Crew: El Pres, Butty, Croxy, Dunc, Lee, Slim, Smiffy, Stunt, TJ
Route: Back Eddisbury lane, short up on old Buxton road into Teggsnose lane, front of teggs to car park, road up past leathers, trail past witches cottage, hacked way lane to start of Charity. Over fence on new trail initially parallel to hacked way lane, following all the way down to the fire road that comes in near to the start of the witches cottage climb. Leathers, mini loop from the back of the lower ressie up to the wall, first bit of white rabbit ascent then left and down back to the road. Old Kings Head.
Conditions: Warm and dry with dusty trails
Notes:
Smiffy and Butty have been exploring new tracks that cross familiar trails in the forest, tonight we put them in charge (well Butty as Smiffy is rather delayed) and see what they have to offer.
A summers evening vibe as April delights to the last, and a promise of in flight refreshment from birthday boy Stunt, it’s a lovely evening to be in the forest.
We head off into the back of Teggs and down the front – with dry loose gravel and rocks giving a few squeaky bum moments. A long series of climbs now up to the leathers, onto the gravel and up to witches cottage. Noting that Narnia is closed for some more months until UU can be ar*ed to clear the fallen trees from the winter.
Fine views from the start of charity.
The singletrack is described by Butty as all rollable if a little steep in a few places. He’s mostly right – there is one drop with an immediate 90 degree turn that is most definitely not rollable, but other than that it’s a great trail in the dry. We end up at some fireroad that is new to us, which is a good spot for some Mango rum and iced coke!
Several e bikes come past – which probably explains the new trail.
We do know where we are when we come out – below a section of the forest felled a few years back which we used to ride when there were trees.
Slightly too early for the pub, so we do a mini loop across to the other side – although it is distinctly e bike friendly!
The road along to the Leathers along the ressies is filled with vans – presumably to transport the army of ebikes that have been sessioning the forest…is this the new normal?
Down to the OKH in the light, where Smiffy awaits having almost caught us – but not knowing the rum spot in the forest.
Well looked after as usual by the team, Inception and Landlord ales of choice. Butty, Dunc and TJ organise a couple of days in Wales for the Bank Holiday weekend on the fly, and the Whisky round encompasses most of the team!
Butty and TJ do a “high road” route back via coalpit lane, calrofold lane, oakenbank and Pott shrigley given they have E to spare!