In Brief

Terrain

Mostly farm tracks and bridleways. Can be windy on the tops. Some fast descents, but nothing particularly technical - except maybe the descent from Horse Head Moor when its wet!

Description

A 18 Mile loop which is about 70% off road. The loop takes you around Pen-y-ghent, over Horse Head Moor and then back to the start via Langsthrothdale.

Notes

Don't be temped to park where we did (GR 814 696) as some theiving git may break into your car like they did mine...

Getting There

• From The South Take J31 (A59 East) from the M6, follow this road until Gisburn before taking the A682 (North) Followed by the A65 West. Take the road signposted 'Settle' from the A65 and travel through Settle town centre. Take the B6479 on the right signposted 'Halton Gill' & 'Horton'. Follow this road to Horton-In-Ribblesdale.

• From The North Take J36 from the M6 onto the A65. After about 15 miles take the road signposted 'Settle'. Shortly after this, take the B6479 on your left signposted 'Halton Gill' & 'Horton'. Follow this road to Horton-In-Ribblesdale.

• From The East From the A1(M) Take the A59 East. Follow this road to Skipton. Now take the A65 West followed by road signposted 'Settle' after 6 miles. Travel through Settle town centre and take the B6479 on the right signposted 'Halton Gill' & 'Horton'. Follow this road to Horton-In-Ribblesdale.

Refreshments / Accomodation

Horton In Ribbledale is home to a couple of good pubs and an (overpriced) cafe which also sells outdoor equipment.

There are a couple of places offering B&B in Horton its-self however, you may find that Settle is more to your liking as it offers more choice and more pubs. If camping is more your style, then you'll find a number of camp sites in the surrounding area varying in price / amenities. Phone the Settle TIC on 01729 825192 for more information.

The Route

From Horton-In-Ribblesdale (GR 808 725) turn right onto the B6479. Follow this road until you arrive at a tight right-hand bend (there will probably be some gravel piles to your right). Take the bridleway on the left (GR 814 696) Follow this track for a short distance before forking left onto 'Long Lane'. An arduious climb now follows. After about 3/4 of a mile, the track starts to decend ending up on tarmac at GR 843 715.

Turn left onto the road and follow it for about half a mile until you see the Bridleway on the right signposted 'Bridleway To Litton' at GR 855 728. Head down this bridleway which passes though a number of gates and finishes with a top descent into Litton.

From here, its back on the road to Halton Gill (GR 881 765). A Farm Track leaves Halton Gill on the right and heads up a 900ft climb onto Horse Head Moor. Join the bridleway after the gate at the top and head down the excellent descent to Castle Grid.

Turn left onto the road again for about 1.5 Miles until you reach a fork at GR 875 803. Turn left onto another (narrower) road which climbs gently through Langsthrothdale turning into a track after another mile. Continue to follow this track as it climbs slightly further. At the top (GR 823 784) Go through the gate to join a bridleway.

Follow the bridleway through a couple more gates on a flat farm track. At GR 811 746 the track starts to decsend for the final blast to the finish.

Refreshments/Facilities: Horton - Cafe, Pubs | Litton - Pub

Not Far Enough? Here's a few add-ons to the basic route...

• Adds about 2.5 miles and 200ft of climbing to the ride, and is tougher going. Also removes the roadie start - Instead of taking the 'Long Lane' bridleway at GR 814696, lake the bridleway directly out of Horton at GR 808 725. This will take you up Horton Scar and over the Pen-y-ghent bog (save this for the summer cause the bog is no fun in the winter...) before rounding Plover Hill. The bridleway turns into a track before joining another bridleway at GR 871 765. Take a right turn here and head up the hill to the road. Turn right onto the road and follow it to GR 855 728. Here you rejoin the main route again for the descent to Litton. Refreshments/Facilities: None

• Adds around 6 Miles and 680M / 2230ft of climbing to the ride. Two monster climbs and two top descents are the highlight of this detour... From Litton take the bridleway at GR 907 741 up over Old Cote Moor, then descend on a fairly steep descent to StarBottom (GR 954 746). From here turn left onto the B6160 to Buckden. Take a left turn signposted 'Dubbs lane' and 'Hubberholme' and head down to the bridleway at GR 936 775. Take this bridleway up a monster climb to a wall with a gate which marks the top (GR 924 749). Now follow the bridleway down a top Rocky/Grassy descent back to Litton which drops 1100ft in half a mile. Turn right onto the road at the bottom and rejoin the main route. Refreshments/Facilities: Pubs In Litton & Buckden.

• Adds about 7 Miles and 300M / 1000ft of climbing to the Ride. Takes in a top descent on a Roman Road, but you pay for it with 4.5 miles on the road back to the cars :-( Instead of taking the left fork at GR 875 803 carry on up a massive 1100ft road climb to a junction at the top (GR 861 846). Take a left turn onto a narrow road which turns into a track after 1.5 Miles. Descend all the way to the bottom on a balls-out rocky descent. Cross the stream, and head up the short climb to the road at GR 785 802. Turn left onto the B6255 for a mile before turning left again onto the B6479 at GR 765 793 (There is usually a Burger van here). Head down the B6479 until you reach Horton-In-Ribblesdale. Refreshments/Facilities: None bar the burger van.

• Alternative to the above - Starts and finishes the same, but adds a bit in the middle. Adds 16 Miles and 650M / 2132ft of climbing to the main route. Instead of taking the left fork at GR 875 803 carry on up a massive 1100ft road climb to a junction at the top (GR 861 846). Take a right turn and head down a tarmac descent (not too far though!) to a track (Roman Road) on your right at GR 863 853. Head up this for about half a mile before rounding a right hand bend and beginning the descent proper. This one's another balls-out 35Mph descent to a road at GR 905 884. Head right across this road and continue to descend on the same track until it spits you out onto another road at GR 925 895. Turn left and head down into Bainbridge. Go through Bainbridge - past the pub and turn left onto a road that descends slightly before climbing to a T junction at GR 933 910. Turn left here and stay on this road for about 3.5 miles until you see a road on the left signposted 'Hawes' at GR 876 909. Follow this road into Hawes. Pass through Hawes down a cobbled street and take a left turn up a hill (B6255) as you leave the village. Carry on along this road until you get to a track on the left at GR 860 895. Head up this track (Cam Road) sticking to the main route. The track turns into a bridleway at GR 843 869, follow this while watching the Paragliders to a junction with a minor road at GR 830 834. Turn right and follow this road which soon becomes a track. Descend all the way to the bottom on a balls-out rocky descent. Cross the stream, and head up the short climb to the road at GR 785 802. Turn left onto the B6255 for a mile before turning left again onto the B6479 at GR 765 793 (There is usually a Burger van here). Head down the B6479 until you reach Horton-In-Ribblesdale. Refreshments/Facilities: Pub In Bainbridge | shops, chippy etc In Hawes.