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Leyburn to Reeth: feedback

Posted: 13 Apr 2014, 6:44pm
by fausto copy
Hi folks, I've been plotting some routes for our forthcoming tour and had selected a route between Leyburn and Reeth, travelling on the unclassified road crossing Leyburn Moor, and passing between Preston Moor and Bellerby and Stainton Moors.
It transpires that this is all within a "danger area" with military firing ranges on either side of the road and a possibility of road closures.
I've had a look at the MOD website, detailing firing ranges and road closures but cannot find any details of this specific area.
Does anyone know where to gain more information or have knowledge of the likelihood of the road being closed when we hope to travel it (probably 7th or 8th May).
Thanks in anticipation,
fausto.

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 13 Apr 2014, 7:34pm
by Dean
You'll be fine. The roads are very very rarely closed. Keep an eye out for red flags - it's an easy detour back up the Richmond Road and along Swaledale if the flags are out. Those roads are well used by the public.

Reminds me, a couple of years ago I was riding along the road from Marske to Ravensworth when the flags went up. Luckily they weren't shooting yet - but they'd lined all their rifles up on the stone wall by the road, and they were all facing the other way. It would have been so easy to have nabbed one. I didn't, of course.

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 13 Apr 2014, 10:00pm
by fausto copy
Dean, thanks for that encouragement.
I really would be glad to know before we set off though, as we'll be doing a loop ride, continuing from Reeth over to Marske and then back round to Leyburn.
If the road was closed, we would have to ride west to Aysgarth and head north to Reeth over Greets Moss.

A few years ago we rode over the Eppynt range and had confirmation that the road would be open for us.
However, we heard lots of firing to our left as we reached the peak.
Coming down the other side, on the tandem, I was a bit desperate for a comfort stop and slowed the bike ready for a dash into the bushes.
Just as we came to a halt, three of the bushes jumped into the air and said "good afternoon folks, lovely day for a ride." :shock:

Mrs. Copy was absolutely terrified and we pedalled on frantically. :lol:

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 13 Apr 2014, 10:38pm
by Dean
Ah yes, there was one time me and a mate were MTB-Ing over Mickle Fell. It was too murky to see the flags, so the only warning we had was a great boom up the valley where they were chucking artillery at some inoffensive landscape features. I've never ridden off a mountain as fast since.

You wouldn't need to detour to Aysgarth - there's an A-road and a B-road from Leyburn to Reeth which is a perfectly acceptable route - pretty quiet and quite pretty, especially the b-road along the Swale, which is one of my favourite roads. There is a minor road past Stainton which cuts off the corner, but I think that may cut across the ranges, and it was closed a couple of weeks ago when last I rode that way.

I can't help with advice on contacting the military, but I cannot imagine that your road will be closed. Since it's on the TdF route, I reckon wannabe racers overcooking the descent towards you are likely to be a greater danger than stray ordnance!

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 14 Apr 2014, 4:31pm
by Ben@Forest
I don't know how forthcoming your tour is and your mention of Marske means you might know this but the B6270 Reeth - Richmond road is currently closed and will remain so until early June at the earliest. If you are going thru Fremington and climbing to Marske then either going down the Downholme road or going all the way to Richmond via Richmond Out Moor then that's fine (you've got two good climbs though!).

The flags up at Bellerby Camp are always flying and it's not unusual not only to hear the firing but to be able to see it as well, some of the southern and western ranges are easily overlooked. The road is always open though - except when it snows!

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 14 Apr 2014, 5:00pm
by geocycle
I guess you'll be fine. the road is in great shape in readiness for the Tdf. I imagine the army will be from Catterick Garrison. Their web site has a contact page so you could try them.

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 14 Apr 2014, 11:11pm
by fausto copy
Our specific plan is to ride from Leyburn to Reeth, over what is known as the Robin Cross Pass.
We'll then double back out of Reeth to Fremington and take the Cleaburn Pasture Pass over to Marske.
Our aim is to tackle those two lumpy bits.
Then we'll amble along Swaledale to Harltey Park and veer off towards Halfpenny House, on to Stoop House Farm and then back to Leyburn.
This should all happen around about the 7th or 8th of May.

Should be interesting if the flags are up, firing is taking place but the road is classed as open. :shock:
If we survive, I should be able to report back. :lol:
Thanks for all the feedback.

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 15 Apr 2014, 2:17pm
by Galloper
All the ranges on that stretch of road face away from the road so although flags will be flying pretty much every day, it's perfectly safe. The road is closed very rarely but is closed one day a year to maintain the right to do so.

Can I reccommend the Dales Bike Centre as an excellent stop off. The lemon drizzle cake is excellent. :)

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 15 Apr 2014, 6:20pm
by fausto copy
Galloper wrote:
Can I reccommend the Dales Bike Centre as an excellent stop off. The lemon drizzle cake is excellent. :)



You can indeed.....where is it exactly?

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 15 Apr 2014, 6:22pm
by Dean
I'd second that recommendation. It's in Fremington.

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 15 Apr 2014, 8:13pm
by fausto copy
Cheers chaps, drooling already!

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 16 Apr 2014, 1:25pm
by Galloper
As you cross over the bridge in Grinton heading towards Reeth it's about 300 yds on the left. The ice cream shop on the Green in the centre of Reeth is also worth a visit and the Reeth Bakey also. :)

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 18 Apr 2014, 8:23pm
by Ben@Forest
Just to say I crossed the moor today. Though I knew the B6270 was closed I hadn't thought of the logical conclusion which is that the moor road is the diversion. Usually when cycling across the moor you'd see maybe 7 cars with a sprinkling of motorbikes at weekends. Today it was packed - and OK it was a good Good Friday - but the road is going to be a lot busier than normal when you use it.

This is in no way to say you shouldn't use it but it is unlikely to be the quiet and pleasant 'panoramic' experience it normally is.

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 18 Apr 2014, 8:50pm
by Paulatic
Surely there will be pedestrian access on the B6270? We have a road closed near me because of bridge weakness I'm cycling a lot now as there is no traffic. Just have to walk the bridge.

Re: Leyburn to Reeth

Posted: 18 Apr 2014, 11:19pm
by Ben@Forest
Paulatic wrote:Surely there will be pedestrian access on the B6270? We have a road closed near me because of bridge weakness I'm cycling a lot now as there is no traffic. Just have to walk the bridge.


Don't know, but the affected part of the road is about 4 or 5 miles, furthermore the reason this road is closed (for 12 weeks) is because it has been subject to long-term subsidence and landslips. This has been annoying locals for years and roadworks have never really solved the problems. But this road is going to carry a lot of TdF traffic, tho not the TdF itself, therefore they are spending money to ensure the works are really addressing the problems this time.

Though you might be right (and the works must be ongoing in different places at different times) I think there is a good chance parts of the road really are completely blocked/dug up. I have heard no local cyclist say you can get through.