Riding The Wainwrights - Selside And Branstree

by David Goode
8 years ago
Near Bampton, GB

38 views

A real mixed route. I had to park further down the valley due to road closure then follow the lane to Swindale Head before taking the Old Corpse Road up onto Mardale Common, clearly a historical route, branching off along the ridge over Selside to Branstree (the summit of which is a little to the right of the beaten track). There are some curious large cairn-like structures which might, or might not, have to do with the surveying of the Haweswater Reservoir. Riding off-piste down to the bridleway in Mosedale is a lot easier than the bridleway itself which in places gets lost in the bog but generally improves after Mosedale Cottage and is an enjoyable ride down the valley. Quite slow going terrain. A nice quiet area for avoiding the grockles in the summer but the bridleway is best when the ground is frozen or very dry conditions.