Langdale Loop Route Details

The route is located in the Langdale valley, and some of the hills on either side of the valley. The riding is mainly on a series of forestry and farm tracks with a minor amount of singletrack. There are some fast steep technical descents and steep climbs, so riders need a reasonable level of technical skill as well as good fitness. The route is recommended for intermediate level riders. Route finding is easy, apart from the forestry section on Troutsdale Moor.

Some parts can be very muddy, and the route is best attempted when the ground is dry although with care it will remain rideable all year.

Some sections can be overgrown with stinging nettles, and tree felling operations in the forestry commission areas. Care needs to be taken after heavy rain at the ford at Thomson’s Steps.

Shortening the route by missing out Broxa or Little Stubby head. If you wish to extend the route you can continue north at Broxa to Reasty Hill Top, and return to Lowdales farm via either of the two dales to the north of the farm (see Everley Loop for details).

Park in the layby near the bridge. Follow road to east for ¼ mile, and either sharply turn left to follow the BW up the hill or carry on a further few hundred years to reach parallel road which turns left and steeply uphill towards Broxa. In either case climb until you reach Broxa. The road is usually easier as the BW is too steep ride in places.

From Broxa, continue north on the road and look for farm track to the right, after the farm. Follow this track downhill. The top part will often be heavily over grown, but as you start to decend, the path should clear. A steep rocky, and at times wet, descent takes you to a quiet tarmac road. At the road turn right towards Hackness. The road then descends gently to Hackness at a T junction.

At the junction in Hackness, head right on the road and after going south for a 1/2 mile you will see a cross roads in a tiny hamlet. Carry on south, towards to red phone box, ignoring the turn on the right. After ¼ mile you will see a minor road on the right, signposted to Wrench Green. Take this road, cross the river, and climb to the small ground of house at Wrench Green. Carry on along the road, and climb the steep but well surfaced track to a meeting of several forestry tracks. At the junction, carry straight on. Take care to pick the well surfaced gravel track heading west as there are several tracks at this junction and it’s easy to get confused. After a mile you will see a small car park, and view point and a tarmac road.

Head west on the tarmac road. You will pass a tree nursery and see a track to the right about 1.1 miles from the start of the road. You know you have found the right track as it’s not gated and is made of well surfaced gravel, unlike other tracks in the vicinity.

Descend down the forest track until you see a track running around the hillside in front of you. Cross this track, and immediately you will see a steep grassy track in front of you. If you are unsure if you have the right path, look for the blue BW waymark sign. Follow this fast and rutted track until you reach a stream and a bridge, and then follow the BW up the opposite side of the valley to the ruined chapel. Just past the chapel you join a minor road.

Once on the road go left, up the hill past Troutsdale Lodge hotel and immediately turn right onto the BW which leads to Troustsdale Farm.  Head towards the farm, but just before you reach the farm, turn left through the gate, following the BW waymarks. The BW then ascends steeply up towards the woods. After going through a gate, the BW carries on up a rather overgrown and tricky sunken path to the top of the hill. Apparently this was once called Post Man’s road, and was ridden by the local postie on his rounds, although you’ll probably fail clear it.

Once at the top, follow the fairly faint path west across the moorland towards the tree line and a gravel track. Then turn right and follow the forest tracks going north. Navigation can be tricky on forest tracks, as not all track appear on the map, and it’s easy to lose track of where you are. Carry on until when you see a small clearing on the left at SE 917 901.  If you carry on at this point, you can miss a few miles and to arrive at Backleys Farm. Turn left into the clearing and follow the muddy forest track which heads west until it ends at a gravel track.

Look for a steeply descending BW on the opposite side of the track. Unfortunately the BW is poorly waymarked here. Descend straight down briefly, before turning left. The BW then descends through the trees, to grassy track on the valley floor. On the opposite side of the track look for a grassy track heading north west. The path is level for a while, before it crosses a small stream, and climbs up the other side through dense pine trees. Once at the top of the hill, go through the gate into a field.  The BW crosses two fields in a south west direction before reaching a small wood. Follow the BW, west along side the wall at the edge of the wood. The BW then reaches a wall and a gate by a wooden sign post. You then need follow the nearly invisible BOAT across the fields to the south west across a field to a gate at SE 900 898. Go through the gate, and turn right on the gravel track. After a hundred yards, the track meets Dalby forest road.

At the junction, carry on north, along the tarmac forest road, until you reach the car park at Bickely Gate. At the nearest end of the car park, look for a grassy track on the right. Follow this forest track south east until you reach a junction with a gravel track which runs along the edge of the hill. On the opposite side of the track, look for a forest track which descends to the left. Join this track and follow it downwards until it joins a further track at the base of the hill. Turn left onto this track and go ½ miles until you see a turn to the right. Take this track and descend steeply downhill past a farm to the valley floor, and then climb up the track up the hill for 200 yards to SE 922 909. You should then see a BW on the right marked blue arrow waymarks.

Turn right on to the BW and follow it uphill in a zig zag. Once at the top of the hill, follow the BW which crosses another forest track. Carry on along a mixture of forest track and single track through the woods until you reach a clearing, and the farm and caravan site at Backleys Farm.

At the farm, locate the track heading due east from the gate by the house. Carry on along the field edge until you reach the woods. The BW follows a level forest track through the woods, before descending steeply until to the edge of the forest.  Carry on downhill until you meet a minor road. Turn left on the minor road, and after 200 yards you will see grassy track leading left. At the start of the path is a gate, and a prominent sign saying the track is closed to motorised traffic.

 

Turn left onto the track and follow the track down until you reach a ford. Cross the ford using either the stepping stones or just wade through the ford. The stepping stones can be very slippery. If the river is in spate, and the stepping stones are under fast flowing water, consider turning back and completing the route by road. Don’t worry too much about getting wet as you are nearly back at the start and you and your bike probably needs a good clean. Once across the river, follow the track to the road. Turn left and the starting point should be in front of you.