Rombalds Stride

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Originally Posted by fozzy

Ok, after my recce yesterday, I've been having a bit of a think and a look at the maps - at the end of Rocky Valley, which route do people take?

I usually go immediately right up the hill, then round and down to the conduit/stream where it's walled, jump over that then straight up and on to the Pancake stone, but you could also drop down as far as the stream on the main path from Rocky Valley, then go right immediately after crossing - according to the Orienteering map there's a small path that comes back up straight to the Pancake stone. Climb is very similar on both routes.

Before anyone says anything, the route instructions on this section are very vague and I know some people drop all the way down to Cow and Calf Rocks before climbing back up to the path around the edge (this route is far longer and has a lot more climb).

Just wondered what people thought the best option was?

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I tried your first route choice a couple of weeks ago. I definitely seems the most direct and has least loss of height, but I still hope to find a more elegant route, as my little legs struggled to get over the conduit to the path on the other side.

Hey Stolly...a bit of googling and I found post 273 on this thread which suggests that Harry would be welcome. He might even get his own certificate. Just don't let him trip up Multicoloured!;)

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Originally Posted by Stolly

Can I bring Harry my border collie along to this? I've searched on the internet and the LDWA site but it doesn't say

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Originally Posted by DinoF

I tried your first route choice a couple of weeks ago. I definitely seems the most direct and has least loss of height, but I still hope to find a more elegant route, as my little legs struggled to get over the conduit to the path on the other side.

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I think the other route is very similar (with slightly more climb), so I think it just comes down to which way it's easier to cross the stream - on the main path or over the conduit. I suspect the runnability on both routes will be similar.

Navigationally, I like crossing at the conduit, because it's easier to go up and over to the conduit before climbing straight to the pancake stone. If I remember rightly, crossing at the stream gives you a couple of paths to choose from and in the mist, it could be tricky to find the stone.

I did this last year, pretty sure there were some dogs along for the ride.

If anyone fancies a recce of most of the Rombalds Stride Route on sun, PM me - we'll be doing about 17miles in approx 2.5-3hrs (we'll be missing out the section from 12 apostles to Rocky Valley and instead will be dropping straight down the moor, but otherwise doing the whole route)

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Originally Posted by fozzy

If anyone fancies a recce of most of the Rombalds Stride Route on sun, PM me - we'll be doing about 17miles in approx 2.5-3hrs (we'll be missing out the section from 12 apostles to Rocky Valley and instead will be dropping straight down the moor, but otherwise doing the whole route)

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Think I saw you all and said hi. Hope you had a good run.

I was doing the opposite to you (climbing up from Burley Woodhead to the 12 Apostles and then doing the route back to Burley Woodhead. It was muddy out there but has been worse, and the flags beyond the trig point make it easier. I'm still not convinced by the climb over the stone cut between Rocky Valley and the Pancake Stone, but have still not found a better alternative. I did try the south side of the wall after Whestone Gate for the first time, and in wet weather it seems much faster the the 'proper' route on the north side.

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Originally Posted by DinoF

Think I saw you all and said hi. Hope you had a good run.

I was doing the opposite to you (climbing up from Burley Woodhead to the 12 Apostles and then doing the route back to Burley Woodhead. It was muddy out there but has been worse, and the flags beyond the trig point make it easier. I'm still not convinced by the climb over the stone cut between Rocky Valley and the Pancake Stone, but have still not found a better alternative. I did try the south side of the wall after Whestone Gate for the first time, and in wet weather it seems much faster the the 'proper' route on the north side.

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Saw quite a few out today - hopefully we said hi back! I think we all had a good run. A few dropped out at Ilkley and got the train back (wimps!) - ended up running the last few bits over the fields and up the Chevin with a guy from Skyrac.

I tried the opposite to you today - dropped down to the stream from the end of the rocky valley and was then going to cut up to the Pancake Stone, but was running with my clubmate who wanted to stick to the letter of the written instructions. At least by dropping down to the rocks, we persuaded her that it was far better to stay higher and cut the corner - that climb back up to the ridge is awful.

Anyway back to my point. I don't think that the stream crossing on the main path is any quicker than crossing at the stone lined conduit higher up (it might be marginally easier if you aren't confident about jumping over the conduit), and I think it's more tricky from a navigational point of view to find the right path back up to the pancake stone. Cutting over to the right at the end of rocky valley and then down to the conduit is far easier - especially if visibility is low, since you've got a couple of catch points to guide you - 2 main paths, then the stream, then you're climbing straight back up and stay on the path to reach the pancake stone.

Anyone know what the entry limit is on this (had a search on LDWA and FRA and can't find it). I got my entry back (no. 483 I think??) but my brother who I'm meant to be running it with hasn't. Could it be a 500 limit?

All it says is "limited entry with strictly no entries on the day". It does now say FULL however.

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Originally Posted by Jez Hellewell

All it says is "limited entry with strictly no entries on the day". It does now say FULL however.

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Cheers Jez. Bit of a pain if my bro has just missed the cut. Might have to keep eye out for any spare entries.