Blanchland Moor, Northumberland

Distance 27.7km (17.2 miles) Climbing 590m (1,935ft) time 2hrs to 3hrs 30mins

Route summary A wonderful moorland ride with some superb sections of singletrack in a stunning setting. Being a igure-of-eight loop, it can easily be broken down into an easier outing if required Start/ inish Blanchland car park (postcode DH8 9SP, grid ref NY 963/504)

1

Exit the car park and turn left on a dead-end road. Climb on a rough track and continue to Penny Pie Farm. Keep right here (signed to Ladycross), across the moor, heading north. Head left at the fork, then take a right, into Slaley Forest.

2

Go left at the (forest track) fork, then quickly left again at the next one. Ignore the right turn before the clearing on the right. Look out for a trail to a gate in the fence on the left before the track bears right. Head left on some singletrack, keeping ahead. Pass through a gate. After 300m, go left to another gate, then descend to a wall.

3

Turn left (with a wall on your right), then left again, through a gate (when the wall is ahead). Go right on a track, then downhill on tarmac. Shortly after a lane to a farm on the right, head left on a (grassy) bridleway, then right on a better track, past Cote House Farm. Go right at a T-junction, back to the car park.

4

Continue through the village centre. Go right on the B6306, over the bridge, then take the first right, by the last houses. When the road turns sharply right, keep ahead through a gate on a bridleway (stay on the road for an easier climb to the top).

5

Take the grassy climb, continuing straight ahead and onto a better track past the wall. Keep left at the fork near the top and follow the track around a hard left shortly afterwards, along the ridgetop.

6

Gradually descend, passing through a gate in the corner. Cross the water and descend along a good track to Edmondbyers village. Turn left on the B6306 and follow it around the edge of Derwent reservoir, back to Blanchland.

LOCATION DETAILS Located on the northern tip of the Pennines, Blanchland is nestled in fabulous countryside with some great moorland trails. It’s exposed and there are some big hills, but most of the climbing on this route is on good surfaces.

GETTING THERE Blanchland lies south-west of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Consett, on the western side of Derwent Reservoir. Leave the A68 and take the B6278 to Edmondbyers, then the B6306 to Blanchland. The car park is signposted from the village centre. MAPS & BOOKS Ordnance Survey Landranger: 87 Hexham & Haltwhistle. UK Breaks with Bikes by Max

Darkins (Rough Ride Guide).

FACILITIES There’s the Lord Crewe Arms hotel (01434 675337) and a shop in Blanchland, plus a pub in Edmondbyers. Contact Corbridge Tourist Information Centre on 01434 632815 for details of other facilities nearby. Hamsterley Forest has some good manmade trails.