Flouch - Holme Moss Loop

Meet: 10:00 for departure at 10:15.

Parking & Departure Point: Langsett Flouch car park, S36 4GY
On the A616 near Flouch roundabout.
Please be aware there is a height barrier on entry to the car park

What3Words: https://what3words.com/sloping.available.geese

Ride Description:
We start off with a ride through Swinden Woods to pick up the TPT near Hazlehead. From here it's a gentle ride along the TPT to Dunford Bridge, and then up and over the dam at Winscar reservoir.

From here there is a very short 0.5 mile road section before we turn off into the old quarry (there are probably a dozen different routes we can take through the quarry) next to Harden Clough reservoir, and then down through Holme Styles Wood.

Exiting these woods we take the green lane which includes a short rocky descent down to Riding Wood reservoir crossing over the dam and along the trail to Yateholme Reservoir, through Holme Woods to join up with the Woodhead Road where will stop for lunch at The Pantry - a small takeaway serving hot & cold drinks, sandwiches, pies, pastries and cakes.

After lunch we take the climb up to the viewpoint (on a clear day you can see the horizon as far as 40-50 miles towards East Yorkshire) at the summit of Holme Moss. Although this is an A-road it is usually very quiet and we may see only a handful of cars on this 1 mile climb.

After lunch we take the 2.5 mile descent down the other side. Please note this can be a very fast descent where it is possible to reach 45mph on a mountain bike (gravel bikes even higher speeds perhaps), but please only take this at a speed you are comfortable with.

At the bottom of the descent we branch off to take a wooden bridge over the inlet to Woodhead reservoir, and then following the old Longdendale packhorse trail which crosses the old Salter's Brook Bridge.

After crossing over the main road we have a 1.5 mile descent on a quiet road back to Dunford Bridge where we pick up the TPT back to our starting point.

Approx 80% of the ride is off-road, with the road sections being generally very quiet.

Type of ride: Mixture of woodland trails, paved trails, green lanes and some quiet roads.

Technical difficulty: BLUE/RED (Moderate to Difficult), mostly good surfaces with just one short rocky/technical section.

Physical difficulty: RED (Difficult). Total (aggregate) ascent is 2,800ft, so a good level of fitness is required.

Distance: 25 miles.

Duration: 5 hours estimated (including stops).

Suitable For: Mountain bikes, and the majority of the ride will also be suitable for hybrid or gravel bikes, however there is one very short rocky descent that can be walked if needed.

Recommendations: Spare Tube, Tools, Pump, Lunch, Snacks, Water.

Safety: No Helmet = No Ride!