Langstrothdale Chase Mountain Bike Ride

23rd August 2023

The Langstrothdale Chase Mountain Bike Ride is an 20.5 mile route starting and finishing at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

It heads north up out of Horton to Greenfield Woods, then continues via Oughtershaw up Fleet Moss. The return loop is on Cam High Road and the Pennine Way.

This is a medium distance ride with plenty of climbing in it.

Langstrothdale Chase Mountain Bike Ride: Map

The Plotaroute map above shows the Langstrothdale Chase mountain bike ride. You can download a navigation file from Plotaroute.

Langstrothdale Chase Mountain Bike Ride: Route Notes

The ride starts from Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

Parking

Parking at the Yorkshire Dales National Park car park is £5.50 at the time of writing, where there are also WCs. The Golden Lion offers all day parking for £4, and there's limited free on-street parking.

Alternatively, park for free at the Helwith Bridge car park and ride the 2 miles to Horton on the B-road.

The Train

Horton-in-Ribblesdale has a station on the Settle-Carlisle line. Trains take two bikes, but no pre-booking is allowed.

Horton to Fleet Moss

Head north through Horton to the Crown. Turn right in front of the Crown, on a decent stone track that leads up to Jackdaw Hole.

Beyond Jackdaw Hole the gradient eases, but there is a section of slippery cobbles as you approach Birkwith Moor.

The route takes you into a commercial conifer plantation called Greenfield Woods, where there are good-quality forestry tracks.

You pass High Green Field Farm, and hamlets at Low Green Field and Beckermonds. Then turn left up the road to Oughtershaw.

The Ruskin Hostel has self-service tea and coffee facilities and flapjack, and is a great place to take a break. Remember to take some cash if you plan to stop there.

Continue up the road from Oughtershaw to Fleet Moss; there are some steep sections. Look out for kestrels.

Fleet Moss to Horton

Just before the top of Fleet Moss, turn left on a track that passes an old lead mining level and leads across Green Side.

It brings you out at Cam High Road, the Roman Road between Bainbridge and Ingleton.

Turn left on the road which turns into a track. This is the route of the Dales Way, Pennine Way and Pennine Bridleway. There are views towards Oughtershaw Beck.

When you reach Cam End, turn left towards Cam Beck. Here you'l find Ling Gill, a small National Nature Reserve with native trees clinging to the sides of a gorge.

Continue past Cave Hill and Sikes to rejoin the 'out' route at Birkwith Moor.

Descend to Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

Pubs and a café

The two pubs in Horton get mixed reviews, but everyone is enthusiastic about Middle Studfold Farm Tea Room a mile or so south of Horton on the B-road.

Alternative Route

In November 2022, new bridleways were created through Cam and Greenfield Woods. A map shows the new public rights of way.

As a result, there's an alternative route for part of this ride.

When you're on Cam High Road, instead of going as far as Cam End, you can turn left into Cam Woods, and continue through Greenfield Woods to come out at Birkwith Moor and rejoin the original route back to Horton.