The southern loop

This is the longest as it starts on gravel tracks in the Upper Calder Valley above Hebden Bridge, connects packhorse tracks going north from Todmorden, crosses the Old Salt Road in the Bowland Fells above Slaidburn, follows the green lane towards the foot of Cautley Spout on the slopes of the Howgill Fells above Sedbergh, takes the unique singletrack across the limestone pavement at Great Asby Scar above Orton, plunges down the superb and very long track from the Tan Hill Inn into Swaledale and then climbs over Rombalds Moor above Ilkley to bring you to one of the hardest climbs of the route up to the ‘Top of the Stairs’ above Haworth.

The central loop

Climbs onto the rocky ridge line of High Cup Nick, a U-shaped glaciated valley and one of the most dramatic landscapes in the north of England and then onto the slopes of Cross Fell, the highest moorland in England with the route going past the welcome sight of Greg’s Hut.

The northern loop

This section of the route embraces a landscape shaped by 300 years of industrial mining for lead and zinc as we pass through Nenthead and onto the fast flowing greenway on a former railway that runs from Lambley to Alston along the white waters of the South Tyne. The furthest point north is the Vindolanda Roman Fort at Stanegate.

Each of the three loops can be enjoyed as a self contained adventure ride or the whole trail ridden over a number of days. There are handy starting points using pubic transport on each of the loops from Haltwhistle train station for the northern loop, Appleby station for the central loop and options from Kirby Stephen, Ilkley, Mytholmroyd, Bentham stations for the southern loop.