Ymsa Series Directions **updated 29th March 07*

[AdamR28]

Hey everyone,

We've decided that the YMSA series would benefit from some decent directions, so here we go:

Bracken Rocks

This a really good venue, used nearly every weekend during the season for bicycle and motorbike trials. Gets a bit slippy in the wet, but awesome in the dry! Watch out for the ants though

The best way to get to Bracken is (as usual) by car. The road you need to head for is the A6 running between Matlock (North of Bracken Rocks) and Ambergate/Belper (south). Ideally you want to avoid Matlock, especially at weekends, since it gets colgged up with people wandering about and can easily add nearly an hour to your journey.

(Click to enlarge)

The nearest place you'll be able to find easily on a map is Whatstandwell, and there's also a train station here (the small pinky/red blob just south of where it says 'PH' on the map below). It's about 2 miles from the venue, so easily rideable if you can't get the use of a car!

(Click to enlarge)

From the North: When you're heading towards the red cirle on the map, the river will be on your left. The road will then take a left bend and cross over the river, then there will be a pub on your left. Instead of following the road (which goes round to the right), take a left turning off the A6 (which kinda heads straight on). This then follows a pretty steep hill which curls round to the left. Around 150 yards after turning off the A6, theres a road on your left which is Robin Hood Road. Take this turn and follow the road for approx 1.5 miles (not measured exactly, so don't hold me to it!). You'll see some bee hives on your right, and then just after this theres a white gate on your right, with a house on the left just as you go through - this is the entrance to Bracken Rocks! Follow the track and park up on the gravelled car park round to the right.

From the South: When you're heading towards the red cirle on the map, the river will be on your left. At the red circle, there's a pub right in front of you, and the A6 takes a left turn across the river. Don't follow the road, but take a sharp right turning off the A6. This then follows a pretty steep hill which curls round to the left. Around 150 yards after turning off the A6, theres a road on your left which is Robin Hood Road. Take this turn and follow the road for approx 1.5 miles (not measured exactly, so don't hold me to it!). You'll see some bee hives on your right, and then just after this theres a white gate on your right, with a house on the left just as you go through - this is the entrance to Bracken Rocks! Follow the track and park up on the gravelled car park round to the right.

Dudwood Farm - nearest postcode DE4 2LZ

Another great venue, much smaller than Bracken, but a really fun place to ride. The rocks are nice and grippy in the dry, but it gets muddy quite easily. The rocks at the first part are often changed around with a digger, so that keeps things interesting There's plenty of tree cover too for when it gets hot in summer! There's also a really cool dog called Hebo

Dudwood's not near any train stations so its pretty much car-only for transport. These directions are from the A6 (once again, I recommend steering clear of Matlock if you can!), but you can also use the A5012 if you're coming in from the north-west (A5012 is shown on the left of the first map). I think Winster and Elton are both signed from the A6, so take this turn off. There's a railway crossing a few hunderd yards after the turn, so if you don't see this then head back to the A6 and try again!

(Click to enlarge)

Just after you've been through the small town/village of Winster, you'll come to a cross roads. Take a right turn here onto the B5056 (I think this will be signposted Bakewell A6, but don't hold me to that). Follow the B5056 for around one mile, at which point you'll see a group of trees up the hill on your left - these is the ones circled on the map below. Take it steady and you'll see the gate on your left, go through there and head up the track towards the farm house!

(Click to enlarge)

Job done

Burycliffe Quarry

Burycliffe's another top venue, plenty of decent rocks, some nice rolldowns/kickers and quite compact. Gets a bit chilly in a blizzard though!

Anyway, to assist with directions, the trial on Sunday will be signposted with either the new Black/White/Pink signs or the usual yellow arrows at the points shown on the following maps.

The idea is to get everyone to the same point and then take it from there. This point is on the A5012 between Grangemill (East) and Pikehall (West) (both seen on the map below), and is at a crossroads with Moor Lane (see arrow). Edit: Looking at the below picture its not clear if you can turn off the A6 onto the A5012... You can, but after doing so make sure you take the next major right turn onto Water Lane/A5012.

(Click to enlarge)

There will be Black/Pink/White signs pointing up Moor Lane from both directions at this point.

(Click to enlarge)

From there head North on Moor Lane towards Elton.

(Click to enlarge)

When you get to Elton, you'll see one of the Pink/Black/White YMSA signs pointing to the left, so turn here and follow the road for around 500 yards, where you'll see a yellow arrow directing you to the right.

(Click to enlarge)

Make a right turn here onto Cliff Lane. Follow that road up for around half a mile until the road curls round to the right. From there, keep a look out on your left for a gate with a YMSA banner on it. Take this sharp turn up the hill and you're there!

Hope those help, if there's any additions/tweaks needed just let me know!

Cheers

Adam

[oakley]

nice one adam!!!

im sure that helps alot of people!

very clear and easy to understand aswell!

joE!

[Rebelistic]

Good directions but Bracken rocks only seems to be open from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays

I arrived at just gone 4 to be told I couldn't ride