Introduction
Combining road, easy forest tracks and more interesting bridle ways this makes a good beginners’ route. It’s ideal for summer evenings with a pub stop afterwards at the Everley Hotel which has a pleasant beer garden.
Alternatives
The route could be shortened by descending the track described in Langdale Loop from Broxa. If you wished to extend the route the forests north of Broxa have lots of potential routes.
Conditions
The area can be muddy after rain, but most of the tracks used here are surfaced well enough to remain rideable even during wetter periods.
Hazards
There are no special hazards to be aware of although navigation in the forest can be tricky, especially since recent forest cutting in Broxa forest.
The route
Park on road outside the Everley Hotel. Set off west along the road towards Hackness. At the hamlet at the road junction turn left on the road sign posted for the ‘Forest Drive’. Continue in the same direction ignoring a side road for Troutsdale. Two miles from the start there will be a road to the right heading uphill sign posted for Broxa. Take this road and climb it to the village of Broxa.
Carry on along the same road northward until the surface changes to gravel at the start of the forest. Two miles after going into the forest, you will see a view over the moors to the left as the track runs along the top of a hill. After a further mile the track meets a road by a small car park at Reasty Hill Top. On weekends there is often a snack van here if you are so inclined.
Slightly further east of the carpark is a track leading right. Look for the wheelie bins if you are unsure you have found the track. Turn down this track for 300 yards until a track to the right can be seen. Follow this smaller track down into the woods. Three quarter of a mile from where you joined the smaller track, there will be a BW to the right at SE 954 936. It’s pretty hard to spot the correct path, especially since forest clearance in Jan 2006. In time the waymarks will be restored, but in the meantime this is a tricky path to find. If you meet a metal gate you have gone too far and need to backtrack.
The path through the trees joins another BW crossing from left to right. Turn left onto this, and start to descend along a narrow sunken lane through the trees. Eventually the slope will ease off and you will leave the trees before passing through a gate and onto a small track near a cottage. Turn left on the track, and carry on as the track turns into a road heading south. You will shortly arrive at Lowdales farm. The road here may be flooded in winter, if so take care as the roadsurface can be slippery underwater. If you don’t care for getting wet there is a footpath on the left side of the road. Carrying on along the valley you will eventually reach the village of Hackness and a bigger road with a large stone wall on the opposite side.
Turn left towards the church and head up the road with a small stream running along a gutter to the left. After a mile and a steep climb, you will arrive at a junction with a road to the right just before some farm buildings. Turn right down this minor road and carry on to Suffield Ings Farm. Then follow the BW as it crosses the lawn of the house before heading along the edge of the field to a wood. Descend through the wood to a gate, and then carry on descending to a gate near the corner of a coniferous wood. After the gate, ensure you follow the rough path which follows the fence line and stays more or less level, not the one which descends towards Mowthorpe Farm. Follow the BW along the fence line and cross several fields. Then descend past some houses and you will arrive at a road. Turn right on the road in and in a few hundred yards you will be back at were you parked the car.