Ladybower Classic is another route from 'Dark Peak Mountain Biking', and one that I've not done before, although I have ridden sections of it in the opposite direction.
The start is at Heatherdene car park (all of the free roadside parking spaces were taken...) at the eastern end of Labybower. From there its up to the Ladybower Inn on the A57 where the first off-road section starts. The ride now is the same route as Ladybower 2, but in reverse, untill Fairholmes is reached. A tough climb (walk!), superb in descent, leads to nice rocky moorland trails then onto to muddy slippery almost unrideable mankyness (fell off). However, this in turn led onto Derwent Edge and far more enjoyable but still muddy riding. Riding down to the reservoir along tracks that I usually ride up was fun, especially when things got narrow and technical along a dry stone wall (I did make a bit of a hash of things!).
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| The track between the Ladybower Inn and Cutthroat Bridge, A57 close by on the right. |
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| From Derwent Edge, its down here to Ladybower. |
Tarmac leads to the excellent Gores Farm descent, which in this direction is a climb (walk!), and it felt rather strange climbing up one of the best downhills in the area. Plenty of other bikers were about today, I met someone on this section converting their bike to singlespeed after wrecking their rear mech. I was tempted to turn around and ride down again, conditions were superb, but decided to press on instead.
Once past Fairholmes it was new territory for me, down towards Hagg Farm on another rocky descent, again highly rated. Rocky, stepped, and bermed at the top, its a lot of fun but you do need a fair amount of skill (which I haven't got!) to get the most out of it. I'm looking forward to re-visiting this section. Then all too quickly its across the A57, down another steep slippery (but fast and fun) bridleway, across a little bridge then turn left. Wide forest roads (muddy in places) lead back towards the end of Ladybower and the car park. This section is either a slog, a fast slalom through assorted walkers or a chance to step back and admire the Autumn colours along the banks of the reservoir. (Ladybower really is a lovely body of water, and I really cannot understand why the water company doesn't allow canoeing on it).
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| Looking along Ladybower from the forest track. |
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| Autumn colours on Ladybower, the A57 is on the opposite side of the water. |
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| Them forestry boys... |
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| ...get all the best toys! |
16 kilometres, loads of mud, one scabby knee, and the first wear of my new Endura windproof gloves!
Paul.
Another interesting route...glad to hear I'm not the only one with lack of skills off-road, although I am sure you are more proficient than me. We had a visit recently from those forestry boys, thinning out the Coed Cae Fali...I was amazed at the steepness of the terrain those logging vehicles traverse without a second thought. The drivers must have nerves of steel!
ReplyDeleteLogging vehicles are fascinating, I watched one recently in the Goyt that had an arm that could grab a small tree at the base, saw it off, then stack the trunk in a pile. Very efficient!
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