West Riding Group EGB

Rother Valley Country Park near jn31 M1

Costs £2.50 to park at weekends but free dring the week.

Park in the 'bus turning area', ride around the lake (busy when sunny) and then down the TransPennine Trail 

(29 km)

 

This is a nice training ride along the Trans-Pennine Bridleway (TPB) and Timberland Trail south of Penistone and west of Barnsley.  I was on leave and the weather was promising so I boxed Kali down to Penistone hoping to find somewhere suitable to park.  On arriving at Penistone it quickly emerged that it was Market Day and the car park I had planned to park in was full therefore I parked in an adjacent car park which belonged to the Penistone Bowling Club. I asked a few people who were around if they thought it would be OK and they said that the car park was left open until approx 3 pm on market days.  Not only was it market day, but there was a travelling fair setting up on the field next to the car park so Kali had lots to look at whilst I attempted to tack him up.

 

So off we set in the direction of the Trans-Pennine Bridleway heading to Oxspring, where we turned towards Silkstone which involved a small section of road and a few road crossings where Kali decided that everything at the side of the road was a monster.  Safely back onto a bridleway, which linked up with the disused bridleway, we headed west.  This section of the loop was on an elevated single track through trees before turning into a wide flat track ideal for long canters (which we get little of back home).  The route follows this section until south of Dodworth where we left the trail, did a bit of map reading, and decision making as to where to go next in order to join the Timberland Trail at Pilley, south of Dodworth.  I decided on riding past Wentworth castle to Hood Green which involved a long steady climb before an undulating bridleway section with a few gates and ford crossings. The bridleway finally brought me out at Hermit Hill where there was a small section of road with a bit more hill work before arriving at Pilley, where we picked up the Timberland Trail which brought us out in Wortley, where we road a small section on the A629, before turning right towards the Pennine Equestrrian Centre where we joined the TPB again.  This is an alternative starting point which has parking facilities specifically for horse boxes/trailers (and last year when I did a training ride from here with my mum they let us get water from the yard – we did ask nicely!). 

 

A ten-minute steady canter brought us to a tunnel which is lit from 6 am to midnight. And then another couple km brought us back to Penistone.  When I returned to the car park I had a note on the windscreen stating that unless I was a member of the Penistone Bowling club I was liable to be clamped and instructed not to park there again – so I can safely say it is not a suitable car park!

 

We completed this route on 20 April 2006 in 3 hours.  It did rain lightly for the first half of the ride but it did not dampen my enjoyment of the riding or the scenery. 

The 'Wether Farquarwi Tribe' rides again.....

This is likely to get long, so if you can't be bothered reading to the bottom, let me just say this much: You MUST ride the Mary Towneley Loop, people, at least once in your life.

I have to admit to being very scared in the weeks leading up to our little excursion. Normally, when I do trails, it's very much on a shoestring. We camp, corral, stay with friends, and maybe just use the odd B&B. Some friends of ours had ridden the MT Loop last year using the 'Towneley Trailriding' farms, and they'd come so highly recommended that we decided to do the same this year, making for a civilised all inclusive trip. Of course I'd had to pay up front, hence the wibbling. Plans are baaaaad.......... Our idea (not a plan) was to start the ride a bit further down the Pennine Bridleway, just below Uppermill, adding a bit onto the Loop and making it 4 days riding instead of 3.

At Lindum, Kerry was asked at the last minute to be part of the West Riding Team for Team Spirit. She went with strict instructions not to break him and to take it steadily.......unfortunately I forgot to brief Spider, who went like a bat out of hell and ended up with pretty nasty boot rubs on his legs (ruddy sensitive pink skinned grey ayrabs....mutter mutter). We're quite well versed at patching Spider up now, so we did the usual - Protocon, Neem..... cue unusually sunny spell in the week before we were due to do the MT loop and his pink rubbed skin just erupted with sunburn. He has 3 pink legs and one black one, so he had 3 puffy swollen legs and one normal one.

We then had a twice daily ritual of cold hosing, walking, and applying germolene in the hope that we could get his legs to calm down. He was
totally sound, and as he really really hates being hosed he demonstrated his soundness quite well as he refused to be caught ('You're going to make me wet. I hate you.'). We said we'd make a decision the day before departure...... and his legs started going down slowly..... They were still a bit puffy, but they weren't sore, he was sound, well up for it, and we decided to chance it. Only problem being that there was no way we would be able to put boots back on him for a bit, so we would have to chance him unbooted.

Our first day's riding was allegedly (we've since found out that the book lies) 24 miles between Freizland and our first B&B. The aim was to ride steadily, to set off reasonably early, and to take all day over it, intending to arrive about tea time. We parked at Freizland arena, and by 9.30am we were on the trail, moseying along an easy stretch of disused railway to warm them up.

Then there was a little bit of roadwork before we arrived at Diggle and climbed up on a hard track which turned into a stony moorland path up to where the bridleway crosses the A62. The signage is excellent, both on the trail itself and on the roads that it crosses.

A little more moorland track, a bit more road, a grassy bridleway, and then we headed over towards the first of many reservoirs. There were lots of gates, but I think I only had to get off for a couple. The paths around the reservoirs were hard underfoot, with some being cobbled and/or rocky.

The views were stunning, although it was scary how little water the reservoirs had in them. We climbed up and down and up and down round reservoir after reservoir, and across some very bleak and beautiful moorland, until we got to what I thought was halfway (it wasn't) and we stopped for lunch on the top of a hill in the middle of nowhere. Bliss :-) We'd already done nearly 1km of climbing.

Carried on past Piethorne reservoir, and climbed up an old packhorse trail to get our first view of the M62. We zigged zagged along, then, to drop down to pass under the motorway. It was on this path that we met a naked cyclist, but when he saw us, he panicked, cycled back behind the next hill, put a pair of shorts on, and then came back past us. I don't think he'd realised that we'd seen him. People are funny.

As we descended into the valley, we could see exacly where our B&B stop was, and we got the feeling that we were nearly there (wrong!). After the motorway, we followed a minor road to Hollingworth Lake, before heading off up Benny Hill (You can tell the tone of the ride by now, can't you....).

Next we had a bit that looked straight on the map, but wasn't. The moorland tracks started out quite nicely, and I think we got one of our only canters for the day in here. Round the bottom of Stormer Hill, and over the A58 we went. Then the track got very stoney again, and we hit a section with loads of gates. We also passed a 'Home for Distressed Animals' where Spider thought he ought to stop, because he hates gates.

This section was mentaly quite tough, because the path kept wiggling away from where we wanted to be. The Guidebook had a pretty picture taken from the route here which was entitled 'You are now but a stones throw from the MT Loop' - but it must have been a stone thrown with a rocket launcher, we decided

At last, we headed down the hill, and into Summit. Here we picked up the Loop, and I told Kezza the end was in sight - just like the last section after the final vetgate. After all we just had to climb over the next ridge, just a few more miles...... This section headed over Watergrove Reservoir.

It was beautiful, but isolated, and at least the going, although very hard, was reasonably easy on their feet. Kezza walked with Spider quite a lot of the way here, as she wasn't completely happy with him - he'd felt a bit unlevel and one of his sunburnt bits was starting to come up.

The signage along this section lies - we kept passing signs that said '2.5 miles' then '2.25 miles', then '2 miles' to where we wanted to be, only there was at least a mile in between them. At last we hit a straighter bit, and we could see the pylons that ran above the farm. We were meeting our friend (and fellow WRG member) Ally and her daughter, Amber, there, as they were going to ride the rest of the loop with us, and as it was getting late (nearly 7.30pm by this point!!) they came up and met us, letting us in the back entrance to the farm.

Poor Spider had yet more cold hosing, and we also found that his back had been rubbed a bit at the back by the saddle (have we found the limit for the treeless? we had been in the saddle for 9 hours). Plastered him with germolene again, and he was loads better in the morning. We went to pick up the trailer from Freizland before we set off again the next morning, and after examining Spider we decided it would be a better idea to give him a day off, and to see how he was after that.

Harry was fine though, so him and me, along with Ally and Amber with their coloured cob Moo and 13 hand Fjord named Heidi set off on the long bleak climb up Rooley Moor Road. The Top of Leach is about 470 metres, and the climb had to be done at the walk because the road was stoney and cobbled. We were rewarded with some stunning views over Cowpe reservoir, and all too soon we were descending into Waterfoot down a steep and rocky path.

Across the River Irwell, we wandered through Waterfoot and Edgeside, and then we were on the bridleway to Lumb. The going was nice here, but there was a gate every 100 yards or so. After a relatively short day of 10 miles, we were at our next B&B.

Kezza had already arrived with Spider, who had made himself at home, shouting and weaving. His legs were right down, and as we were running short on germolene, Kezza had found some Arnica Gel in a local tack shop. That did the trick, because in the morning his back had settled down too. To avoid the rubbed bit, we decided that Ally's daughter Amber should ride him, as she's tiny and she has her own tiny saddle. This made Amber's day as she's always loved Spider.

 

Kezza would then ride Heidi, the 13 hand Fjord. As Spider was a bit borderline, we thought it was probably not wise for him to do the full day, either, so we boxed him and Harry up to the car park at the Windfarm on the Long Causeway, cutting off about 6 miles. We timed it about right, because about 5 mins after we arrived in the car park, so did Moo and Heidi.

 

We all rode through Sneddon Clough, past two more reservoirs, and onto a long track known as Gorple Gate. The views were stupendous, and all the ponies were having a really good time. Once we got to the Yorks/Lancs border we stopped a while for a ceremonial rendition of 'On Ilkley Moor Bar T'at' to celebrate being on the right side of the pennines again. Spider was being really good with Amber - he could just have another career as a trekking pony. Kezza was having bags of fun on Heidi who is just a fantastic pony.

Along the road for a bit at the end of Gorple Gate, and then we had a long grassy track uphill towards Gorple Reservoir. We had our only canter of the day here - I armed Amber with loads of instructions for cantering Spider, and she carried them out to the letter.

Another long stony track followed, and we picked our way across the moor until we hit farmland again. We followed various farm tracks and brideways up and down the vallies and ridges, and then we got to Jack Bridge. One last steep climb up to the Long Causeway again, and we were at our last B&B.

The neddies were all absolutely fine, and they had a wonderful field to graze in overnight on the side of the top of the valley. Moo spent a long time just staring into the distance before she finally started grazing, and Spider and Harry cantered around a bit, snorting. Heidi just ate - well she is a pony.

And then we were onto our last day's riding. Spider had been fine with Amber, so she rode him again.

And Kezza was just having too much fun with Heidi. A very steep downhill stretch started the day, down to the canal and river, and then up the other side of the valley. We followed a moorland track around the bottom of Stoodley Pike, and then another steep moorland pack horse trail up round Rake End. Down another steep track, across the road and then up very steeply for the last bit before Summit. I felt quite sad when the trailer came into view at Summit and I knew the ride was nearly over for us.

Thank you Ally and Amber for the wonderful company and for the laughs.

I can thoroughly recommend the Towneley Trailriding farm group, as they looked after us extremely well. The food was amazing, and it was really nice being all inclusive for once. With the bit that we added on, it made the ride about 70 miles over 4 days. It's a tough trail, and the going does not make for fast riding - we walked the vast majority of the way. But the scenery and the sense of achievement is second to none.

It has to be on your 'to do' list.

Wow.

For more of our pictures, please click here http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kerrydawson2319/album?.dir=/2434

 

Trail 6 from the BHS "Yorkshire Dales" on Horseback series

After riding at Coniston Cold with Spider last week, I felt it might be a good idea to do some more hill work to build our confidence so we boxed up the boys and took them over to Middleham for a play (as you do).

Now if you're going to go, aim to be there for 1pm or thereabouts as the gallops are in use by the various racing stables in the area until then but after that then you're fairly sure to get them all to yourselves

We parked at the bottom of the gallops next to "Pinkers Pond", unloaded the lads who began to tuck into the grass and tacked up ready for the off.

Once I'd hauled myself on board (metaphorically speaking) with the help of the Edna, we were ready to go so we walked the horses off up the road (there is a mown grassy track up to the gallops if you don't want to do the road bit but it's quite a steep climb if you've just unloaded) with Harry marching on ahead whilst Spider was more interested in seeing if he could snatch another blade or two of the long grass as we walked up the hill back towards Middleham.

And then in less than a minute, we were there, on the gallops.... so Esther said, do you fancy a gentle trot to let them warm up and that was that. Explosions went off in Spider's brain and we were away, no way was I holding him back said he, this is what gallops are for

WWWWHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE said the Spoo and away we went into a lovely fast canter/relatively steady gallop until he'd got it out of his system before both he and Harry came back to a lovely steady canter, then trot, then walk, over 3½ miles of gently undulating grasslands.

Past the training jumps and then we were going past one of the racing studs, and past a field with TB's with various legs vetwrapped up along a gravelled track (where Spoo decided it might be a good idea to try and go down for a roll and a nose scratch) before going out through onto the road heading towards Melmerby.

There are stunning views here over fields of TBs and the moors whichever way you look so we took our time and walked down the road through the village (which is very picturesque) and turned up to the right following the signs for Carlton - I could live there, oh yes I could - and Esther and I spent time house spotting whilst the horses had a trot through to the end of the village.

At the end of the village of Carlton, we turned up a road to the right signed no through road and followed this for about 1/4 of a mile before joining a stony track to the right again where we started to climb up onto the moors themselves and then we hit the first gate. Now Spider has a thing about gates, he doesn't like them very much, oh no he doesn't, so we've been working on his gate confidence and over took Harry and Esther to let him go up to it first. He got right up to it, put his nose to it and sniffed it so I gave him a good boy pat, hopped off and opened the gate to lead him through. Let Esther and Harry through and then hopped back on the otherside with the help of a nice big verge and then we were away again trotting and cantering across the moors with intermittent Spoo moments when he went into stand still and stare mode before catching up with Harry again.

opportunity on the top 

 

Whilst Spoo took the stopping as an opportunity to snack for a bit (hence the dodgy, what is he doing nature of the above photo) whilst Harry just wanted to keep going (will you put the camera away woman) and then we were at the shooting lodge where we edged the wall and came to a stream.

The boys had a good long drink here and then we had the "arabs don't get their feet wet" business from Spider before he built up all his courage and went through it to join Harry on the otherside before we pinged up and over the brow of the hill up a peat track onto the moors proper. are there some views from there looking back over Carlton!

Cantered along avoiding the ruts and boggy bits and then we came to yet another gate. All I can say is that if you are going to do this ride, make sure that you go when it's dry. It looked as though the tractors had had issues getting in and out when it was wet as the ruts came upto the height of the boy's bellies in places so we had to pick our way through the ruts and avoid the bogs for a good section of this track where the peat had been churned up before coming to another gate. Spider was a brave boy again this time so I again hopped off and on again and then we turned right and my heart started pounding. The earth just fell away in front of us down into the valley of Wensleydale and we had a spectacular view over Bishopdale.

The track then became very steep, Esther electing to ride Harry whilst I again got off Spider and elected to lead him down. Bless him, he doesn't know where his feet are at the best of times so no way was I riding him down after Harry on the steep and stony going. Harry's part mountain goat, Spider unfortunately was behind the door when that essential quality was being handed out. But he followed me down quite happily and occasionally listened to me about where I wanted him to put his feet. I ran beside him where the going allowed and then we came to an even steeper bit.

Even Esther elected to get off at this point and lead down, there was nothing but rocks and rubble beneath our feet as we led the horses down ever further into the valley, opening gates, closing gates, leading ever further down the hill until we came to a small stream running off of the hillside. We stopped here so the horses could have another drink and sloshed the horses (having tied some empty fabric conditioner bottles to the saddles before setting off), giving them the opportunity to cool off and have a grass snack for a few minutes before continuing down the stony track until we met the road at the bottom.

We turned right here again and used a helpful concrete block as a mounting block before the horses decided to pick the pace and trotted along merrily following the road over a small bridge and past a camping site towards West Burton village before coming back to a walk when the road narrowed and became a little slippy.

When we got to West Burton, we got off and let the horses graze on the village green whilst we had a drink ourselves from the local pub before remouting and taking the road out of the village towards Aysgarth before reaching a lovely old bridge which we turned right over, before starting to climb back up out of the valley following some more stony tracks winding our way up a steep inclide onto the old Roman Road where we trotted and cantered for 5 miles before regoinging the road at the end turning right again and trotting to the top of the hill (which was deceptively steep) before bearing left and riding along the verge down along the side of Middleham High Moor gallops (no idea whether these are open to the public or not, but didn't chance it as the verges were more than adequate for a good canter) with more stunning views to the left of us.

And then we were back, back on the gallops where we started and the boys recognising where they were, growing several hands in stature as the gallops came every closer they needed no urging and they were away as soon as hoof hit turf, YYYYEEEEHHHHAAAAHHHH it's great to be alive said the Spoo whilst trying to do an arab head shake, buck and gallop all at the same time allowing Harry and Esther to streak ahead in front of us before they came back to a hand canter, trot then walk before heading back down to our landy an trailer, drinks, sloshes and horsey teas

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Horse is still fit and bored with ‘going round the block’, rider fed up of riding round in the same old mud, same old rain. How about going to sample some foreign mud, or maybe it might be sunny somewhere else – perhaps Skelmanthorpe has cornered the rain and mud market.

Anyway I have pondered, as you do, long and hard and this is my list of places to go locally.

Wintersett, SE of Wakefield.                GR 374 153

Official car park, a variety of routes and loops possible, the old railway lines make good going.

Wharncliffe Woods, NW of Sheffield.  GR 325 950

Official car park, information board showing where you can ride. The Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) route through the forest is now available to all, even if you do not have a permit. Those without a permit should (?)keep to the official trail (??) which is unfortunately not very well marked! Riding is allowed in the Greno woods as well (over the road). Good when it is windy as it is sheltered but watch out for the mountain bikers cutting across the trails.

Dunford Bridge, West of Penistone      GR 158 024

Official car park, access to the TPT railway line. Go west to manchester, but this will involve crossing the main Woodhead Road in several places and it can take a while to get a suitable gap. The route is good but do not choose a windy day! Go east along the railway, 6miles to Penistone, 12 miles to Wharncliffe. Loops can be introduced using the linking bridleways BUT: DO NOT USE THE BRIDLEWAY OVER THE MOORS TO FIDDLER’S GREEN – IT IS DANGEROUS.

Penistone Market Place                       GR 246 034

Do not use on a Saturday – there is a market! Links straight onto the railway line – left to Dunford Bridge (6 miles), right to Wharncliffe (6 miles). Be aware that shortly after going right the route runs next to the Penistone-Sheffield railway line. Trains run twice and hour but if you time it right you can trot along there right quick and not meet the! Give me a ring (or British Rail) if you want to check the train times. Surrounding roads are quiet or have a verge. At Oxspring you can go north and link up with the Dove Valley Trail and go to Wombwell on old railway lines.

Oakwell Hall Country Park, Birstall     GR 213 270

Kirklees have provided an off road route in the country park and there is an arena for hire. Limited riding because it is in an urban area but there is a good ride over towards Tong for which there is a leaflet. Contact the warden for details etc.

Temple Newsam, East of Leeds          GR 358 328

Can be difficult parking because of football matches on a Saturday afternoon or if there is a Big Event. Check with the Rangers. There is an off road way-marked route through the park of about 1½ hours. It is always muddy in the forest section. It is also possible to cross the A63 using the Pegasus crossing and access the bridleways leading to Parlington, to Aberford, then a light lunch at the Swan etc etc (If you are over that way Kippax, Garforth and the Linesway are also worth a visit – Est)

A659 at the turning for East Keswick    GR 362 454

This car park can fill up quickly if it is a nice sunny day so an early start is recommended. There is also some parking at GR 380 425 if you are too late. From these parking places there are a lot of riding options. Go north to Spofforth, west to Harewood, or south to the woods. There is a fair chance you will encounter mud in decent quantities. If your shoes are iffy – go north.

All these bridleways are ones I have used and the bridleways are all usable (except the one at Dunford) so if you have problems or you want to check out a route give me a ring.

I always lock my car and trailer and put the clamp on etc and so far I have always returned to a car and trailer but I cannot guarantee anything! I also have had some jolly good, not very slow rides so have fun. The advantage of riding out in winter is that there are fewer other folk to slow you down!

Jeni Gilbert       01484 863506

Ps you could always ring up other EGB folk and go and visit……..

Now, some time back Caroline Atkinson mentioned that she'd found a place on the outskirts of York called the GG Centre which had fantastic training facilities and me being me, I promptly forgot about it.

As I was over at RideAway the other day buying my new fabulous fuchia pink Troxel in preparation for the pleasure pairs class at Lindum I decided to go and see if I could find a) Raskelf and b) the actual riding centre.

Blow me down with a feather, the place is blooming marvellous, so blooming marvellous in fact that I ended up spending several hours nattering to the owners about our little endurance group, what we do etc and came away with loads of information and some fantastic photos of their facilities.

So, as is my want, with their permission I made them a website... www.freewebs.com/theggcentre

They have a measured 1 mile grass gallops and a measured 1/2 mile all weather sand and rubber gallops, outdoor and indoor schools, loads of lorry parking, picnic area etc which you can use for as long as you want for just £10 per horse.  Take a look!  You'll be gobsmacked just like me