North York Moors
- Cold Moor - Chop Gate.
As described here.
The terrain varies as you proceed down the descent, it starts off quite rocky with some nice little drops and hazards, becomes a bit more rutted and gully-like further down before opening up into a wider more grassy finale. When you eventually reach the wall, you follow the track parallel to the wall (passing through 2 or 3 gates on the way) down into Chop Gate itself. This track is also fun & fairly fast, though not so demanding,
- Crossley Side.
As described here and here.
Starts with a tough rocky section, intimidating by both its steepness and the size of some of the drop-offs. Eases off slightly through a narrow, pedal-snagging section before opening up into a full speed plummet down to the gate at the end.
Yorkshire Dales
- "The Pipeline" (Descent from Harker Top, nr Grinton)
As described here and here.
The most difficult to find of descents, there's no visible track from the main track to the start of the descent. GPS, a good nose or prior knowledge are required! Intimidatingly rocky (and those sharp rocks that you just know are going to hurt), good line choice is essential. Eventually the rocks give way to a cross country moorland singletrack that is a lot of fun, with hidden rocks and bomb holes amongst the heather.
- Bunton Hush.
As described here and here.
A hush was a method of mining whereby a dam of water was released to wash debris down a gully to uncover the sub-strata. The result is a deep gully littered with rocks both large and small and that provide a real riding challenge. The bridleway as marked on the map goes down the left of The Hush, which is not the best or most used route. Stick to the centre of the gully.
Line choice is essential here as some of the rocks are so large you would have to lift your bike over them and your bottom bracket is severely exposed on some of the drops! It's a bit gentler and altogether more rideable as you get towards the bottom. From there you can go right to cross to the West side of Gunnerside Gill at Lownathwaite or go left to Swina Bank and stay on the East side. Both are equally spectacular.
