

 

Steep Lane, 2km from the start line at Mytholmroyd

 

London Road below Stoodley Pike at the 5km mark on the outward part of the Pennine 500.

Single span packhorse bridge over Paddock Beck on the return leg, 10km from the finish line

Final climb before the descent into Hardcastle Craggs and onto Hebden Bridge

 
 

INspirational bit

 

Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride

Eddy Merckx

 

You either love spinning the pedals and watching scenery whiz by, or you don’t. And if you love it, not much can sour you on the idea of riding your bike.

Keith Mills

 

I have fled my country and gone to the heather.

Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights (1847)

 

And the moors were always there and never without their promise.

J.B.Priestley

Bright Days (1944)

 

Water, that strong white stuff, can here be seen at its origins. It wells from the rock, and flows away. For unnumbered years it has welled from the rock and flowed away. It does nothing, absolutely nothing, but be itself.

Nan Shepherd

The Living Mountain (1977)