BEYOND
HAMSTERLEY Mountain Bike Route Guide
Low Graphics accessible site
graphics version
THE GUIDE
Published to mark the completion of the new Skills Loop at Hamsterley Forest in County Durham, Beyond Hamsterley is a superb new guide to mountain biking in and around County Durham.
It's a new concept in mountain bike route guides. There's no need to carry a cumbersome book with you. Simply extract the ride you want from the ring binder, slide it into the splash-proof holder and ride! Printed on sturdy card, every ride includes full instructions with top quality mapping on the reverse. The A5 format means that the card will fit easily into a backpack or jersey pocket.
FEATURES
TOP QUALITY RIDING: You can’t tell from a map what the trail’s going to be like. We’ve ridden the rubbish so you don’t have to.
TOP QUALITY MAPPING: OS maps for each route. Still the best!
RIDE GRADING: All rides graded from GREEN, BLUE, RED or BLACK – from improving beginners to experts.
RIDE PROFILES: Computer-generated ride analysis gives you details of ride length, highest point and how much climbing – and descending – is involved.
DETAILED ROUTE INSTRUCTIONS: Sometimes it’s fun to get lost – but not often. Fully researched and tested directions with six-figure grid references should see you safely round your ride.
MAKE IT LONGER/SHORTER: Think the ride is too tough/too sissy? Options for bigger days out or trimmed down highlights are provided for almost every ride – thats three rides in one!
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Help preserve the planet. Visit the North East by train. Info on local bike-friendly public transport links is given wherever possible.
ROAD DIRECTIONS: Routes and distances from Hamsterley Visitors’ Centre – the centre point of the guide.
REFRESHMENTS: Support local businesses. I’ve given my tips for the best pubs and cafés on route, with contacts for tourist information and other useful facilities.
UPDATES (10/05/07):
ROUTE 2: Between Waypoints 1 and 2, the new West Auckland bypass is now under construction. Follow any diversions in place.
ROUTE 8 and ROUTE 14: At Slaley Forest, felling has changed the landscape near the exit onto Embley Fell (Waypoint 4 on both rides). The path to the gate has been cleared and the Forestry Commission is looking at putting a way marker on the fire road to make the junction more obvious.
ROUTE 11: Between Waypoints 1 and 2: at the gate onto the open fell at Burnt Ridge, some unfortunate experiments with resurfacing the bridleway have spoiled the singletrack somewhat. This only extends for a few hundred metres.
ROUTE 12: Between Waypoints 1 and 2: Work has begun on the long-awaited Haydon Bridge bypass, due for completion in 2009. This will cross the route on a new bridge W of East Land Ends Farm. There may be diversions.
UPDATES (13/11/06):
HAMSTERLEY FOREST: Bike hire, sales and repair in the forest have been transformed with the arrival of WoodNWheels. Contact them on 01388 488222.
ROUTE 3: At Waypoint 6, the wooden sleeper bridge is no more; replaced with a modern concrete design.
ROUTE 13: The Co-Op at Wearhead has closed down.
ROUTE 20: Waypoint 10: The Freeride Trail has now been extended. Follow the red arrows for an extra 500m or so of bermy singletrack with a fireroad return to Waypoint 10.
ROUTE 22: Between Waypoints 2 and 3: Northumberland County Council has carried out some work on this stretch to sort out some of the damage caused by motorbikes.
UPDATES
(11/05/06):
ROUTE 6: At Waypoint 5,
the start of the Bowes Railway path has been upgraded, with new signs and a
small car park.
ROUTE 15: Just before Waypoint
4, the boggy path to the edge of the forest is being upgraded. No more bog!
Route 20: At Waypoint 11
a “no cycling”sign has appeared at the top of the singletrack. It’s
easy enough to cut this loop out – turn L instead of R to go directly
to Waypoint 12.
Want to let me know of any problems or changes?
E-mail me: neil@beyond-hamsterley.co.uk
See a review of
Beyond Hamsterley here:
www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/UAN/4627/v/2/sp/