Lady Bower hacking

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tinap

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Hiya, I hope someone can help!
I've been trying to find out about hacking around Lady Bower reservoir & the surrounding area. We used to go down there quite a bit with the dogs & I remember there were nice bridleways. I'm trying to find places where we can just box up & take the horse as our hacking is non existent (I'm in Doncaster). I spent a few hours on the internet last night trying to find information on where to park with a car & trailer & where the bridleways are but I really struggled to find anything that was clear! I remember we used to park in a small car park that was at the very far end of the reservoir off the A57 & there was a bridleway off it but last time we went there was a locked gate preventing access to the car park.

If anyone hacks around there, I would really appreciate any advice on where is best to go. We're not fussed about doing long 20mile loops, just somewhere we can have a stroll for a couple of hours!

Thanks :) x
 
re an earlier post ,look at www.bridlewaymap.com. or buy an O/S map ,explorer map No OL1.It gives very good detail ,take your time and mark every bridleway , and boat with a highlighter pen .Also look up Wharncliffe woods , 3 miles from J35A on the M1,good parking at either end of the forest ,also from same junction the "trans pennine trail. "find it on google .
 
tinap said:
Hiya, I hope someone can help!
I've been trying to find out about hacking around Lady Bower reservoir & the surrounding area. We used to go down there quite a bit with the dogs & I remember there were nice bridleways. I'm trying to find places where we can just box up & take the horse as our hacking is non existent (I'm in Doncaster). I spent a few hours on the internet last night trying to find information on where to park with a car & trailer & where the bridleways are but I really struggled to find anything that was clear! I remember we used to park in a small car park that was at the very far end of the reservoir off the A57 & there was a bridleway off it but last time we went there was a locked gate preventing access to the car park.

If anyone hacks around there, I would really appreciate any advice on where is best to go. We're not fussed about doing long 20mile loops, just somewhere we can have a stroll for a couple of hours!

Thanks :) x
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If I have got this right there are three reservoirs, Ladybower is closest to the road, then Derwent and then Howden. I know there is a bridleway right at the end by Howden because I was there the other week with my sister. It is a beautiful, beautiful route and it takes you up past the old pack horse bridge and the wild swimming spot at slippery stones. My sister and I were saying how nice it would be to ride up there as it is so so beautiful, and if we went on a nice day we could leave the horses in the sheep pens by the bridge and go swimming at slippery stones! My horse is retired though, so it's just dreaming!
As for parking - during the week you can drive all the way up to the end and park by Howden, with easy access onto the bridleway. You can't drive all the way up at the weekend though - I think because of visitor numbers they close it and run buses up instead. I'm not sure where you'd park then tbh as we always try to go during the week. I know there are places you can park by the road side but I'm not sure how safe that would be for unloading etc and then there is the visitors centre but I think you'd have a bit of a trek from there up to the bridleway and you do have to pay to park there from what I remember.
If you go during the week you'd be fine though :)
 
Thanks for the replies! I didn't realise there were 3 reservoirs, I know where we usually go with the dogs is right next to the road so am presuming its Lady Bower. I had tried to look on the bridleway website but had trouble doing much with it on my phone. I'll have to fish the old laptop out I think & have a better look! I know the little car park we used to use was ideal as it meant you wouldn't have to go near a main road at all once you've parked up. I'm wondering if I might be better off having a trip out with the dogs again first & seeing if I can figure out the best place to park. X
 
Just had a quick look on google maps to check where it is I'm looking for & where it says Snake Pass in the top left,there is a thin beige line (track) that leads off the A57 & down to the river like part of the reservoir. The car park with the locked gate is there just before you cross the water. I remember if you go over the bridge there are routes both left & right which are bridleways. Just need to find out how to get a key now!
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If you google the Kinder Loop this will show the bridleway, who knows you may fancy doing the full 55 miles. I am hoping to do this later in the year.
 
Hairy Horror said:
If you google the Kinder Loop this will show the bridleway, who knows you may fancy doing the full 55 miles. I am hoping to do this later in the year.
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Thank you HH! I'd seen the names of different paths but due to my complete lack of direction I wasn't sure which one I was actually looking for! I'll have a gander at that now thank you, I'm not sure about the full 55 miles though - it's my daughter who'd be riding, I'll be on my push bike! x
 
tinap said:
Just had a quick look on google maps to check where it is I'm looking for & where it says Snake Pass in the top left,there is a thin beige line (track) that leads off the A57 & down to the river like part of the reservoir. The car park with the locked gate is there just before you cross the water. I remember if you go over the bridge there are routes both left & right which are bridleways. Just need to find out how to get a key now!
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I don't know that route at all - the one I'm thinking of is the thin line going up off the A57 past where it says "Ladybower Reservoir" and "Lee Wood" etc. If you do get a chance to go during the week, I highly recommend driving up there to the end. There isn't a car park as such, more a parking area but there is a turning circle and there is a bus that goes up there so you should definitely be okay with a horsebox. The bridleway goes from there, past Howden reservoir and it's really beautiful! Maybe if you go during school holidays or something like that. If it's a warm day, Slippery Stones is lovely for swimming and a picnic and the bridleway will take you right past there.
 
Thank you HR, it sounds perfect :) I've never been up that way before. I'll have a fact finding mission there over the next few weeks. The daughter leaves school in 3 weeks so hopefully we can find a quiet time while she's off to go & explore with the horse xx
 
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