New blog: On the hills – Cribden Up & Over

Cribden Hill hides in plain sight. It’s a big lump that looks down upon the west end of the Rossendale valleys.  You can’t miss it.  But loads of people do.

Where is it?

It lies between Rawtenstall and Haslingden. It’s the hill that has Ski Rossendale on its flank, Whitaker Park on its skirt and the Halo on its side. Yeah, that hill.

What are its vital stats?

Height: 399.2m

OS Explorer map: 287: West Pennine Moors

Different riders have different ways of stringing together the plethora of bridleways on Cribden Hill. Our way is the best way (obviously). You’ll find out in July!

What’s good about it?

A pocket mountain that packs in more bridleways than footpaths. Its ridgeline topped shape affords it some contouring trails but its when you tip down off the ridge that’s best. Without giving too much away about our intended route, it’s safe to say that the best way up on to Cribden is up olde world double-walled tracks on its eastern side.

One of the ways up is okay. One of them is a real knee-popping challenge. And one of them is barely rideable as a decent let alone as a climb (if you’re a demo descender then feel free to ask us about this one during the weekend and we’ll give you the details).

Whichever way you head up on to Cribden Hill you’ll be taken aback by how quickly you feel like you’re in another world. You can still see the hustle and bustle of the towns and villages below but you’re up away from it all. Literally.

Our particular Northern Grip combo of trails will take you on a real variety of trails and terrain from here on in until you’re down at the valley floor once again.

Lush, pastoral singletrack sinewing its way across sheep-clipped grassland.

Chunky, technical singletrack climbing that rewards a revving cadence and a delicate touch.

Classic splash ’n’ dash over a rocky brook where only one line really pays off but it’s never the same line twice!

And let’s not forget about the 100% zippedy-doo-dah heather-edged narrowtrack that slides you out on to sheened crazy paving S-bends.

To finish off there’s the deceivingly simple looking buff trails down to the bottom. You’ll need to watch your speed. Not just for the usual walkers and horses reasons; there be mini double jumps on the sly on this bit.

It’s a bit Yorkshire Dalesy. It’s a bit Lake Districty. It’s a bit Peak Districty. It’s a bit trail centre-y.

It’s all Cribden.

Head to https://northerngrip.co.uk/ for tickets and further information on the Northern Grip Festival.