Summits accessible via bridleways or tracks?

I have my dad staying with me next week, he has an off road mobility vehicle. It basically is known for being able to scale Snowdon so it isn't the kind of thing you'd see racing through Asda!

There are a few images and videos of him on walks with me in Snowdonia and the Lakes here and here so you know what I'm talking about.

The old codger probably thought he'd never be on the top of a proper mountain again in his life and I want to make sure he experiences it one more time.

The only things I can think of off the top of my head are Kinder by Jacobs Ladder, Loughrigg, which is a bit lame really though may be a bad weather alternative. The Coledale Valley by going up the quarry road towards the quarry then up on to Coledale Hause then on to Sand Hill and Hopegill Head would be ideal though I've never done the ascent onto Coledale Hause from the quarry approach from the valley so not sure what the path is like but looks like a track.

The only things that stop this beast of a vehicle are serious steps and stiles.

Anyone any ideas? Ta. Jamie

Hi Jamie

Hows about Yoke from either Kentmere or troutbeck ?

I know the Kentmere one,new path along the tops is great,and it would be good for go in that moon buggy,not sure about the troutbeck one but others might know of it..

Hope this helps.

Didster....

Over the past few years the Lake District Nat Park Authority have been developing a series of routes called "Miles Without Stiles", so far there are 39 routes.   Some are valley routes, whilst a few go up onto the top of the fells, such as Latrigg.

Here's a link to them on the Nat Park website:

Miles Without Stiles

Lorraine

When we went up Glas Tulaichean near Spittal of Glenshee we came across a track to within feet of the summit and the rest was reasonably flat. We did not follow the track so do not know it connects.

 Perhaps the old road up matterdale common and on to Stybarrow dodd?

Drum in the Carneddau has a track to the top. As does Carnedd y Filiast in the northern Arenigs.

High Street: bridleway passes close to the summit

Cross Fell, using the  bridleway from Garrigill, or the motor road up to Great Dun Fell

Pen-y-Ghent from Horton Scar (assuming the gate at the top of the lane at Horton Scar is not locked).

Great Shunner Fell (again assuming the gate in the intake wall at the end of the lane is not locked, it shouldn't be because the path from Hardraw is shown as a bridleway at that point).

Bleaklow Head from the Snake Pass (if there is a stile blocking access off the A57 Snake Pass, start from slightly to the east where Doctor's Gate is a bridleway, so no stile).

Those are just a few off the top of my head. There must be loads of other possibilitiess. The whole of the Pennine Way from Horton to Hawes is bridleway for example so would be passable. It does not go over any summits but it's a decent walk!

Just a note of caution on the suggestions - bridleways won't automatically be accessible. They have to provide access for people travelling on a horse or pushbike as well as foot, but that can still mean there are various devices in place to deter other (motorised) access e.g. raised 'railway sleeper' type barriers which a horse can step over and a bike can be lifted over, or squeeze gateways (don't know the proper name, but narrower at the top than the bottom) that might not fit a mobility vehicle.

The track up Drum - it's marked as a track with public access, not strictly a bridleway. Having been up that way a few weeks ago, I think you can get up it without obstacle from the Aber side, but approached from the Conwy valley direction I'm pretty sure there are one or two locked gates with ladder stiles adjacent.

Perhaps not as rugged as you'd really like but in the Clwydians I think the track up Moel Famau from the south is obscacle-free.

Wow, my last two threads have renewed my faith in OM!

Diddy, Yoke from Kentmere is absolutely perfect but for one bugger of a stone wall with only a small kissing gate on it, not sure how big the kissing gate is, found a few pics that seem to show just a gap in the wall. Real shame as the track up over and the one following the ridge are fantastic otherwise. The route across from Kentmere to Troutbeck may be a good one though.

Lorraine I knew of the Miles without Stiles project but didn't realise it had got off already and that they had route on the site, fantastic, glad it shows that Ennerdale can be done as I wanted to do it but wasn't sure if gates would be closed, that would be a great wild adventure for him. They have the Force Crag route which is what I was actually going to do in the first place and then attempt to get up to Coledale Hause and Hopegill Head. Lattrig is one I had thought of but will be maybe too easy, but may actually do that at the end of the day anyway if its a good day as the views across Keswick down Derwentwater are ace.

Mike, will have a look at Drum, think I remember a wall and gap at one point though.

Derek I'll have a look at Matterdale Common and on to Stybarrow Dodd. Spittal of Glenshee is way too far to spending time in a car with my father! Plus I get married on Saturday so its only a one dayer or the missus will go mad!

Mos, ooh there is two of em! Yorkshire Dales was an option actually, I think as well as Pen-y-gent is it possible to do Whernside? I did it last year and remember it being wide decent path all the way with no stiles or gates, would have to come down back same way as descent towards Ingleborough is a bit too steep I think. Bleaklow was an idea in my head too as he'd love the old Fortress plane wreck. Might disappear into the peat though if its been raining... hmm?

Aye I know what you mean Matt, I've been using Google Maps and mostly photos and descriptions of other peoples walks to determine gates, stiles and walls etc. Its not as easy as you'd think like you say, there are so many locked gates these days due to the fact the 'minority' of a few idiots on cross bikes and 4x4's taking libertys.

Will check out Drum and also that Clwydian as never done anything round there.

Another thing I had thought of was Harter Fell from Mardale Head using the Gatescarth Pass?

Great ideas everyone, thanks loads, will post some photos of myself and the old man on his crazy buggy thing next week

Jamie, this is also a useful resource:

http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm

You can match up OS maps next to aerial photos. It might help you find gates and stiles on your potential routes.

Helvellyn... seriously. High Street. Check out some of the V-Graphics mountain bike guide books, all the routes in those use bridleways by necessity, many of them will be gnarly, quite a few won't. Loads of Peak District stuff depending on how rad he's feeling, though few major summits. I wouldn't want to take that up over Doctor's Gate, but I've a feeling you could do a loop over the Roman Road and the track that goes down Jagger's Clough then it all gets a bit tech... I'll have a think. Most Peak tracks and bridleways, as you probably know, tend to get rocky at some point, so while most of the track across the Roych, for example, would be doable, there are chunks that would almost certainly stop him.

ps: shout if you want to borrow a Peak mtb guide btw.

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Hmm Helvellyn, weather isn't looking too bad for Thursday now so that may be do-able, which route? Obviously from the western side but not sure which of the two obvious routes is the best, best as in no stiles or big steps. Apparently he's got a ramp he also takes in case of steps which looks pretty good. Might do a Peak District walk tomorrow too so will consider some of the above and may try Jacobs Ladder or something like that, or the other way from Bowden Bridge to Edale Cross then up the paved path to Kinder Low.

Theres a good vehicle path to the summit of y ro wen at the head of cwm penamnen from dolwyddelan. Not a high mountain but with stunning views accross much of snowdonia and into the cwm itself. Another might be to the summit of moel emoel, north east of bala. There are forrestry paths to the foot of the mountain and the rest of the way is via a broad grassy ridge that wouldn't pose too much of a problem. Again stunning views accross the arenigs, arans, berwyns and south accross bala to cadair idris.

Hope he has a good time whatever you choose.

Well in the end we decided to do the Force Crag Mine route on the Miles without Stiles website. That actual walk was brilliant, saw another person on a standard mobility scooter who was out for the first proper time ever into the wild since being forced to use one and she was having the time of her life. That track is ideal for it.

We knew the Tramper vehicle we had would go further so we crossed the Coledale Beck with ease and went up the steep path towards Coledale Hause, all went well until all of a sudden the Tramper cut out and died. The Oil seal on the motor had gone and there was oil coming off the motor itself. Absolute nightmare, especially when Dad turns round and says "you know it doesn't free wheel don't you", erm no Dad I don't!

So we had to turn the heavy thing round and then basically break it by wedging a piece of metal into the mechanism to disable the rachet so it would free wheel, only problem then was that it auto locks if you go a certain, and slow, speed. We also had to negotiate the Coledale Beck crossing without any power of wheel movement and back up to the easier mine road. Luckily a few walkers helped at the river and some lovely people helped with pushing it back down the mine road.

Other than all that the weather was great, we saw a cracking Lizard, Dad still had a good time and we got great views. Poor Dad is a bit gutted as he had a whole week planned in Wales next week on his buggy and it isn't going to get fixed any time soon as it could well need a new motor which will be over £700!

To add to the bizarre day I forgot my camera though luckily Dad didn't so got a few photos...

http://picasaweb.google.com/jamiebassnett/20100708WALKForceCragMine

  

Warranty repair maybe...certainly worth having a word with the manufacturers at a guess

Jamie - that's brilliant - well done both you and your Dad.  Had no idea these machines could do this and I hope you both have many more chances to get out there.  Keep it up!

Rob

Awesome! Well done Barry and son!!

Nice one fellas, if you try Wales again check out Moel Famau the path up is virtually a lane now, and tho yours is a motorised vehicle i can see anyone complaining.