Yorkshire Dales Mini Tour
 

I finally got a few days away on the XT660R doing what I'd bought it for, a bit of distance touring, camping and riding minor/Byways Open to All Traffic(BOAT).

Brimham Rocks nr. Pately Bridge
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The Dales are about an hour and a half away from where I live in the East, and although I've been over there a few times before, there's plenty of untravelled stuff to do and discover.

Upper Nidderdale looking down from Middlesmoor.
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...then back to

Lofthouse to Leighton Reservoir via Pott Moor High Road
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After a refuel at Masham and more unclassified road bimbling, I ended up on the main A6108 that runs down Wesleydale. This wasn't part of the plan. I'd also done Coverdale/Cam Gill Road before, so the next turn off after that was the B6160....

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As I'm travelling on this bike I'm looking for the Red coloured footpath arrows that signify BOATs, or any untarmac'd roads that look like they go somewhere... It was on this road I found a good 'un.

B6160 to Stalling Busk
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Semer Water in the distance..
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Then finally off to Hardraw for camping - handy campsite next to the Green Dragon pub.
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Next day's weather was a bit grey/damp which I spent touring the southern area of the Dales......
Hawes to Kettlewell road
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Yesterday was much better :)

Leaving Wensleydale climbing over the Buttertubs
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On via Keld for pee break and bevvy at
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Turn left out of the front door of the pub and you skirt along the top edge of the Dales, at Eskelth Wood I turned left down Stang Lane and headed for County Durham.
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Towards Barnard Castle I came across a forest trail or two that allowed for a bit more challenging stuff.
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I eventually returned via Richmond and Wensleydale back towards home having had 3 days brilliant riding on the bike, which was superb in this role. Comfy, quick enough for short M'way/dual carriageway blasts, tough enough to carry luggage, robust and reliable to take on trails.

Sooooo glad I got it.

Lovely part of the world, nice photos too.

Great report and pics :WellDone_OROQR1:

nice piccies

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Good pics & write up squire.

Cheers Gents.

Just found out looking at Le Grand Depart website that Stage 1 of the Tour de France takes in the B6160, Hawes and the Buttertubs. :)

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For those who may be interested..........

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/ed...U.kux4ls75W9DE

Edit: Map is now public/does not require a log-in.

:023: Great photos.

Reminded me of my youth - born and brought up in Upper Nidderdale. Spent my formative biking years in Lofthouse and spent many a day up on the tops and riding round the reservoirs on my old Fantic 240.

I've often walked in the Dales and toured around by car with Mrs PdF but that wee tour looks just the business. Perhaps next time we head down there, I can persuade her to let me take the XTR on the trailer. Is that a fire extinguisher you have strapped to the box or is it a fuel can? Your boxes certainly look like they'll hold all you need. What type of frames are they mounted to?

Thanks for the comments. :)

The "fire extinguisher" is indeed a fuel bottle for the quite brilliant Trangia 27 cookset. The bike came with the Zega boxes, which are mounted to Touratech frames.

Tbh, the boxes just manage to hold the tent dimensions wise if it goes in diagonally, which kinda limits what else can go in - but yes, it does all fit. The fuel bottle holds Meths/Alcohol based fuels for the Trangia and doesn't leak, but the external mounting points, including the strap points on the lid, make the panniers more flexible and allow for more to be contained within. The solid panniers are handy to use as seat on the campsite or a windbreak whilst cooking - but unless you get them 2nd hand, they're bl**dy expensive.

I'd still favour soft luggage for the XT, such as Wolfman/Kriega/AS personally - especially if you do off-road, if you hit a rock, you're less likely to get nerfed off.

Thanks for the info, Dah-Dit. Very nice setup! I use a simple gas stove but these Trangias are tempting. I had considered Givi E21s for mine but they're rather small so soft panniers may well be a better idea. I already have Givi V35s for my other bike and they're not really suitable for the XT. I've just returned from a 5 day tour of Ireland on that bike but you've really whetted my appetite for a more sedate jaunt round Yorkshire on the Yam.

The county looked pretty good on TV today. The Buttertubs crowds were amazing to see. #letour.