Lee Quarry and Cragg Quarry Mountain Biking

Phil:

Lee & Cragg quarry is a great place to visit. more like a mountain bike play ground but can be made into a good 20k route when all linked together. The descent from Cragg through Lee is worth the visit. Stunning place to ride on a summer evening ride.Can also do the rolling boar routes if you fancy exploring the local area that all start at Lee quarry. Check the P.M.B.A website for the routes.Limited facilities but there is a café across the road and usually a burger van on a weekend.

Easy to find Good place to explore Can mix it up and create your own route Tough but rewarding ride when all linked together Good for building up Skills

Joshua Harper:

Well worth a visit

Best variety of trails I have ever been to Easy to access Lots of little sections that can be sessioned to improve one skill Lots of friendly people around Well maintained trails Confidence inspiring

Andy:

Hannah Royle:

Paul:

This is a disused and converted quarry. It is NOT a trail centre (unless you count an unofficial burger van at the very bottom of the hill). The ride starts with a climb that will kill you...if you ride or push! Kudos to those that can ride it... I can't. You then start the trail over some slabs to climb ... the first point at which I usually fall off. Once at the top the quarry is huge fun. However, there is absolutely no point in thinking that the length stated as the red route means a thing - You will get lost and there is no signage. Even after hours watching a youtube video of the route (or one of them) to take, we got it wrong. Also, if you want to go on to cragg quarry, good luck finding it ... we managed but only after 20 minutes of persistance. Then once at Cragg, poor signage meant we turned around and took the easy track back having done most of the track backwards it seems. To be honest, Lee quarry is still good, but cragg quarry was ruined simply because of no signage - seriously - somebody who has a clue, please go out there with some red spray paint and spray some arrows to guide us. That small action would likely mean the trails would be AWESOME. So, aside from the gripe of signage, when flowing it is all brilliant. The long descent back to lee quarry from cragg is excellent with a number of jumps ... really good fun. Only issue I could see is that you climb the same track that you return on, so could be a nasty accident if the climber does not move to the side. Like I said though, as the weather has never been nice when I have gone - next to nobody else is dumb enough to be up there so was not an issue. You could play up there all day. However, I have found there is a lot of stationary time deciding what to do or where to go (normally cos you are lost). This can somewhat ruin it as I only manage to get out for a couple of hours every so often - so wasted time really annoys me. The final section of the Red route down to the car park again is awesome. So I guess in Summary, it is really good fun, but very falwed. Sadly the flaws could very easily be solved by some helpful biker who knows the way around (although I'm sure it would technically be criminal damage if you spray painted!). Come on lancashire CC, sort it out. Side notes: I have riden the route in April and May 2014. I have never done the black sections - just one look at them and I know it would be signing my own death warrant. I ride a full sus bike and am quite new to MTB. Falling off at the quarry hurts (its a quarry....there is solid and sharp stone everywhere, duh). Some steep drops by the side of some trails, so ride in your limits and build up gradual otherwise it could really be nasty. It is always windy up there ... makes the jumps hairy sometimes.

Challenging, jumps, berms, great fun

Dale Trails:

A new breed of MTB centre. this old disused quarry has been around and for a good few years now, Lee Quarry originally was a very slabbed affair which lacked flow and continuity, however a few years back Rowan Sorrell was called in to redesign the new trails which are great to ride and also really take advantage of the quarries topography. I have been involved with the quarries development from early on and this helps when taking riders around the trails. This is not like a forestry centre in anyway, it is more hard edged and unforgiving....but when you learn the trails and ride them well it is a heck of a lot of fun! Red trails, Black sections, pump tracks, wooden skills areas, trials sections and plenty of drop offs and jumps, Lee Quarry is the best location to hone your skills as it allows you to "session" a section rather than just ride a long XC route. Cragg Quarry to the North of Lee Quarry is an add on trail which focuses on flowing and maintaining speed, the trail has everything from jumps, switchback corners and roller coaster like descents to keep you smiling, however, Cragg is very exposed and there always seems to be a high wind up there. Ride it in winter and you'll have a glimpse of how Scott must have felt in the Antartic. There is also the link route from Rooley Moor down to Lee Quarry, this route is lined with 30 slab jumpa and drops and on a good day is one of the best descents in the South Pennines...a must! If there during the week, call in to Poppies Deli Café for a warm, bike friendly welcome and some delicious, hearty food....try the carrot cake!

Lots of trails and different sections to ride and practice on Two fantastic pump tracks Good Café Plenty of places to park