I’m trying to scope out some bike riding (MTB) to do in the Durham / Stanhope type area. Anyone here have any local knowledge? I know there’s some way marked trails in Hamsterley forest area, which I was thinking I could add onto a loop that will take me up towards Stanhope. However, I don’t really have time to sit down with a map and sort something out myself before I head up… I’d like to do something around 3 hours or so.

Last time I did something like this, I wanted to have a peek round Shropshire / Church Stretton area, I downloaded someones route off Strava, and it turned out to be very good – it also was very efficient time wise!

Any advice / pointers / routes will be gratefully received.

Some good stuff out on the moors north of the the Wear valley and west towards Cumbria. Pretty remote some of it. There was a thread on STW this week about that sort of area with some routes linked, I'll go dig it out. Could be tempted to join you if you want company and the timing's right.

Here we go: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic ... udhoe-area

You can extend this ride (https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2016/04/ ... shot-fell/) out over Bolt's Law, and then down to Edmundbyers, and if needed a nice loop up to Slaley forest.

In Teesdale (just over Chapel Fell), a run out to High Cup is nice (https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2017/05/07/high-cup/) and can be extended to a bigger loop (https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2015/10/ ... r-strikes/).

Hamsterley is trail centres, but you can do a loop out West onto the moors. Also makes a nice CX loop (https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2017/01/ ... w-showers/).

Enjoy!

Top input, cheers guys

Andy - vague plan is for a ride Sunday 28th in the afternoon - but I've got a wedding and stuff the day before, so the plan is all rather non committal etc. Happy to meet up though if that falls in with what you're doing.

Andy - vague plan is for a ride Sunday 28th in the afternoon - but I've got a wedding and stuff the day before, so the plan is all rather non committal etc. Happy to meet up though if that falls in with what you're doing.

I assume you mean me but I'm Dave. Non-committal is fine with me Just an afternoon ride, not an overnighter? Just realised my car needs an MOT but I could get the train up the Tyne valley and pedal over.

Yes Dave - I meant you
I'll PM you my number.

I've had a quick browse (I'm struggling to search on strava, maybe it's because I don't have a premium account...) on the internets at routes in the area.

Anyway, I think I'll do this route I found: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=njzhhljdfakeakcw

It's pretty similar to what I had in mind having a quick glance at a map at what I would have planned anyway. I'm also sorting a map so I can make up my own things on the fly.