Introducing the Tame Valley MTB Trails
Tameside is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, It is named after the river Tame that flows through the area. It boarders Stockport, the City of Manchester, Oldham and also the Peak District. The borough features flat lands in the west, and for us mountain bikers the highlands in the east where it boarders the Peak district and Saddleworth in the South Pennine towns of Stalybridge and Mossley.
This area is known as the Tame Valley, with the river Tame and Huddersfield canal at its base it is enclosed by many hills to its north and south with Wild bank at 399m being the highest.
So what does it offer the people who like to ride their bike off road?
There are two nation trails that run through the Valley, The Pennine Bridleway in the highlands and the Trans Pennine Trail further down in the towns of Godley and Hyde. The area is also criss-crossed with bridleways, byways and country lanes so provides great off road access into the Peak District and the South Pennines.
So what is the best way to explore this area?
With the support of Tameside council and now the PMBA we are in the middle of creating the Tame Valley Mountain Bike trail, a 27km, 750m elevation waymarked cross country route around the towns of Stalybridge and Mossley. Think the Rolling boars for anyone who has ridden them.
The route will provide a good introduction to the area for experienced riders or a good days challenge for the newbies. With its views of Hartshead Pike, The Peak District, Saddlewoth and the city of Manchester we hope it will wet your appetite to return and explore the other trails the area has to offer.
We are also hoping to turn the towns of Stalybridge and Mossley into a hub for cyclist with local businesses becoming biker friendly with some providing bike washing, bike maintenance facilities, food, drink and some good local ale which all provide an ideal starting and finishing point for a ride or a mid-ride refuel.
Up to now the trail has had a lot of support from the lads from the Dirt Factory, local riders and Tameside Council. With the PMBA now being the affiliated group for the area we hope we can all work together to create another facility and area for mountain bikers.
Visit our Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/tamevalleymtbtrails/
[…] and the Pennines and the sponsor’s of the PMBA Enduro series. After a number of conversations, Tame Valley MTB route is now affiliated with PMBA. This gives us access to a larger volunteer group, mountain bike development experience and funding […]