A good Route - Arncliffe

Arncliffe up and over

Approximatley 7.5 miles long – Difficult ascents so good fitness is required

Suited to Intermediate/Advanced riders

Caution when wet/poor visibility

Start point is Arncliffe Village, North Yorkshire, BD23

• Start point is Arncliffe Village, parking opposite the town hall and school. Commence north over the bridge and follow the road left.
• Take the first right up through the farm yard, sign posted bridleway to Starbottom. The trail steepens through the farm, and zig-zags the hillside.
• Soon the concrete trail breaks up and tuns to grass. Follow the clear route up over the false summit. The gradient lightens and the climb eases. The trail opens up with multiple singletrack lines to choose from, now with rocky sections can be tricky to clean in one!
• Soon reaching the top, the views over Littondale and Upper Wharfedale are spectacular, and on a clear day seem to go on forever. Follow the wall on your right straight ahead across the summit of the hill, and prepare for the descent.
• The descent starts following the wall straight over a rocky path, which soon opens up between gaps in the wall on to a long, fast and smooth grassy descent. Be careful at this point, the path does zig-zag slightly (although not sharply, the grass can be slippy when wet).
• The grassy descent comes to a sudden end with a drop. The trail is all ride-able, however taking the drop at speed can catch you out if you are going too quick and not expecting it. It can be rolled off, should you take the centre line. Or for the more advanced riders, to the right or left of the path, small 2-4ft drop off’s on to a grassy traverse can be found.

Gareth dropping off onto the grassy descent

• The trail soon becomes singletrack and very technical. From the grass, the trail bears left and thins out with no escape routes. Lesser skilled riders may want to dismount here. The drop to the right can put many riders off tackling this section, but stay focussed and take the centre line, and you should be fine. Again, caution if wet, and the rock is Yorkshire Limestone and tends to be very slippery!
• After this technical section, the trail enters the trees, following the contours down the hillside. This section is full of loose rocks, fixed boulders and rooty patches. Although it can be ridden at speeds, its a techy section to be taken seriously! Follow to the valley bottom.
• From here follow the trail across the footbridge and along the lane towards the main road in Starbottom. Turn left at the road. Saddles up high and prepare for a 2 mile road jaunt to Buckden.
• Keep left through Buckden, on to Dubbs Lane. Cross the bridge and take the 1^st left up towards Redmire Farm, Bridleway signposted Litton via Firth Fell.
• Again, the trail starts off on gravel/concrete farm track, through the farm yard, ascend the hill steadily following the trail with the woods on your left. The trail bears right and the gradient steepens, on to grass. Stick to the path here as there are boggy sections which can be difficult to navigate. The trail isn’t as definitive here, so keep your eyes peeled for wooden posts in the ground with the tops painted blue which will guide you up. They eventually lead you to a steep rocky paved staircase leading up to the top of the hill.
• From the top of Firth Fell there is a trig point at 607m. A good place for a picture and refuelling. The trig point is just off the bridleway, to the left.

Firth Fell trig point

• Back on the bridleway, the top of the Fell is flat, soon starting to descend on to Haw Fell. Initially a straight descent, with loose rocks, there is nothing too technical here. The trail steepens and some speed can be gained all the way down through the fields, now on to Ackerley Moor.
• A sharp right turn takes you through farm land, and on to a farm track, carry some speed to cross the stream at the bottom and slow down to enter the farm yard.
• Once through, continue on the bridleway to join the main road at Litton. Turn left on to the road and follow it 2.5 miles back to Arnclifffe. This road is this initial road you started on, so will enter the village over the bridge and you are back at the Town Hall/School.

Please feel free to use this route. Its a great Yorkshire Dales route that gives you a little bit of everything!

Please take note this route is following public bridleways and I accept no liability should you become injured. Always wear a helmet!

Thanks for reading